<p> The scenic design for <i>By the Bog of Cats,</i> a University Players production in Spring 2014, created the world of the bog by utilizing the visual language of a crash site coupled with the feeling (and furnishings) of a home. As a way to connect to the story, personal experience was used. To create the visual language of the bog, crash sites were studied. Using old furniture and aged tree branches that were found on the side of the road, or in alleys, the set was aged naturally. Through collaboration between all designers and the director, the production of <i>By the Bog of Cats</i> was a success in bringing the audience into the crash site where the story takes place.</p>

<p> Jane Austen&rsquo;s <i>Emma</i> as adapted by Michael Bloom was staged at the George Washington University in the spring semester of 2013. Under the direction of Alan Wade, it opened on March 28th in the Dorothy Betts Marvin Center Theatre on the George Washington University campus in Washington DC. The lighting designer was Eva Gonz&agrave;lez and the costumes designer was Basmah Alomar. </p><p> This thesis opens by discussing the overall mission, which for this project was to design and create a set for <i>Emma</i> while dealing with a department with fluctuating levels of staffing. Additionally discussed are two major logistic difficulties: the first relates to the problem of working with a non-permanent Technical Director who has less experience operating within GWU&rsquo;s educational system and organizational culture; the second discusses the lack of an Assistant Technical Director to work with closely leading to the build process, and how this affected the design development. </p><p> Chapter two explores the life of Jane Austen, as well as the narrative structure of the novel and Michael Bloom&rsquo;s adaption. These are important as they show a background to the author as well as how she wrote in a variable narrative structure, and subsequently how Bloom adopted this irregular structure using theatrical elements such as the aside and the use of the main protagonists&rsquo; &ndash; and in the novel, Austen&rsquo;s thoughts &ndash; to tell the story of <i>Emma</i>. </p><p> Chapter three discusses the geopolitical overview of the time in which Austen lived. This is important because her life took place within a rapidly changing global atmosphere, beginning with American Revolution and ending with the finale of the Napoleonic Wars. This chapter also focuses on the Regency period and how the changing world affected interior and architectural design in England and subsequently around the world. </p><p> Chapter four and five follow the design from concept to completion and explores the need for effective communication as being key to any successful design. </p><p> Finally, the analysis chapter explores the problems faced during the process as and discusses how they may have been avoided and/or mitigated. This specifically focuses on the problems that a changing educational department can have on a design and the design process.</p>

<p> <i>WILD42HOLD,</i> an original play by Randy Baker, was produced at the George Washington University in the spring semester of 2013. Under the direction of Jodi Kanter, it premiered on February 21^st in the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre on the George Washington University campus in Washington DC. The lighting designer was Aaron Pollon and the costume designer was Jie Yu. </p><p> This thesis looks at the process of the set design of <i> WILD42HOLD</i> that included the planning and execution of the set for a new work. The challenge was to establish an aesthetic for the work within the constraints of a finite time frame and budget to fit the needs of the show and of the director. The influence of the playwright, development of setting and a defined aesthetic, design evolution and build process, and an analysis of the final design outcome will be discussed.</p>

<p> The costume design, created by myself&ndash; Jessica Ann Wallace&ndash; for CSULB's Spring 2014 production of Marina Carr's <i>By the Bog of Cats</i> utilized the symbology of the circle juxtaposed to that of the square along side the ageless style of mid-20th Century Irish Travellers in order to both capture and enhance the world and themes of this Irish tragedy. In mixing these three inspiration points, the costume design reflects Carr's thematic emphasis of fate, tragedy, and relentless cycles within a mystic, supernatural world. The circle visually represents an awareness of forces outside oneself thus characters who gravitate towards this end of the spectrum are portrayed in costumes with curvilinear lines; whereas, the square delineates characters who lack a mystical awareness and are more grounded with earthly matters through angular, straight lines. <i>By the Bog of Cats</i> is a play inspired by Greek tragedy yet set within a numinous Irish world; by using universal symbols for silhouette inspiration with the ambiguous style worn by Irish Travellers, the costume design effectively captures the essence of such a unique yet timeless story.</p>