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Scenic Designer  
October 15-17, 2022

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Tisch Drama Stage, New York University  
Abe Burrows Theatre, 721 Broadway
Photos by Alicia Cabrera Tactuk

In Gorky's greatest work, the characters are the dregs of society hovelled in a ramshackle inn: a thief, a degenerate baron, a prostitute, an alcoholic actor, the seedy proprietor, his sister-in-law who loves the thief and others. Their discontent grows until a whistler comes to perk up their spirits and they begin to grow hopeful.

I wanted to create a space where ghosts would roam, the lives of those who’ve lived and died here and still haunt the ones who stayed. I wanted it to feel isolating, unlivable yet personal to each character. We took a lot of care and time in thinking what things would each character have even with their financial contraints? How can we show personality, skill, care, passions? It was a thrilling experience to be in the rehearsal room and craft these personal objects with the performers; their generosity and grace made it so much more satisfying.