Serpentine Pink by Megan Breen
Photo Credit: Richard Finkelstein

Scenic Design/Charge Artist
Forbes Center for the Performing Arts
Studio Theatre, August 2016
Director: Ricky J. Martinez
Technical Director: Simon Lass 
Serpentine Pink is a new work by Megan Breen. The play is set in Joshua Tree, CA and the time is described as "Desert Werid." The play deals with four characters struggling with love and friendship. The script called for a wide expansive desert and a single motel room decorated with John Wayne memorabilia. 

The motel room was placed on a diamond shaped revolve in the center of a 4 ton sand box. The revolve became a giant compass that guided the characters on their journeys through the wide expansive desert. Large Joshua Trees stretched down from the sky implanting their branches into the ground. These trees represented the vortex and spirits present in the area of Joshua Tree that the characters interact with. When the characters upset the spirits, the trees glowed a bright green and flickered from within. A giant heart tucked away in the center of the swirl of Joshua Trees flew in at the end as Henrietta drew a heart on Jayme's chest with battery acid to make her realize how much her love was hurting her.

A huge challenge with this set was the seating. I designed custom seating units to fit the angle of the sand box with four levels of seating. The sides without platforming had pillow and bench seating. With the balcony, the space became a full arena on the first and second floor.

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