Artist Statement

In The Penelopiad, I sought to emphasize the shadows of Hades that the action of the show rest in; making the oppressive cold of the underworld work as a stark contrast to the brightness of the over-world that is represented in the memories Penelope relives. Highly saturated color played an equally important part as this contrast. Washing the entire stage in single hues to further embark into Penelope's psyche and using the raw color both as a medium to convey distress during Penelope's nightmares and conversely soothing flow in her dreams. The Penelopiad was an exercise in learning to create distinct settings with light and actors alone. The lack of set dressing, the movement-based direction of the play, and original compositions allowed for a hybrid approach to the lighting by pulling from elements of dance and music as well as theatrical lighting.