As a graphic designer, creating artwork for Cupcake Theater’s Los Angeles production of “The Little Mermaid” was an exciting challenge. The play tells the classic story of a beautiful, brave mermaid who longs to find true love and happiness on a forbidden land above her underwater kingdom.
My job was to design the video backgrounds and marketing materials for the play. I wanted to bring the audience into the world of the mermaid and give them a sense of underwater magic. After extensive research on the underwater world, I created a mesmerizing underwater world comprised of vibrant colors, moving lights, and glittery particles. The imagery was combined with enchanting music to really transport you into the heart of this classic fairy tale.
The marketing materials also had to reflect the rich underwater world and allow audience members to envision themselves as part of the experience. Utilizing rich colors, textures and the magic of photoshop, I crafted powerful visuals that showcased the play’s vibrant characters and brought their underwater story to life. By establishing a mesmerizing visual identity, I was able to draw in viewers and draw them in to the show.
Rehearsing in our apartment kitchens for Neil LaBute’s “The Shape of Things” was unlike any experience I’ve had before. Our production company, Bruth Media, presented this drama at the Alchemical TheatreLab in NYC in 2011. We were fortunate enough to sell out every night, after weeks of dedicated rehearsing in unorthodox spaces.
In LaBute’s classic hit, a bold love story blossoms between two college students, Adam and Evelyn, who pushes the boundaries of ownership and identity. Their unconventional love story intrigues the audience as Evelyn’s unpredictable behavior takes the audience by surprise. Yet their relationship begins to unravel when Adam discovers his girlfriend’s ulterior motives, which leads him to question their connection.
As director of this production, I was brought into a world of creative storytelling that I had only ever imagined. It was a grueling task to direct a show as complex and layered as this one, but with dedicated cast members, it soon became second nature. Chelsey Clime did a phenomenal job as Evelyn. She excelled in her ability to channel the witty and eccentric nature of her character while communicating LaBute’s honest themes of love and identity. Barry DeBois, Nick Fesette, and Karen Bray also gave top notch performances that made the piece feel new and vibrant.
Producing “The Shape of Things” pushed us out of our comfort zones, allowing us to explore the creative abilities of our entire team. The show’s success gave us the launch we needed to get Bruth Media off the ground, and for that we are forever grateful. We look forward to making more spectacular stories to captivate our audiences with in the future.