In November 2022, I designed the set for Anton Chekov’s “The Cherry Orchard.” The word I kept coming back to throughout my design process was untethered. The characters in this play knock against each other, sending themselves and everyone around them off-course in every conversation. The only thing truly keeping the eccentric cast together is the cherry orchard, which is on the brink of being taken away.

I wanted to reflect this always-shifting dynamic in the scenery. I researched architecture and furniture of the period, but also dug into things like root systems and tree rings, watching for the way that they created patterns of flow.

The scenery was kept abstract, using the curly sculptural elements (officially titled “the twirly bits”) to suggest both archways in a grand mansion as well as the trees of the sprawling orchard.

Director: Kristin Larson

Scenic Design: Olive Palmer

Lighting Design: Ken James

Costume Design: Lori Glavve

Props Design: Andrew Brittingham