THE MICHAELS THE PUBLIC THEATER LUESTER HALL 2019

I STARTED COLLABORATING WITH RICHARD NELSON IN 2016 WITH THE GABRIEL FAMILY PLAYS (ALSO AT THE PUBLIC THEATER), FOLLOWED BY UNCLE VANYA IN 2018. ALL OF MY WORK WITH RICHARD HAS INCLUDED THE DESIGN OF THE AUDIENCE AS A FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENT OF THE SET DESIGN, AND THE MICHAELS IS AN INTERESTING CULMINATION OF OUR CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF A SUBTLE BUT DEEPLY STUDIED DESIGN OF FOCUSED HUMAN ENERGY. THE AUDIENCE IS AS MUCH A PART OF THE SET DESIGN AS THE FURNITURE AND OBJECTS, CREATING A “ROOM” OF INTIMATE HUMAN ENERGY THAT, IN RICHARDS WORDS, AIMS TO BE TRUTHFUL RATHER THAN NATURALISTIC - FOCUSED, LIKE HIS WRITING AND DIRECTION, ON EVOKING A SENSE OF VERISIMILITUDE. THE PUBLIC LIKED THE ARRANGEMENT AND SO IN ADDITION TO FILING FOR A TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR THE MICHAELS, THEY ALSO OBTAINED AN ONGOING C OF O SO FUTURE PRODUCTIONS CAN USE THIS ARRANGEMENT IF DESIRED.

THE MICHAELS | THE PUBLIC THEATER LUESTER HALL Jason Ardizzone-West (set designer / theater designer); Jeff Harris (production manager); Mitchell Kurtz Architect PC (architect of record)