nobody loves you american conservatory theater | book and lyrics by itamar moses, music and lyrics by gaby alter, choreographed by steph paul, directed by pam mackinnon, scenic design by jason ardizzone-west, costume design by sarita fellows, lighting design by russell h champa, sound design by jessica paz, associate set design by emma antenen, studio assistant: laura valenti, production stage manager, christopher r munnell, cast: sophia alawi, stevie allen, molly hager, seth hanson, aj holmes, ashley d kelley, joh-michael lyles, ana yi puig, jason veasey, kuhoo verma, director of production: martin barron, associate director of production: jack horton, act scenic design associate: kiki hood, properties supervisor: abo greenwald, properites design assistant: jenna forder, photographs: emma antenen

reviews

san fransisco chronicle
”as jeff and his single-precious-braincell competitors go from enterprising hopefuls to glassy-eyed hostages, jason ardizzone-west’s minimalist set design unmoors them from realism. curtains opening both side to side and up and down create growing and shrinking apertures that sometimes resemble a tv screen, sometimes a smartphone screen. the whole reality of this musical is framed and mediated by capturing, recording and watching — until jenny and jeff devise the perfect way to escape it at the end.” 
-lily janiak [full review]

bay area reporter
”pam mackinnon's fleet, fizzy direction and with marvelously fluid scene changes (scenic design by jason ardizzone-west; lighting by russell h champa) zip audiences through a series of parodic hot takes and satirical sallies on today's relationships, mores, and media. the abrupt scene shifts and brief, hooky snippets of song echo the quick-cut editing and drummed up drama of reality tv.”
-jim gladstone [full review]

bear world magazine
”final kudo to lighting designer russell h champa and scenic designer jason ardizzone-west who have created some wonderful lighting effects with minimal sets so that the stage still seems large and believable as a set for a tv show, a house and all of the other settings that are used briefly, but still comprehensive to make the scenes believable and real. total fun and completely original – we are in need of such joy in these days and you get it in spades here.”
-kevin m thomas [full review]

broadway world
”scenic designer jason ardizzon-west’s set is another standout, taking us onto the soundstage with cast, grips, and crew. we, the audience, become intimate with the show and its motley collection of contestants. a brilliant ensemble cast brings to life the desperate, the true believers and the confused love seekers.”
-steve murray [full review]

stage and cinema
”the look of nobody loves you is key to its success. scenic designer jason ardizzone-west crafts a set that is big, bright, and deliberately artificial, fully embracing the glossy, contrived aesthetics of reality television. the vibrant lighting by russell h champa further heightens the artificiality, shifting moods with the flick of a switch to reinforce the show’s manipulative nature. sound designer jessica paz ensures that every dramatic sting and confessional moment feels like it’s pulled straight from a real dating show, keeping the audience immersed in the world of fabricated romance and televised drama.”
-chuck louden [full review]

theatre eddys
”in one of many spectacular scenic set-ups that smack with levity designed by jason ardizzone-west, the two couples in their adjoining bedrooms flooded with raging hormones sing together a show-stopping “it feels good.””
-eddie reynolds [full review}

bay city news
”it's a production that dazzles on every level. colors are saturated, not just the eccentric, patterned costumes of the show contestants by designer sarita fellows, but the scenery, too. walls and panels glow in varying shades of magenta, orange sorbet, raspberry, and more. the excellent lighting design is by russell h champa.”
-jean schiffman [full review]