With Spotlights during certain scenes.

Without Spotlights.

Set Design for: “Trouble In Mind”

This was the final project for my theater set design class. The play explores the complexities of race, set in 1950s New York City. The entire show almost breaks the fourth wall, as it revolves around actors preparing for a play within a play. At the center is Wiletta Mayer, a Black actress. Throughout the performance, we hear personal stories and backgrounds from the other actors, culminating in a confrontation with the white director.

For the set design, I wanted to highlight the visual language of New York graffiti. This art form, which many believe originated in the city, has long been used as a medium for self-expression, social commentary, and the communication of inner emotional lives. Because of the social themes within the play itself, I felt it was important to incorporate this kind of art into the environment.

Scattered throughout the set are various random appliances, symbolizing the harsh and often demeaning work environments Black actors endured during this era. The mannequin at the center represents a specific plot point in the play, but it also symbolizes how the actors are manipulated treated like puppets by the director, denied the freedom to speak or be heard.

Spotlights beneath the characters' feet will be used during certain key moments to highlight emotional shifts or revelations. I chose lighting with red and blue overtones to evoke feelings of fear, anger, and anxiety. Finally, the quotes placed along the top of the set reflect some of the deeper messages at the heart of the play.