Design process for Arcadia, Opening February 27th 2026
Director: Kyle Haden | Scenic Designer: Carolyn Burback | Costume Designer: Pei Liu | Lighting Designer: Joanne Jiang | Sound Designer: Joyce Cheng | Job Lead: Tane Mueller
Preview Process Images
1/2" Scale Model
Design Drafting Packet and Process Images
1/2" Paint Elevations
Job Lead: Tane Mueller | Paints by CMU Paints Department headed by Beth Zamborsky
Iteration Process Designs/Sketches
Design Statement
Arcadia takes place in a study room of organized chaos that encompasses the beauty of Sidley Park and the scandalous mess of two untangling storylines. Just like Thomasina swirled yogurt and jam metaphor, the room slowly becomes a blend of both time periods via revealed props and effects. While we are unconcerned with building the sprawling “arcadia” landscape outside of the windows, the nature is brought indoors through color, plant motif, and wallpaper. The green color of the walls and greenhouse floating roof places the audience in a place immediately associated with plant life while maintaining the realism of where the play takes place. The “glass” roof and wall of tall windows invoke the concept they’re exposed and their surroundings engulf them. The wall paper nested in some of the wall paneling will bring the idea of taking the outside inside a step further. 6The step down creates an arena for the table to exist in a confined playing spaced. The raised perimeter enables visibility and frames the room with it’s four entrances/exits.