Uncle Vanya

By Anton Chekhov

Uncle Vanya is Anton Chekhov’s brilliant, yet tragic play examining the troubles of country life in Russia during the late 19th century. Full of richness and complexity, this deeply emotional drama is not to be missed.

November `7 — December 8, 2024 • Marroney Theatre, University of Arizona

Directed by Kevin Black ~ Production Stage Managed by Kathryn Kulaga ~ Stage Managed by Elizabeth Gardner and Bree Urspringer

Scenic Design by Irene Nguyen ~ Costume Design by Rick Tuckett ~ Lighting Design by Keelin Connolly ~ Technical Direction by Daniel Staggs ~ Photos by Julius Schlosburg

Sound Design by Ellen Sipos

Assistant Sound Design by Lexi McNally

Thesis Advisor: Matt Marcus

Uncle Vanya was my third design for Arizona Repertory Theatre, as well as my Honors Thesis and Senior Capstone Project. Our production focused on building out the world of the play to show that while the characters are all caught up in their own problems, there is an entire beautiful world out there for them to enjoy if they would just pay attention to it. What this meant for my design was that throughout the play, sounds of nature such as birds, crickets, cicadas, wind, and more played. I accomplished this by creating long cues of ambient sound that played throughout each scene; with my longest cue being 45 minutes long, there was almost never a silent moment in the show.

With long cues, 22 outputs, and a storm sequence that had to be timed with lights, this show had no shortage of challenges to overcome. It was very rewarding once it all came together, and I could not be more proud for it to my thesis project. I hope you enjoy scrolling through the samples of my work that have been included below, and take a moment to read my thesis paper (once it is uploaded in May!) as well.