Moving Pieces, Moving Hearts
A story about transformation and the many forms of love, Edward Tulane offered me an opportunity to explore themes of empathy, connection, and personal growth. My creative approach centered on Edward’s emotional arc, from vanity to vulnerability, and I worked with the cast to emphasize storytelling that relied on movement and symbolism.
With limited physical resources and no traditional set pieces, I designed a flexible stage environment using rugs to define space and crates to build levels and shifting shapes. The cast manipulated these elements in real time, using choreographed transitions to create abstract representations of scenes such as a ship, a train car, and a café. This demanded a high level of ensemble coordination and gave the piece a sense of fluid storytelling that mirrored Edward’s journey.
This is the show I really developed my backward-planning system that allowed me to balance creativity with logistics. Starting with the production date, I mapped out rehearsal schedules, build timelines, and milestones for every element of the show. This method allowed both structure and flexibility, letting me maintain a clear vision while meeting deadlines.
