THE GROWN UP

Our production of The Grown Up leaned into the magical element of the show. The creative team decided this could be communicated through a more fragmented world--both in scenic and lighting design. The set would be building blocks that could eventually form a ship, yet a majority of the show are too fragmented to tell what they will become (much like Kai's journey). The lighting could show this through very isolated lighting, only allowing us to see what offered from moment to moment (again, like Kai's journey). For my lighting design, I wanted to have a distinct look for the nostalgia surrounding Kai's life with his grandparents and sister--a warm glow. As Kai jumps through time, each place starts out feeling familiar and he settles into the role. Yet as he realizes he has stumbled further from home, the atmosphere grows colder and even more distant from the warmth he is striving to make his way back to. In the end, at his funeral, this warmth is restored as there is a moment of clarity--revealing the entire stage rather than the fragmented moments we've experienced the whole show.