The final theatrical project I designed at CalArts was a Coffeehouse production of 'Puffs!' My experience working within the constraints of the Coffeehouse format already- limited space, minimal tech, and close audience proximity- already pushed me toward a more immediate, flexible approach to storytelling.

Leaning into the show’s fast-paced, comedic tone, my co-designer Martin Pasternak and I embraced a scrappy, inventive aesthetic built from quick transformations and visible theatricality. At the same time, I was interested in shaping the space as something more than just a backdrop- I wanted it to feel warm and lived-in, almost like a shared living room for the cast and crew. The design aimed to create a sense of comfort and ownership, a place the production team could settle into and play within.

As my final project, Puffs! became a reflection on trusting simplicity, collaboration, and the energy of performance-ending my time at CalArts with a space rooted in humor, flexibility... and a sense of home.

​

This project is still in progress. I look forward to sharing updates as they come!