GLORIA- is a dark comedy (satire) written by American playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins in 2015. The play presents, with striking intensity and depth, a sharp exploration of workplace culture, ambition, and the conflicts between media and personal interest.
The play is set in a realistic office environment, so I began my research journey by exploring how realistic it should appear to the audience. I started by examining the time period, then the location, and finally aspects of popular culture, such as whether it was something widely accepted or rejected.
《Gloria》是美国剧作家 Branden Jacobs-Jenkins 于 2015 年创作的一部黑色讽刺剧，它以一种具有冲击力和层次感的方式，探讨了职场文化、野心、创伤与媒体对个人利益的冲突
关于这部戏它的定位是一个真实的办公室，因此我跟随着how realistic in the show to audience开始了一段research journey。首先是时间上，其次是地点，另外还有一些流行文化，比如它是否受欢迎或者受到排斥
Directed: Jaime Collaco
Technical Direction: Adam Gillette
Scenic Design: Jiacheng Sun (me)
Costume Design: Caitlin Davey
Lghting Design: Sisi Clark
Sound Design: Sujin Kim
Horse Girls- is a dark comedy written by American playwright Jenny Rachel Weiner. While the story appears lighthearted and absurd on the surface, it reveals the deeper layers of teenager conflict and anxiety, identity formation, power dynamics, and the extremity of idol worship.
The play is still set in a realistic space — a bedroom belonging to a 12- or 13-year-old girl (the age difference is minimal). However, most of the elements in the room actually belong to her parents.
The most intuitive starting point for my research journey was the question of “old money or new money.” This distinction directly influences the style of the stage space and interior design.
Once we decided to portray an old-money family, I began to consider the advantages and disadvantages in terms of time and location — for instance, what kind of environment and climate conditions would make it possible for a wealthy family to own a horse farm. This reasoning is exactly why I designed a drop on stage to represent that setting.
《Horse Girls》是美国剧作家 Jenny Rachel Weiner 创作的一部黑色喜剧，故事看似轻松荒诞，却在表面之下揭示出青春期的冲突和焦虑、身份认同、权力结构与偶像崇拜的极端化。
关于这部戏它的定位依然是一个真实的空间，它是一个12岁或者13岁女孩的房间（年龄差距不大等况下，但是里边的大多数元素属于她的父母。最直观的research journey是old money or new money，这一思考会引起很直观的舞台空间和室内设计的风格变化。当我们决定利用old money后，在时间上和地点上有没有一定的优劣势，比如这个地方的环境是怎样的，比如环境气候的条件事宜所以有钱人家才拥有马场，这就是为什么要设计一个drop在舞台上。
Directed: Tom Robson
Scenic Designer: Jiacheng Sun (me)
Costume Designer: Emily Rosolowski
Lighting Designer: Tatyanna Rodriguez
Sound Designer: Jacob Clouse
Antigone- This play is not only one of the foundational works in the history of Western theatre, but it has also been continually reinterpreted by modern artists.
It explores themes such as Divine Law vs. Human Law, Female Defiance, and Fate and Tragedy.
这部戏不仅是西方戏剧史的奠基之作之一，也常被现代艺术家们重新演绎. 神法 vs. 人法，女性与权威，命运与悲剧。
The design was developed through a physical model, which remained at the model stage and was not executed in production. 1/4” model making and sketch shown below. Inspiration from Parthenon.
该设计通过实体模型完成设计，但停留在模型阶段，并未投入实际制作。
下方展示为 1/4 英寸比例模型与草图，灵感来源于帕特农神庙。
Clyde’s- It is a play by contemporary American playwright Lynn Nottage, first premiered in 2021, combining elements of realism and humor. The central themes include Redemption, Hope and Creativity, and Power Dynamics.
是当代美国剧作家 Lynn Nottage（琳·诺蒂奇） 于 2021 年首演的一部现实主义与幽默并存的戏剧。重生与救赎， 希望与梦想，权力与控制
The design was developed through a physical model, which remained at the model stage and was not executed in production. 1/4” model making and sketch shown below. Inspiration from container.
该设计通过实体模型完成发展，但停留在模型阶段，并未投入实际制作。
下方展示为 1/4 英寸比例模型与草图，灵感来源于集装箱（container）。
Gem of the Ocean- This play is written by the renowned American playwright August Wilson. It is a historical and realist drama infused with elements of mystery and symbolism.
The central themes include Freedom & Redemption, History & Memory, and The Symbol of Water.
In her research and interpretation, Sun drew inspiration from another related work — “A Raisin in the Sun.”
这是美国著名剧作家 August Wilson（奥古斯特·威尔逊） 的作品,历史剧 / 现实主义戏剧，带有神秘与象征色彩. 自由与救赎， 历史与记忆， 水的象征，在研究与理解的过程中，Sun结合了另一部相关作品- ”阳光下的葡萄干“作为启发
Thorne Miniature Room
This project was based on the Thorne Miniature Rooms at The Art Institute of Chicago. This room is a E-12: English Drawing Room of the Georgian Period, c. 1800, c. 1937. In this project Sun used perception of space to create AutoCAD draftings of a room. Below are my drawings that include ground plan, side views, and stair detailing similar to the plans for a set. Course project demonstrating a 1/4in model and sketch shown below.
Sweeney Todd- The story is set in 19th-century London. The main character, Sweeney Todd, originally named Benjamin Barker, was once a kind-hearted barber who was wrongfully imprisoned by a corrupt judge named Turpin. Years later, he returns to London under the alias Sweeney Todd, opens a barbershop, and is consumed entirely by his desire for revenge. From a realistic perspective, Sun’s initial research focused on the historical context, architecture, and interior style of the period.
故事背景设定在 19 世纪的伦敦。 主角 Sweeney Todd 原名 Benjamin Barker， 曾是一名善良的理发师，却被一个腐败的法官 Turpin 陷害入狱。 多年后他重返伦敦，化名为 Sweeney Todd， 开了一家理发店，内心只剩下 复仇的欲望。从realstic的角度出发，时代背景与建筑和室内风格是Sun最开始的研究方向.
The design was developed through a physical model, which remained at the model stage and was not executed in production. 1/4” model making and sketch shown below. Inspiration from container.1/4” model making and sketch shown below. Inspiration from 1850s.
该设计通过实体模型完成发展，但停留在模型阶段，并未投入实际制作。
下方展示为 1/4 英寸比例模型与草图，灵感来源于 19 世纪 50 年代（1850s）
