Join us for an artist talk with designers Deb O and scenographer Yuri Okahana-Benson. They will captivate you with stories about their incredibly unique artistic journeys and the evolution of fascinating projects. The conversation will be moderated by the co-curator of Scene Shift: The Exhibit, Sibyl Wickersheimer.
About the speakers:
Deb O’s extensive scenography training and range of experiences as well as her background in folk art, dance and gymnastics, clowning and mask making, and a bit of puppetry have all lent themselves to innovative approaches to the creation of unique theatrical events. Deb O has enjoyed intimate, long-term collaborations with theater directors Brian Mertes, Tamilla Woodard, Alex Harvey, Stephen Brackett, GT Upchurch, Lee Sunday Evans of C Town, Sarah Cameron Sunde, Mia Rovegno, Jess K Smith, Jen Wineman and dance theatre makers Dan Safer of Witness Relocation, Tami Stronach Dance, Sam Pinkleton, and Diane Vanderhei and Tom Thoreson of Footworks Dance Company. She has also designed numerous memorable special events.
With directors Brian Mertes and Melissa Kievman and The Lake Lucille Project, Deb O has devised and created large-scale, environmental designs for day-long performances of each of Chekhov’s great works. With playwright/producer Beau Willimon and directors Brian Mertes and Alex Harvey, the project moved to a giant warehouse in Sunset Park, Brooklyn for an epic environmental staging of Lanford Wilson’s Balm In Gilead.
She has designed several new works and new musicals. Such as The Lacy Project, Jihad the Musical, The Daughters, The Deepest Play Ever, F%#king Up Everything, Bubble Boy Magical History Tour, and The Material World (one of Time Out New York’s top 10 shows of 2012). She is currently in the rehearsal room helping to develop Light: A Dark Comedy, a project for The New Victory Theater.
https://www.debo.nyc/
Yuri is an experimental scenographer based in Los Angeles, CA. She also is a resident scenic designer and teaches Scenic Design at Westmont College. Recent design credits include; Rashomon at AVT, The Price, A Splintered Soul, Cardboard Piano at ICT, Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus at New Vic Theater, The Government Inspector, Pride and Prejudice at Westmont College, The Flick at CSN, DARKSIDE (U.S. Premiere and remount production) at The Garage Theater, and many more. MFA in Scenic Design from CSU, Long Beach.
www.yuriokahana.com
