Guys on Ice
Design Notes
Returning to the Great American Melodrama after five years, I designed the scenic world of Guys on Ice—a musical full of Midwestern charm, humor, and heart. At the center was a small, meticulously crafted ice shanty: a literal shelter and a symbolic container for the show’s intimacy.
The exterior established isolation against a vast, frozen Wisconsin landscape—framing both solitude and camaraderie. When opened, the shanty revealed a warm, cluttered, personality-rich interior: a maximalist homage to Wisconsin’s ice-fishing culture. From vintage thermoses to Green Bay Packers memorabilia, the set dressing deepened character and comedy. The textures didn’t just decorate; they told a story about histories, habits, and relationships—turning the shanty itself into a character whose transformation supported transitions and revealed emotional depth.
Working alongside the director and a veteran performer, I shaped a space that amplified the humor and nostalgia embedded in the script. The design prioritized functionality and theatricality—enabling physical comedy while grounding the world in a strong sense of place. The result was a self-contained environment where friendship, storytelling, and laughter unfolded naturally—an immersive design that reflects the soul of regional musical theatre.
