A late-night jazz-age room for Cole, anchored by a grounded bar, black-and-white tile, and an onstage band so the music feels intimate and sourced from the space itself.
I wanted Cole to feel like stepping into a late-night 1920s room: not a museum version of the jazz age, but something alive. At Okoboji Summer Theatre, the scenic design centered on a black-and-white tile floor, walnut millwork, and a grounded bar that gave the room architectural weight.
The bar defined more than atmosphere. It shaped social hierarchy, created levels for performance, and added depth across the proscenium. Keeping the band onstage made the music feel sourced from the room rather than placed on top of it.
The layout stayed open enough for choreography and microphone work to breathe, while vertical art deco references gave the stage elegance and structure. The design relied on proportion, texture, and intention rather than decoration.
