Guys on Ice
Scenic Design Rendering for “Guys on Ice”
Modeled using Vectorworks and rendered in Twinmotion.
Paint Elevation for 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.
