Returning to the Great American Melodrama after five years, I had the opportunity to design the scenic world of Guys on Ice, a musical rich in Midwestern charm and humor. At the heart of the design was a small, detailed ice shanty—both a practical shelter for the characters and a visual representation of the play’s intimate storytelling.

The exterior of the shanty grounded the setting in the vast, frozen Wisconsin landscape, a solitary refuge on the ice. Once opened, the interior revealed a warm, lived-in space bursting with character—a maximalist homage to Wisconsin’s ice-fishing culture. Every detail, from the set dressing to the layered textures, contributed to the authenticity and comedic charm of the piece, reflecting the personalities of the characters who inhabit it.

Working alongside the director and a veteran performer, I crafted a space that not only served the physicality of the production but also heightened the comedic and heartfelt moments shared within. The result was an immersive environment where humor, nostalgia, and friendship thrived—a small world on the ice that felt as full as the stories being told inside it.