Meet Set Designer of Thrown Stone's 2018 World Class Productions

Jonathan Winn and Jason Peck brought Thrown Stone to Ridgefield in 2017 with U.S. Premiere of Ross Dunsmore’s Milk, a production which received 15 nominations from Broadway World Connecticut.

The innovative and inherently local theater company is back with its second season featuring two new world-class productions — The New England Premiere of The Arsonists by Jacqueline Goldfinger, and the East Coast Premiere of Where All Good Rabbits Go by Karina Cochran, performing in repertory at Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance from July 13-August 4.

We sat down to talk about the upcoming performances with the Set Designer of both The Arsonists and Where All Good Rabbits Go, China native and Yale grad, Fufan Zhang.

1. How did you first get interested in scenic design?

My life is literally related to the stage. My mother is a Beijing Opera actress. Influenced by her, I started acting at a young age. From the process of learning acting, I discovered how the scene and space movement affected the performance. My father is a first-class architectural engineer. He taught me basic drafting, and encouraged me to learn drawing and painting. During my study in Beijing, I had the opportunity to see great theaters. I found scenic design is the best way to integrate my dreams, and the talent inherited from my parents.

2. What kind of training or education prepared you for your career?

After many intense years of painting and drawing as a young student in China, I earned my bachelor’s degree in scenic design from the Central Academy of Drama — a top university in China for cultivating theatre artists. Then, I came to America and got my MFA from Yale School of Drama.

3. Which artists or designers have influenced you the most?

I was very lucky to always have many great professors and designers to learn from. Ming Cho Lee influenced me the most. He gave me a new perspective on scenic design and the theater world. I’ll always look up to him as a mentor and idol.

4. What was your response to these two plays upon reading them the first time?

I thought it would be a very interesting experience to watch these two plays in one day because they both talk about life and death, but they explore human connection and loss very differently. The Arsonists is full of grief and yearning. It is unpredictable and spiritual. Where All Good Rabbits Go expresses the painful experience of loss in a quirky, absurdist way.

5. What are some of the creative challenges with designing a season in rep?

Even though the theme of the two plays is the same, I tried to create very different looks for each show. The challenge is to change one set to the other in a short time. I wanted to find a way to build the sets for the best effect, so the audience can experience the two shows with a very different perspective.

For more information on Thrown Stone's 2018 Repertory Season, and to buy tickets, visit thrownstone.org.

 

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Submitted by Ridgefield, CT

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