Scenic Design | taylor-ewing

The Dining Room

A.R Gurney

I took on "The Dining Room", by A.R Gurney, because I found an interesting challenge in the simplicity of the set. I wanted to withhold the integritity of Gurney's note at the beginning of the play, " The thing to remember is that this play is not about dishes, food, or costume changes, but rather a play about people in a dining room."

After reading and researching the play, I came up with my own concept, which I found both withheld the plays original integrity while creating my own spin.

Concept Statment

The Dining Room: A well loved room, frozen in time, faded like a polaroid. With a suspended molding and frame, the set hangs in the space like a picture in a museum.

The Dining Room

First concept.

The Dining Room

First concept white model.

The Dining Room

First concept.

1/2

Above is my first concept. Set in a black box theater, the seating was set up in a three quarter thrust. When working the concept in 3D, the set evolved from three diamond shaped platforms into two rectangular platforms. The table turned for the purpose of site lines, and the museum rope was removed for the same reason.

The Dining Room

Painters Elevation: Suspended Molding

The Dining Roo,

Second concept. Ground plan.

The Dining Room

Model in progress.

The Dining Room

Painters Elevation: Suspended Molding

1/5

My second concept was placed in a proscenium. The thrust was still incorporated, but a single platform with rounded stairs replaced the two rectangular platforms. Windows were installed to define the space. The model above is currently in progress.