Better Mr. Burns:

A Sustainable Approach to Scenic Design

Overview

As a scenic designer for theatrical performance, I have grown acutely aware of the temporary nature of our work. The enduring aspects of theatre will always be in the minds and memories of the audience while the physical manifestation of the art is broken down and discarded once the run is ended. With this in mind, I partnered with Khristian Mendez in the Department of Theatre and Dance to highlight specific and significant overlooked opportunities in our profession. In order to illuminate these blind spots, we chose as a means of showcase a production of Mr Burns: A Post-Electric Play by Anne Washburn. My main focus in this endeavor was to create sustainable designs and construction methods for the stage and then implement the research by producing a zero waste set. 

DESign

After having done the research and being aware of what was available in stock, I began sketching and drawing out designs. By then I already had a clear understanding of what the materials I wanted to use would be. I started renderings and drawing all designs digitally.

Process

The construction process was similar in tone and atmosphere to other productions I have experienced, except for the hyper-awareness everyone had of waste generation and the alternative materials being used.

Production Images

RESULT

After dismantling the set and calculating the weight of everything in the landfill bin, the waste product was  5.2% of the net scenic weight, meaning that 94.8% of the scenery was diverted from landfills. This substantial diversion ultimately afforded  the scenic design and fabrication the designation of being a zero waste set. The 94.8% of scenic weight and materials was further broken down, with 86.5%  being distributed to different establishments for reuse, 7.6% was recycled, 0.5% was returned to places of purchase or loan, and 0.07% was composted