La Traviata is one of my favorite operas, and this two night Fringe performance was wonderful to be a part of. The show performed in the Tsai Performance Center, which meant that nothing about the set could be permanent. It was like we were in a touring venue and the set needed to provide space for a full chorus and orchestra. It was a challenge to fit that many people and instruments on stage and still have enough room for furniture and cast members. The inspiration for the scenic design revolved around the fragility of the camellia flower that’s referenced in the original book, and the decadence of the society the main character is living in. Then in the third act, when Violetta is forced into poverty and sickness, the draped fabric that represented luxury turns into a shroud.

Photos by Kalman Zabarsky and Kayla Williams