Interview with Lighting Designer Tara Patterson
What was your design process like for The Wolves? What research did you do? How was it different from other shows you've designed?
I was very excited to start my design process for The Wolves! After reading the script, I had a meeting with the director and the rest of the design team to talk about the aspects and themes of the play that stand out the most to us. This conversation about these big picture ideas is what sparked the rest of my research moving forward in the process. I researched specific conflicts that the script mentions, as well as the internal conflicts these characters go through. I also connected my personal life into the world of the play, as there are many things that I connected within the story. This is the third theatrical production I have Lighting Designed, but only the first where I could relate so personally to the story. Therefore I was able to approach the design from a different perspective.
What do you love about this play?
Besides the fact that I have a personal soft spot for ensemble work, to me, The Wolves is refreshing. In most forms of media, teenage girls are almost always portrayed as dumb, naive, and conceited. Though it's true that most adolescents have an aspect of these traits in their personality, DeLappe represented these girls as accurately as I have ever experienced teenage girls. Though some of them have these traits, they are not presented in a way that is belittling to their overall value but instead use these traits to contribute to their overall personality. Not to mention, it's empowering to see people care about what teenage girls are doing.
Did you play any sports as a teenager?
I played basketball and softball until 7th grade!
What was it like being a female-identified lighting designer on a show that is so focused on women?
I feel very fortunate that a show that tells the story of young female-identified students also has many female-identified artists on the creative team. Being a female-identified person enhances my experience and choices that I make on the production because of the ways in which I can relate to the story. I feel fortunate that this is my second time working on the winter-term show with Dr. Shawyer and Professor Shively, who are great at empowering women's voices in the industry.