I was approached to design the principal artwork for Music Theater Works’ 2023 season. Historically, the company had relied on photo-based imagery, but this season the board wanted to try a new visual direction: bold, vector-based illustrations.For each production, I was given a specific color palette and a set of required elements to incorporate. Some were highly literal (mud, woods, Shrek’s ears) while others were more conceptual, such as self-discovery, surrealism, and internal conflict.
The central challenge was finding a way to translate these disparate requirements into cohesive, compelling imagery while maintaining a consistent visual identity across the entire season. The artwork for The Producers was approved early and became the foundation for the rest of the series. Its use of silhouette established a visual throughline that allowed each production to feel distinct while still belonging to the same season.
The work was met with enthusiasm from the board and was praised as a clean and engaging visual direction. While the organization ultimately chose to return to its established photo-based approach, the project provided an opportunity to challenge the status quo and explore a more conceptual and graphic visual identity. The series also reinforced the value of creating a visual system capable of translating a wide range of themes and imagery into a unified body of work.
