By Lillian Hellman
Directed by Ianthe Demos
Post Theatre, Long Island University
2026
Set Designer: Patti Panyakaew
Costume Designer: Morgan Moffitt
Lighting Designer: Chris Hanian
Sound Designer: Jordan Rose Berstein
Stage Manager: Amelia Klippenstein
Assistant Stage Manager: Stella Haight
Dramaturg: Hannah Grace Lobb
The set consists of four individual L-shaped units that can be maneuvered into different configurations, allowing the architecture to evolve with the story.
In Act I, the units create an enclosed, domestic, and slightly chaotic all-girls school. They tighten around Mary, the catalyst of the story, and shift with her actions as her lies begin to manipulate the space and those around her. Scrim walls create the feeling that someone is always just beyond the room, watching or eavesdropping.
In Act II, the units transform into the formal living room of Mary Tilford's wealthy mansion, reflecting its formality and intergenerational wealth. The scrims become a second wall, revealing the maid overhearing the conversation.
Mary's puzzle mirrors the set itself--a collection of pieces that can be rearranged--or her manipulation of the story.
In Act III, the units scatter across the stage, creating an open yet fragmented space that reflects the consequences of Mary's lies. As the final revelation unfolds, the units are pushed against the back wall, leaving the stage bare and empty.
Photo Credits: Patti Panyakaew
Design Concept Sketches