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isabella cesari
THEATRE PORTFOLIO
design
HIGHLIGHTS
She, Men, and the Giant F*cking Snake
FEBRUARY 2025
Music, Lyrics, and Book by Anthony Palermo
Directed by Liam Donovan
Stage Management by Chelsea Mathieu
Dramaturgy by Avery-Jean Brennan
Produced by Party On Theatre & the Ottawa Fringe Undercurrents Festival
Photography by Danika Lange
LIGHTING AND PROJECTION DESIGN
"Isabella Cesari’s retro projection and symbolic lighting designs were another highlight. Coupled, the two represented what the technical production needed to be utterly enthralling."
"From dazzling spiralling galaxies overhead to rage-filled red tints, [the lighting design] all added to the song-cycle’s profound emotions."
"Tech made sure the whole experience was very immersive."
"The projections took on a mind of their own, drawing startled laughs from the audience."
Alice By Heart
MAY 2024
Music by Duncan Sheik
Lyrics by Steven Sater
Book by Steven Sater & Jessie Nelson
Directed by Caitlyn Grant
Choreography by Gabby Noga
Stage Management by Andrea Perez
Band Direction by Hannah Huang-Semeniuk
Vocal Direction by Soroosh Kahnemuyipour
Production Management by Isabella Cesari
Sound Design by Will Carriere & Cass Iacovelli
Costume Design by Cameron Ashley
Set Design by Montserrat Cadena
Assistant Stage Management by Sophia Gaber, JoJo Komlos, and Nikki Battiston
Sound Operation by Clark Steeves
Produced by Thaumatrope Theatre
Photography by Chris Anderson
LIGHTING DESIGN
"With floods of clashing colour, Isabella Cesari provides a vivid and gently dazzling array of vibey moods."
"[T]he exposed catwalks of the theatre are a surprisingly potent evocation of a cavernous space under bombardment."
NOVEMBER 2023
Jesus Christ Superstar
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Directed by Saccha Dennis
Music Direction by Jeremiah Sparks
Choreography by Michael Challenger
Stage Management by Jordan Vincer
Produced by Talk Is Free Theatre
Set and Prop Design by Adriana Bogaard
Costume Design by Des'ree Gray
Apprentice Stage Management by Keleshaye Christmas-Simpson
Fight and Intimacy Direction by Anita Nittoly
Associate Music Direction by Mateo Chavez Lewis
Production Management by Gabi Epstein
Photography by Matthew MacQuarrie-Cottle
LIGHTING DESIGN
FEBRUARY 2023
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Shadowcast)
Directed by Maria Perry & Valentine Leger
Choreography by Natalie Trumbore
Costume Design by Gabriel Woo
Stage Management by Valentine Leger
Makeup by Kate Martens
Produced by the UC Follies
Photography courtesy of the UC Follies
LIGHTING DESIGN
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
OCTOBER 2022
Book by John Cameron Mitchell
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask
Directed by Anthony Palermo
Music Direction by Jonah Nung
Stage Management by Anna Novak
Produced by the Victoria College Drama Society
Set and Sound Design by Alison Starkey
Costume Design by Gabe Woo
Makeup Design by Maggie Tavares
Assistant Directed by Mila Frumovitz
Photography by Maggie Tavares
"Beautiful, fun,
and a total success"
LIGHTING AND PROJECTION DESIGN
Salt-Water Moon
SEPTEMBER 2021
By David French
Directed by Emily Villani & Colin Darling
Stage Management by Nova Dexter
Music by Shreya Jha
Produced by the St. Michael's College Troubadours
"The large tree in the middle of the park...covered in fairy lights and draped in colourful sheets... wonderfully transported the audience to the setting of the play"
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Photography by Isabella Cesari
"The understated atmosphere really lets the performances shine"
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