A new play called Rift, or White Lies features scenic design by PMA Visiting Associate Professor Nick Embree. Written by Gabriel Jason Dean and directed by Seth Rozin, Rift, or White Lies opened on April 4 at the InterAct Theatre Company’s Drake Proscenium Theater in Philadelphia and will run until April 27.
“Rift, or White Lies has only two characters, half-brothers, who are never named,” said Embree. “One is Inside Brother, who is in prison for murder, and the other is Outside Brother, who isn't incarcerated. The play's four scenes are in-person or virtual meetings between the two brothers over decades as their lives and paths diverge.
“Seth and I agreed from our first design meeting that we wanted to put the characters in a stark and brutal space — a simple space that would focus all attention on their difficult conversations. We decided against any illusion or ornamentation. I designed a simple platform to focus the theater space, left mostly empty and open. I reinforced the shape of the platform with a suspended ceiling frame, both in a gray cast-concrete texture.
“I gave each brother a small upstage area to inhabit during the transitions between scenes. The actors make costume adjustments for the next scene while remaining in the view of the audience. I wanted no masking or walls — there is nowhere to hide, and there is nothing up my sleeves as the designer. I'm happy with the design — it's harsh, and it's effective!”
Read more about the production.
