Merrick's Death
Merrick’s death is the emotional centerpiece of the play. While the director and dramaturgy initially emphasized historical accuracy for the time period, I discovered a piece of music that I felt captured the soul of this moment perfectly. Despite being outside the Victorian era, the track's emotional weight was undeniable. When I presented it to the director, she was immediately moved; we began using it in rehearsals that very day, prioritizing its profound emotional resonance over strict period accuracy.
Composed by David Ross Lawn
The Elephant Man
Black Box Theater at Brigham Young University
TMA 436 Class Project
Director: Kim Black
This production of The Elephant Man explores the journey of Joseph Merrick, a man whose profound inner beauty and inherent worth transcend his physical struggles.
Pre & Post-Show Music
The directorial vision for this production was inspired by the story You Are Special. For the pre-show and post-show audio, the director requested a narrative experience featuring the voice of the actor playing Merrick. I coordinated the recording sessions, edited the vocals for clarity in Pro Tools, and curated a musical underscore to complement his narration. This soundscape was designed to immerse the audience in Merrick's world from the moment they entered the theater, guiding their perspective on his journey.
Water Dripping
In the original set design, a bathtub was a key element, but technical constraints prevented its physical implementation. While the director initially requested the sound of a running faucet, I proposed a more minimalist approach to emphasize Merrick’s profound isolation: the sound of a single, rhythmic water drop. To achieve the specific haunting atmosphere I envisioned, I manipulated and time-stretched existing sound effects. Although this process pushed the digital fidelity of the audio, the resulting texture effectively captured the stillness and loneliness of Merrick’s world.