Naomi Beetlestone Detre

Light + Shadow was a light-driven dance piece containing the work of multiple choreographers produced by the Newcomb Dance Company in March 2020 at Tulane University. The pieces that I worked on were presented as vignettes between other pieces, representing the odd experience of walking home at 4am in the New York City meatpacking district, with certain passerby’s on the way home, some off to work, some on a morning jog, and the odd relationships that occur.

Choreography: Leslie Scott

Lighting Design: Philip Sandström

Photography by: Sarah Danziger

Yellow Wallpaper was my BFA thesis production at Tulane University. Adapted from the famous short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, this women-led production integrated movement techniques, comedic moments, and horror influences to create a somewhat surreal interpretation of the work, which blurred the audience perception of reality on stage.

My costumes were very craft-heavy, using painting and dying, liquid latex, as well as various distressing techniques in order to create a world influenced by mildew, spores, and decomposition. I also used thermochromatic paints to have Mary turn yellow on stage.

Director: Jessica Podewell

Movement Directior: Jeffrey Gunshol

Playwright: Kate Bergstrom

Lighting Design: Vlad Ghinea

Scenic Design: Betsy Primes

Photography by Martin Sachs, and Cat Landrum with 2nd Story Creative

7 Deadly Sins is a paper project assigned in a Fundamentals of Design course at Tulane University. The abstract drawings were assigned first, then turned into garments for the following class.

A scene from Lucia di Lammermoor designed for the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scenes.

Directed by Paul Curran

Photgraphy by Bob Godwin

Frankenstein was a site-specific piece adapted from the Mary Shelley novel, directed by Christopher Givens. I created the costumes with minimal shop support over a 3 week period.

The Creature’s bodysuit was made with non-conventional materials and techniques, making extensive use of liquid latex, layered with cotton pads, synthetic yarn, acrylic paint, and plastic grapes, as well as couched leather cording to create the illusion of stitched wounded skin.

Director: Christopher Givens

Lighting Design: Jasmine Williams

Photos by Blake Bertuccelli

A remount of a 30-year-old dance piece for which I was the scenic lead.

Acrylic paint on wood and canvas stretched over an inflatable exercise ball

Photos by Sally Asher