‘…Scenic designer Kate Rance brought life to the library settling, creating a colorful, immersive space, no doubt reminiscent of the original’s debut in the Palace of Versailles.’ Nite Life Exchange

‘The library is especially appropriate for Tartuffe since it was constructed in the 1600s and the play was first performed in 1664….set designer Kate Rance incorporates the audience into the cosy environment…’ TheaterLife

‘…Tartuffe has a unique flair that must be witnessed in this intimate space. And that’s where the story starts, helped in its joyful theme by Kate Rance‘s set…’. Stage & Cinema

‘…there’s an uncanny sense crossing the threshold of stepping into the cozily couture-ed world of the play… The ambience is impeccable.’ TheaterMania

‘The production design and costuming are gorgeous. It’s a memorable night of theatre you won’t forget’. Franklin Shepard

Tony Award® winner and Broadway legend André De Shields opens the doors of the House of the Redeemer to just 100 guests per night to a sumptuous evening of ritual and revelry inspired by Molière’s notorious deceiver, Tartuffe. With a razor-sharp translation by Ranjit Bolt (OBE), this scandalous satire that once shocked Paris is reborn as a wicked parlor party: fast, furious, and unmistakably timely.

This historic setting comprises a stunning C17th Italian Library (imported by the Vanderbilts to the Upper East Side, where this Gilded Age mansion was constructed around it). Working to enhance, rather than fight against this extraordinary setting, we enlisted a few key furniture pieces to create focal points within the space. Additionally, Propmaster Abby Walsh and I created an opulent banquet for the library’s immense banquet table which created both a rich visual backdrop for the show and also a practical tableau, which contained all the props for the show. I was also tasked with creating and developing a VIP experience for guests to enjoy during the pre-show. This ultimately took the form of an upscale scavenger hunt, with patrons scouring both the library and slaon for hidden symbols and clues hidden within books.

PRODUCTION PHOTOS: JOAN MARCUS