Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook

Photo Credit: Addie Ellison

Director: Cory Phelps
Asst. Director: Luiza Parodia-Penha
Technical Director: David Becker
Asst. Technical Director: English Brackett
Scenic Designer: Emma Hoffbauer
Costume Designer: April Andrew Carswell
Lighting Designer: Serafina Ramirez
Sound Designer: Amoirie Perteet
Stage Management: Megan Carr, Stevie Whitt, Eric Cavese

I had the honor of being the lighting designer for the Gainesville Theatre Alliance’s production of Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook, directed by Cory Phelps, in 2025. Although this was not my first time designing at GTA, this is my first full, main-stage design done solely by me. The design process started in April, and while I was on a summer stock contract, I was creating my design concept and plot for this show. By August my plot was due and it was time to start hanging fixtures and building practicals.This production of Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook was mainly going to be seen by school children, so my plot wasn't too crazy, and I was able to utilize some of the theater’s existing house plot to achieve my design goals. Below is my paperwork for this show, process photos of practicals building, and more final production photos.

This is my very rough sketch of what I wanted the cloud practicals to look like. Photo Credit: Serafina Ramirez, unless stated other wise
Once I got into the shop, I determined that a wooden base would be the best option to support the chicken wire and pillow stuffing. This is just a starting base and eventually more chicken wire would be added to give the cloud more shape.
I really wanted these clouds to have as much dimension as possible because the back of them would be flat. I didn't want the audience to get a glimpse of the back.
Here we attached the twinkle lights with zip ties, but leaving 3'-5' of length to go up the 2 lines of fishing line. Before going through with the other clouds, we wanted to put some pillowing stuffing over the light to make sure nothing would burn or overheat. Luckily we were in the clear and continued making the rest of the cloud practicals.
Here is one of the clouds before we hung it on a baton!
Here is a final production photo with all of the clouds hung. Photo Credit: Sidney Chansamone

Final Production Photos

Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook

This is my very rough sketch of what I wanted the cloud practicals to look like. Photo Credit: Serafina Ramirez, unless stated other wise

Once I got into the shop, I determined that a wooden base would be the best option to support the chicken wire and pillow stuffing. This is just a starting base and eventually more chicken wire would be added to give the cloud more shape.

I really wanted these clouds to have as much dimension as possible because the back of them would be flat. I didn't want the audience to get a glimpse of the back.

Here is one of the clouds before we hung it on a baton!

Here is a final production photo with all of the clouds hung. Photo Credit: Sidney Chansamone

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