multimedia designer
PROJECTION DESIGN.
IDEN B PAYNE THEATER
2025
THE RESOLUTION THE BENEDICTION
Choreography: Michelle N. Gibson
Projection Design: Desne Wharton and
Gavin Strawnato
Lighting Design: Gavin Strawnato
Scenic Design: Brittney Barton
The Resolution The Benediction by Michelle N. Gibson is a powerful dance piece that explores the histories and relationships of three cultural groups—White, Black, and Latinx. The work delves into their individual journeys of truths, mourning, and healing which leads them to the journey of the Second Line, a vibrant celebration of New Orleans culture, which serves as the finale of the performance, Equinox.
As the co-projection designer for this piece, I crafted the visual narrative for the second half of the performance, capturing the journey toward the Second Line and the joyous celebration upon arrival. Using archival footage, rich textures, and striking imagery, I aimed to immerse the audience in this transformative journey, honoring the spirit and history of the Second Line tradition.
CYPHERS
OSCAR BROCKETT
THEATRE 2024
Directed by: Gesel Mason
Written by: Gesel Mason + Aysha Upchurch
Projection Design: Desne Wharton
Lighting Design: KP Pierce
Scenic Design: Arash Baqipur
Cyphers was a dance show that embodied the essence of a cypher. Staged in the round, it featured four distinct dance pieces, accompanied by a DJ, an MC, and a hovering cylinder above the marley floor.
As the projection designer, I delved into the origins of the cypher, drawing connections to African traditions, ring shout, b-boys, and the early foundations of hip-hop—this research informed the preshow. For the actual dance piece, I utilized green screens to capture choreography, transforming bodies into striking landscapes and earth forms, creating bold and immersive visual moments.
FUCKIN' LOUD
HOLLYWOOD
FRINGE FESTIVAL
2023
Directed by: Jackie Mates
Written by: m
Projection Design: Desne Wharton
Lighting Design: Selena Price
Live Percussion: Gabriel Montez
Produced by: Che Spriggs
What happens when projections are a character?
My designs were essentially the conscious of the show- amplifying thoughts, texts, emotions, memories, and internal conflicts.
I chose bold colors to intensify the effects the multimedia would have on the audience.
Using just one projector, I was able to create a visual language that pushed the tragically beautiful story and experiences of the character, m., forward.
COLORED MUSEUM, projection DESIGNER, PGCC COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COLORED MUSEUM
PGCC COMMUNITY COLLEGE
2023
Directed by: Dr. Lamar Bagley
Projection Design: Desne Wharton
Lighting Design: Trevor Stoneburner
Set Design: Joyce Milford
Costume Design: Stefany Thomas
With such a malleable set, my designs had various surfaces to live on and multiple roles they had the opportunity to play.
Mixing archival footage, dream-like montages, and interactive media created a vibrant, foundational, and transitional backdrop for monologues and musical pieces in this play.
Projecting my grandmother's handwriting, my cousins' illustrations, and using my late father's notes from his time directing an adaptation of this play, made the process of designing this show, feel like home.
I was able to deeply connect to the journey of creation through the roots and talents of my family.
AMERICAN
IDIOT
PENN STATE CENTRE STAGE
2017
Directed by: Erin Farrell-Speer
Projection Design: Desne Wharton
Lighting Design: Zachary Schaeffer
Set Design: Abby Wilker
Choreography: Michele Dunleavy
Establishing location, representing the relationship the world has with media, and creating visual montages were the most important roles in my storytelling for this musical.
My favorite element of this process was timing. It reaffirmed my love for music and my ability to make everything I touch, musical.
This was the largest-scale production I had ever designed projections for, at 19 years old. I received the Technical Achievement Award from The School of Theatre for my design work.
kiss of thE SPIDeRWOMAN
PENN STATE
CENTRE STAGE 2018
Directed by: Darcy Evans
Projection Design: Desne Wharton
Lighting Design: Noah Guth
Scenic Design: Soledad Sanchez-Valdez
Costume Design: Austin M. Rauch
Sound Design: Jackson Williams
Designing Kiss of the Spiderwoman was one of my favorite assignments at Penn State.
Doing much research on Rio de Janeiro, I pulled images of Copacabana beaches, Christ the Redeemer, and infamous Copacabana waved cobblestoned streets, I captured the essence of the vibrancy of the city.
Creating these moments for the Spiderwoman herself allowed me to get creative and make bold choices with my graphics.
Beijing International Student Works’ Exchange
2018
WAYS
Projection Design: Desne Wharton
Sound Design: Desne Wharton
I developed this piece with fellow design students at the Beijing International Student Works’ Exchange in Beijing, China.
We walked around neighborhood of the university, taking photos, videos, objects, newspapers, pebbles - anything we could find to help us to connect ourselves to the city.
Through much dialogue, (in different languages and with assistance from interpreters) we developed a story and design for our 5-minute production called, Ways, which takes you through the journey of our connectedness.
I served as the sound and projection designer, creating imagery from the very objects we gathered on our walk around Beijing and recording the sound and voices from the environment that surrounded us.
The room we were presenting and rehearsing in had a loud white noise. So, instead of trying to figure out how to remove it, I recorded it and amplified it, keeping in theme with using the environment around us to help tell our story.
ARGONAUTIKA
PENN STATE CENTRE STAGE
2018
Directed by: Steven Snyder
Projection Design: Desne Wharton
Set Design: Abbey Wiker
Lighting Design: Jen Minor
Costume Design: Austin Rausch
Puppet Design: Regina Joslin
Utilizing a combination of light, puppetry, and LED starlights, my projections added a dynamic visual element to the narrative of folkloric storytelling.
While these moments with projections were not often, they held significant importance in creating imagery for the play.
ASSOCIATE PROJECTION DESIGN.
BULRUSHER
MCCARTER THEATER
2023
Directed by: Nicole A. Watson
Projection Design: Katherine Freer
Lighting Design: Sherrice Mojgani
Set Design: Lawrence E. Moten
Costume Design: Valerie St. Pierre Smith
Sound Design: Kate Marvin
As the associate projection designer, I did extensive research, collected files and videos, NDI mapped the set, and created and updated paperwork.
I took a keen eye to small details in content creation and system setup.
Photos by Lawrence E. Moten III
PROJECTION assistant.
RECONSTRUCTING
LUMBERYARD
2019
Devising Artists: Brenda Abbandandolo, Denée Benton, Eric Berryman, Vinie Burrows, Eisa Davis, André De Shields, JJJJJerome Ellis, Katherine Freer, Jill Frutkin, Amber Gray, Modesto “Flako” Jimenez, Marika Kent, Libby King, Ian Lassiter, James Harrison Monaco, Jeremy O’Harris, Kristen Sieh, Nick Vaughan, Gogo Yemah (Jillian Walker, Process Director), Jhanaë Bonnick (Production Stage Manager), Milta Vega-Cardona (Process Chaplain), Zhailon Levingston and Artistic Director Rachel Chavkin (Co-Directors)
RECONSTRUCTING
LUMBERYARD
2019
peculiar patriot
national
black theatre
2017
Written and Performed by: Liza Jessie Peterson
Directed by: Talvin Wilks
Projection Design: Katherine Freer
Scenic/Lighting Design: Andrew Cissna
Sound Design: Luqman Brown
peculiar patriot
national
black theatre
2017
Written and Performed by: Liza Jessie Peterson
Directed by: Talvin Wilks
Projection Design: Katherine Freer
Scenic/Lighting Design: Andrew Cissna
Sound Design: Luqman Brown
CLASSIC THEATRE OF HARLEM 2017
ANTIGONE
CLASSICAL THEATRE OF HARLEM
2017
Directed by: Carl Cofield
Choreographed by: Tiffany Rea-Fisher
Scenic Design: Christopher & Justin Swader
Costume Design: Lex Liang
Lighting Design: Alan C. Edwards
Projection Design: Katherine Freer
Sound Design: Curtis Craig
Prop Design: Samantha Shoffner