The Curtainbox Theater Company | Art
I was commissioned by The Curtainbox Theater Company to design the primary promotional artwork and theatrical poster for David Mamet’s Hollywood satire, Speed-the-Plow. Running in April 2011, this specific production was directed by the internationally acclaimed Broadway director, Philip Wm. McKinley.
Creative Strategy & Execution To capture the play’s cynical, high-stakes commentary on the film industry, I chose a bold, highly conceptual approach that literalizes the theme of being trapped by the mechanics of Hollywood.
Photography & Art Direction: I directed and photographed the principal cast in a clean studio environment. The central character is wrapped tightly in unspooled 35mm film stock while holding a “Coming Soon” marquee tile, visually representing a literal entanglement in studio politics. The supporting characters frame him, manipulating the film reel and pulling the strings.
Design & Typography: Isolating the subjects against a stark white background allowed the imagery to jump off the page. I utilized a modern, lowercase sans-serif font stack for the title, using a punchy red-and-black palette to create an aggressive, contemporary look that mirrors Mamet’s sharp dialogue.
The Result By executing both the studio photography and final graphic layout, I ensured total creative cohesion. The resulting poster delivered a strong, satirical visual punch that generated excellent engagement for a high-profile local production.