Sound and projection designer Kassia Lisinski on their work in 20% Theatre Company’s world premiere production Unknown.
What is your role for this production of Unknown? What inspired you to join the design team?
I am the sound and video projection designer for Unknown. I have worked with 20% and associated folks in the past and it is always a wonderful experience!
Talk about your background as an artist and designer. How did you become a designer?
The head of the theatre department at my college (a sound and lighting designer) poached me from the art department after I took his class out of curiosity!
What sorts of stories or productions do you find most compelling to design for?
I really enjoy dark and scary stories as well as abstract and experimental pieces.
What are you as a person bringing to this production?
I’m bringing a great team spirit!
What have been some challenges and/or unique opportunities of designing for Unknown?
Time constraints! It’s such a sign of the times for everyone I know and work with to be exhausted and stretched thin all the time to pursue our art, and I’m no exception. I have never designed sound and video together for a straight show (no pun intended) and I learned a lot about how they can play together.
What social issues are important to you and how do they inform the art you create?
I think it’s nice to be nice to people and remember that we have always existed.
What artists, playwrights, and/or performances have inspired you over the years?
All of them!
Have you been involved with 20% Theatre in the past?
I designed sound for The Terror Fantastic.
Do you have any other projects coming up you’d be excited to share?
I am participating in Toot Suite as a performer and media artist on Sunday, November 10th at 7 pm at Fresh Oysters, as well as designing sound for Gadfly Theatre’s Final Frontier Fest: In a World, which opens November 8th at the Haunted Basement and Steadfast, a riff on the story of the Tin Soldier, which opens next month at Open Eye Figure Theatre on the 2nd.
When you’re not designing, how do you spend your time? What are some of your hobbies or passions in life?
I’m working on applying to graduate schools right now, and also continually composing several epic high-fantasy and queer hard sci-fi novels in my head…
Don’t miss Kassia’s work in the world premiere of Unknown October 18-27 at The Crane Theater in Minneapolis.