The Royale
Deigner
Yingman Tang
Location
Colwell Playhouse, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Illinois, US
Credit
Director: Tyrone Phillips
Photo Credits: Darrel Hoemann
Scenic Designer:Alyssa Thompson
Lighting Designer: Yingman Tang
Costume Designer: Meici Yang
Properties Head: Charles Pascale
Media Designer: Danielle Monet
Visual Artist: Nikko Washington
Context
Jay “The Sport” Jackson dreams of being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. But it’s 1905, and in the racially segregated world of boxing, his chances are as good as knocked out. When a crooked boxing promoter hatches a plan for “the fight of the century,” “The Sport” just might land a place in the ring with the reigning white heavyweight champion.
Based loosely on true events in the life of the first African-American heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, this play asks, “How different are things in the present?”
​Experience
While working on The Royale, I encountered a small but meaningful challenge that became a valuable learning experience. During the design process, I felt that my lighting choices were being questioned in a way that suggested they required approval from other designers.
With guidance from my mentor, I brought the director into the conversation and framed the discussion collaboratively, allowing the director to make the final decision. This approach proved highly effective. It created a space where all designers could express their perspectives, leading to mutual understanding and thoughtful compromise.
This experience strengthened my ability to navigate collaboration, communicate across design teams, and keep the focus on serving the production as a whole.
