Terminus by Gabriel Jason Dean was produced at New York Theatre Workshop: Next Door in 2017. Directed by Lucie Tieberghien, Terminus tells the story of Eller, a white matriarch, and her mixed-race grandson, Jaybo, who live together in a ramshackle house down by the railroad tracks in rural Georgia. Their unique love has seen them through, but when Eller’s mind begins to fade with dementia, her violent past in the segregated South haunts her from the very walls of the old family home. As she descends terrifyingly closer toward a horrifying truth, Jaybo’s capacity to love his grandmother is put to the test.

 

The play utilized “Haunts,” or the memories of people from Eller’s past that follow her. Composer Paul Brill wrote soulful music for the Haunts’ entrances, so I designed soundscapes for them that played in direct contrast, leaning into the fact that they were tormenting Eller. The juxtaposition created an unnerving atmosphere every time the Haunts came onstage. Train sounds were used to both create a physical space for Eller’s house and also to symbolize the secret she has forgotten but is beginning to remember.

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Director: Lucie Tieberghien

Scenic Designer: D'Vaughn Agu

Lighting Designer: S. "Stoli" Stolnack

Costume Designer: Ari Fulton

Sound Designer: Megan Culley

Composer: Paul Brilll