Murder on the Orient Express is a murder mystery that follows Hercule Poirot on his investigation. In starting this design process, I looked at Agatha Christie and some of her other works. I found that in her original book, Murder on the Orient Express, she is very methodical. Breaking up the story into sections about background, motive, clues, and conclusion. I also found that Poirot acts in the same way when investigating. I wanted the scenic elements to reflect the precision Christie has given Poirot in her works, everything in this world is precise and exact. The train and its surroundings are inspired by 1930 art deco travel posters and their dynamic expressions of movement.
DJ Pike (Scenic and Projection Designer) is from Clinton, Utah and has earned his BS in Theatre at Weber State University in Ogden, UT. DJ is a third year graduate candidate at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he is earning his MFA in scenic and projection design. Recent scenic designs include She Kills Monsters, Stinney: An American Execution, The Winter’s Tale, The Revolutionists, Everyman, Sunday in the Park with George and Hedda Gabler. Recent projection designs include The Magic Flute for UT Opera, Sunday in the Park with George, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Sense and Sensibility, Orchesis Dance, and Weber State’s Presidential Inauguration. DJ’s work is on display at djpike.com.