La notte degli Oscar

The research is structured into three sections, with the aim of retracing the stages that have made the Academy Awards ceremony one of the most widely watched events in the world. It is complemented by the original design of the stage set for a hypothetical edition of the Academy Awards, conceived as a celebration of the complete revival of theatre and the entertainment industry, to which this project is dedicated.

Developing a theatrical design project during the prolonged and enforced closure of theatres caused by the pandemic provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of the audience and the importance of its physical and emotional presence. Theatre revealed itself in the depth of its very structure, constrained by emptiness and stripped down to its most mechanical essence. The presence of the audience becomes essential for those on stage, creating a continuous and reciprocal exchange of pure emotion.

From this perspective, the proposed stage design seeks to highlight and celebrate the importance of this interaction by creating a swirling visual experience that embraces the audience, transforming the performance into one in which spectators themselves become protagonists.

Within this immersive interplay of light and matter converge the emotions of thousands of people, yet only a few will step onto that stage and be completely enveloped by the joy of achieving excellence.

This interdisciplinary approach to designing a televised event that celebrates the greatness of cinema within one of the largest theatres in the United States enriched the educational journey through the many considerations and details arising from the fusion of three distinct artistic worlds. The proposed project aims to create a captivating and highly evocative stage design—qualities that have always been fundamental to the Academy—while restoring the audience to a central role, mesmerized as they are drawn into the vortex of excellence and creativity that defines Oscar night.