Scenic Fabrication • Environmental Design • Live Production

The Garden Tomb

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Project Overview

Scenic Artist and Set Dresser
Resurrection (an Easter story)
Live Experience
Capernaum Studios
2026

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About This Project

This project transformed an empty stage into an immersive representation of the Garden Tomb, inspired by the landscape surrounding first-century Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. Created for a live resurrection performance, the environment combined scenic fabrication, landscaping, and digital media to support both live actors and large-scale visual storytelling.

From initial construction through final installation, I helped fabricate the tomb environment, sculpt realistic rock formations, design the surrounding landscape, and prepare the stage for live audiences. I also assisted in assembling the LED wall used to extend the physical environment with dynamic visual effects during the performance.

Scenic Fabrication

Helped construct the Garden Tomb structure and surrounding retaining walls using lightweight scenic construction techniques.

My Contributions

Rock Sculpting

Carved insulation foam into realistic rock formations before applying scenic finishes that replicated the textures and colors of limestone found around Jerusalem.

LED Wall Installation

Assisted with assembling and installing the large LED video wall that expanded the physical set with immersive digital scenery during live performances.

Scenic Painting

Painted and weathered fabricated rockwork and scenic elements to create natural variation and depth.

Environmental Landscaping

Designed and installed the surrounding terrain using fabricated rock, natural soil, and landscape elements to recreate the appearance of the Mount of Olives.

Live Production Support

Prepared the environment for live performances, ensuring scenic elements were presentation-ready for audiences and performers.

  • 1. Initial Layout

  • 2. Roughing out the Shape

  • 3. Defining the Features

  • 4. Painting & Creating Depth

  • 5. Set Layout

  • 6. Blending the Natural Elements

  • 7. Lighting the Finished Scene

Creating Rock from Foam

High-density foam was hand carved to establish natural rock formations before multiple layers of scenic paint were applied to create realistic stone textures suitable for close viewing by live audiences.

Behind the Build

Building the Landscape

The surrounding terrain was shaped using fabricated rock, soil, and carefully arranged landscape elements to recreate the rolling terrain surrounding Jerusalem.

Integrating Digital Scenery

A large LED wall was assembled behind the physical set, allowing digital environments to seamlessly extend the practical scenery during live performances.

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