Distinct Identities for Two New Works at Rattlestick Theater

What: Rattlestick Playwrights Theater is known for developing new work by emerging and established playwrights. Studio Usher partnered with the theater to create key art and marketing materials for two productions: Novenas for a Lost Hospital, which chronicles the history of St. Vincent’s Hospital, established in 1849 by the Sisters of Charity, and Siblings Play, an intimate story of three teenagers navigating life on their own.

Goal: Develop two distinct visual identities that capture the tone and themes of each production while supporting audience engagement and ticket sales.

Notable: Studio Usher created a distinct visual system for each production. For Novenas for a Lost Hospital, a variable “logo” based on a hospital floor plan shifts across digital and print formats while keeping a recognizable structure. It references the building, its history, and memory tied to place. Motifs like the Sacred Heart and a New York pigeon with a skull reinforce themes of devotion, mortality, and the city.

In contrast, Siblings Play takes a more character-driven approach, with a visual tone shaped by the emotional core of the story.

Partners: Carla Fuentes