This coming year will be the 50^th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a pivotal point for LGBTQ+ rights. As such, a group of students and faculty here at Kent State began plans for a play. As the project developed, ideas began to form for ways that there could be a set or even prop to bring the planned play to life. This project started as a prospective set, and grew into it’s own entity. A wall, not to close people out or even blockade progress, but as a path to invite change and cooperation. To show that students, that people can leave an impact in many ways. This wall will represent Kent State, students and faculty alike, as well as any allies or LGBTQ+ people who worked on it. After the show closes, the wall will separate into two halves and become an art installation, to inspire and support LGBTQ+ individuals. A way to show that we, as students and people, won’t forget those who came before us, those alongside us, and those after us.

One of the key challenges is designing and building something that will be a set for a play, something sturdy yet pliable, allowing for an interactive feeling for the actors and audience, and then taking that set and finishing it so that it will be a permanent structure. Then the challenges of developing and learning different ways to make the wall a reality, from using varying techniques and alternative paths to achieve a final structure.