We’re delighted to introduce Jena J. (she/her), a Los Angeles–based scenic and multimedia designer working under her creative name.
Educated in Hong Kong and the U.S., Jena has worked across traditional theater stages and emerging digital platforms. Her design practice is deeply rooted in questioning how space, story, and womanhood intersect — both visibly and invisibly.
Shall we hear from her?
Out of the Dollhouse
" A while ago, I reused an old set for a play — A Doll’s House. It was a beautifully crafted dollhouse, soft colors and perfect little details. But the moment I stepped into it, something felt off. It was too small. Too perfect. Too quiet.
The lines in the script haven’t changed.
"You’re my little squirrel. My skylark.”
It might sound sweet, but to me, it always felt like a way of keeping someone small — and safe — and contained.
So this time, I designed something different. A house that’s there, but not really. Just outlines for walls. Props that appear and disappear.
As the main character finds her freedom, the set slowly fades — becomes more transparent. There’s less to hold her in.
These days, a lot of designers rethink how women are portrayed when we bring classic stories back on stage. I do too. Because we don’t live the way we used to.
I believe we’re all slowly redesigning our own dollhouses. Some are opening bigger windows. Some are walking right out the front door. That’s the stage we’re building now. That’s the life we’re choosing."
