Paul Deziel (Photo: Alexandra Kelly Colburn)

Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department alumnus Paul Deziel ’14, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BA program in technical theatre, has received praise for his projection designs for Tilikum, a world premiere production by Chicago’s Sideshow Theatre. The show, which runs through July 29 at Victory Gardens Theatre, uses the story of Tilikum, a SeaWorld whale, as a metaphor for racial oppression. The production employs Deziel’s projections to represent the aquatic environment in which Tilikum is held captive.

Sigrid Sutter and Gregory Geffrard in “Tilikum,” with visual projections by Paul Deziel upstage. (Photo: Jonathan L. Green)

In Third Coast Review, Nancy Bishop wrote: “Paul Deziel’s projection designs are quite remarkable and beautiful.” And Lawrence Bommer’s review for Stage and Cinema praised Deziel’s “persuasive, wonderful oceanic animation.” Deziel is currently is an MFA Candidate for Projection and Multimedia Design at the University of Maryland.

Tilikum plays at Victory Gardens Theatre in the historic Biograph Theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. For tickets, call 773-871-3000 or click here.