American Set Design

Examines the stage sets by eleven top U.S. designers and discusses the background of each artist.

A celebration of the dean of American set designers (The New York Times).

Engaging essays by an internationally prominent historian and theorist of theater set design

An inclusive history of the professionalization of American scenic design The figure of the American theatrical scenic designer first emerged in the early twentieth century. As productions moved away from standardized, painted scenery and toward individualized scenic design, the demand for talented new designers grew. Within decades, scenic designers reinvented themselves as professional artists. They ran their own studios, proudly displayed their names on Broadway playbills, and even appeared in magazine and television profiles. American Scenic Design and Freelance Professionalism tells the history of the field through the figures, institutions, and movements that helped create and shape the profession. Taking a unique sociological approach, theatre scholar David Bisaha examines the work that designers performed outside of theatrical productions. He shows how figures such as Lee Simonson, Norman Bel Geddes, Jo Mielziner, and Donald Oenslager constructed a freelance, professional identity for scenic designers by working within their labor union (United Scenic Artists Local 829), generating self-promotional press, building university curricula, and volunteering in wartime service. However, while new institutions provided autonomy and intellectual property rights for many, women, queer, and Black designers were not always welcome to join the organizations that protected freelance designers’ interests. Among others, Aline Bernstein, Emeline Roche, Perry Watkins, Peggy Clark, and James Reynolds were excluded from professional groups because of their identities. They nonetheless established themselves among the most successful designers of their time. Their stories expand the history of American scenic design by showing how professionalism won designers substantial benefits, yet also created legacies of exclusion with which American theatre is still reckoning.

In this richly illustrated and information-packed celebration of Broadway set design, Tony Award-winning designer Derek McLane explores the craft while reflecting on some of the greatest stage productions of the past few decades. Alongside other leading set design and theatre talents, McLane invites us into the immersive and exhilarating experience of designing sets that have visually brought so many of our favorite stories to life. With co-writer Eila Mell, he and contributors discuss Moulin Rouge!, Hamilton, Hadestown, Beautiful, and many more of the most iconic productions of our generation. Learn about the process from idea to opening night, the challenges and insights that inform creative choices, and more. Filled with personal sketches and photos from the artists' archives, this book is truly the behind-the-scenes deep dive that theatre fans will love. A double gatefold inside reveals the Tony Award-winning set of Moulin Rouge, making this the perfect keepsake. Contributors include: John Lee Beatty, Danny Burstein, Cameron Crowe, Ethan Hawke, Moisés Kaufman, Carole King, John Leguizamo, Kenny Leon, Santo Loquasto, Kathleen Marshall, Lynn Nottage, David Rabe, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Wallace Shawn, Robin Wagner.

"The Handbook of Set Design" is a comprehensive guide to designing scenery of all kinds for a wide variety of stages, large and small. From concept to final dress rehearsal and performance, it takes you through the practical process of turning initial ideas and sketches into final sets that enhance the audience's understanding of the play as well as providing a memorable experience in their own right. Many photographs of stage sets designed by the author are included, together with explanatory illustrations, stage plans, technical drawings, models and colour renderings for a wide range of productions. Topics covered include: various types of stage, stage directions and naturalism; style, colour, texture and form, realism and naturalism; both traditional and state-of-the-art digital techniques involved in stage design; tools and methods for hand drafting, painting and model making; moving and changing scenery; and scenic tricks and special effects.