My Story.
Retirement is a full-time job!
I started my professional theatre career at the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. I was awarded a McKnight Fellowship in scenic design and was immediately made the prop master for Seasons 2 and 3. During Season 4 I was upgraded to full designer and designed sets for S.S. GLENCAIRN (the four O’Neill sea plays) and THE DOCTOR’S DILEMMA. During Season 5 I designed sets and costumes for THE SHOEMAKER’S HOLIDAY. in 1978 I designed sets for THE RIVALS.
At the end of Season 5 I married Yvonne Bronowicz, who had been the design coordinator for the theatre and we decided to spend 9 months traveling in Europe, seeing theatre, art, and museums. Our return left us in New York, where she worked for Ray Diffen’s Costume and I spent the better part of 8 years at the Metropolitan Opera as a scenic artist.
During our New York stay I assisted Jo Meilziner on two shows (one for which I designed the lighting) did three off-broadway productions, and two Broadway productions (LADIE’S NIGHT and OH! CALCUTTA). I also left New York for 9 months to design sets and costume at the Seattle Repertory.
In 1976 I was offered the position of Resident Designer for the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre and designed four seasons before deciding to move my family to Los Angeles and try my hand at Art Direction for Television or Film.
TELEVISION
I began my Television career with Norman Lear’s company as Art Director for DIFF’RENT STROKES, FACTS OF LIFE, and SILVER SPOONS. I moved to Paramount Pictures where I stepped into the fifth season of CHEERS and was Art Director for 7 seasons. During that time I designed several series for Paramount (BOB, GEORGE AND LEO, DEAR JOHN, LATELINE, and many pilots), NBC (FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR, SISTER SISTER, and IN THE HOUSE), Universal Studios (BLUE SKIES, WHOLE NEW BALLGAME, SOMETHING SO RIGHT) and TV pilots for various companies.
After retiring in 2005 I began spending much of the time at my easel. I started what I called my “Thieve’s Garden” based on succulents I collected in Hollywood Hills while walking my dog. I was fascinated with the variety and colors in the succulents growing there, and I took cuttings home with me. They grew quickly and became my focus in painting. Our move to New Mexico, with it’s colder climate, limited the kinds of succulents I could paint and so I focused on Cactus and Agaves as well as photos I would take while visiting my daughter in Southern California.
In Albuquerque, I spent 2 years teaching design at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, then two years teaching design at the University of New Mexico. At the same time I started showing my oil paintings at the Nob Hill Gallery and then the Yucca Art Gallery in Albuquerque’s historic old town, where I continue to show my work.
At the same time, I started designing the Sets for Landmark Musicals and in 2020 I reached my 20th production. I also design sets and costumes for Opera Southwest, when time permits.
