
Brandon PT Davis
Space reveals character.
Design gives a story
a world to inhabit.
Based in San Diego, my practice spans scenic design for theatre, experiential environments, and personal narrative art.
Brandon PT Davis is a scenic designer whose work explores how space, architecture, and visual storytelling shape the experience of live performance. His designs are grounded in research, collaboration, and the belief that scenery should do more than create a setting—it should reveal character, clarify dramatic action, and give performers a world that evolves with the story. His portfolio spans dramas, comedies, Shakespeare, musicals, and new work for regional theatres, festivals, and universities across the United States.
Professional collaborations include South Coast Repertory, Maples Repertory Theatre, Theatre SilCo, New Swan Shakespeare Festival, Okoboji Summer Theatre, the University of Missouri, and numerous academic and professional productions. Beyond the stage, Brandon spent several years as a designer and Senior Scenic & Experiential Designer at Adaptive Design Services, where he developed environments for live events, branded experiences, and immersive installations. That work expanded his practice into architectural visualization, digital rendering, fabrication workflows, and large-scale experiential design—perspectives that continue to inform his theatrical work.
A shared practice.
Alongside his professional practice, Brandon is a Lecturer in the School of Theatre, Television, and Film at San Diego State University. He has previously taught at the University of California, Irvine, the University of Texas at El Paso, and Stephens College, mentoring emerging designers in scenic design, rendering, drafting, digital visualization, and collaborative production. His teaching reflects the same values that guide his design work: curiosity, rigorous research, technical precision, and an ongoing commitment to storytelling through space.
Brandon received his MFA in Scenic Design from the University of California, Irvine and his BFA in Theatre Arts from Stephens College. He has designed more than 130 productions and assisted on over 40 productions at regional theatres and Off-Broadway. He is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT).
View resumeBehind the
work
How I approach design, teaching, and the tools of a creative practice.
A room can tell a story before anyone speaks.
I approach scenery through architecture, history, and the text. Every spatial choice should reveal character, shape the action, and give performers a world they can trust.
Teach a way of thinking. Make room for a voice.
I want students to develop their own judgment: to research deeply, test ideas, work with others, and explain the choices they make. Craft and experimentation belong in the same classroom.
Better tools. Human authorship.
I use AI selectively for technical work and to build tools that serve a creative practice. My scenic designs grow from my own research, spatial decisions, and collaboration with other artists.
In
conversation
An incompleteHistory
A few milestones in a life spent designing, teaching, and making things.
1987–2006
Origins
- 1987
Born in Columbia, Missouri—a college town.
- 1989
First word: “dinosaur.”
- 1990
Dad takes him to his first show: Godspell at an outdoor theatre.
- 2000
Builds a paper Godzilla scene inside a shoebox, imagining how the scenery could transform using flat puppets.
- 2003
Takes his first technical theatre class in summer school. Designs a scene for Alice in Wonderland.
- 2006
Begins college at Stephens College.
2007 & the Chicago years
Finding theatre
- 2007
Transfers to Mizzou to try business. Joins Delta Chi and serves as vice president during his time there.
- 2009
Designs The Verge at Mizzou—his first collegiate scenic design.
- 2009
Returns to Stephens to pursue a BFA that better matches how he learns.
- 2010
Earns his BFA in Theatre Arts. Designs at Okoboji Summer Theatre.
- 2012
Moves to Chicago late in the year. Lives with his best friend, Dru.
- Chicago years
Completes an apprenticeship with American Theater Company.
2017–2023
New worlds
- 2017
Moves to Southern California and begins his MFA in Scenic Design at UC Irvine.
- 2019
Gretchen and Brandon start dating at Okoboji Summer Theatre.
- 2020
Earns his MFA from UCI. Gretchen and Brandon move to Chicago during the pandemic.
- 2021
Begins assisting Jo Winiarski at Utah Shakespeare Festival.
- 2021
Teaches at UTEP, then returns to Stephens as Assistant Professor of Scenic Design.
- 2023
Joins United Scenic Artists Local 829. Assists Jo on The Fears, Off-Broadway.
2024–Now
Making & moving
- 2024
Completes three years teaching at Stephens. Moves back to Southern California and expands into experiential design.
- 2024
🐈Archer joins the family.
- 2025
Gretchen and Brandon get Disneyland Magic Key passes.
- 2025
Co-designs Million Dollar Quartet at South Coast Repertory with Efren Delgadillo Jr.
- 2026
Releases RefRo, his image research app.
- 2026
Moves to San Diego to teach and lead scenic design at SDSU.
- 2026
🐈Neptune joins the family.
- Now
Keeps designing, teaching, and making things.


