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June 2026

Scenic design drafting table with a hand-drawn ground plan, model pieces, tools, and warm studio light.

Career Development

The Price of the Room: What Theatre Designers Actually Get Paid

Jun 16, 2026 · 16 min read

Scene emphasizing sightlines, negative space, and the elevated platform relationship in The Glass Menagerie.

Scenic Design

What Does a Scenic Designer Do?

Jun 11, 2026 · 7 min read

Brandon PT Davis and his partner standing together in a sunlit themed environment with handwritten birthday notes for year 39 over the image.

Personal Essay

39

Jun 5, 2026 · 3 min read

March 2026

Editorial architectural artwork of a scenic design workspace expanding into theatre, themed entertainment, architectural visualization, and production design worlds.

Design Process

Working Offstage: How Scenic Designers Build Sustainable Careers Beyond Theatre

Mar 26, 2026 · 10 min read

Vectorworks rendering sheet with a completed scenic rendering prepared for output.

Tools & Technology

Publishing Vectorworks Renderings for Presentation

Mar 17, 2026 · 4 min read

Carnegie Library scenic model rendered with a custom Realistic Renderworks style.

Tools & Technology

Renderworks Settings and Lighting in Vectorworks

Mar 16, 2026 · 7 min read

Vectorworks top plan view showing a scenic model, camera position, and rendering setup interface.

Tools & Technology

Setting Up Vectorworks Cameras for Scenic Renderings

Mar 15, 2026 · 5 min read

Abstract scenic rendering workflow moving from dense imported mesh geometry to a clean render-ready Vectorworks model.

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks Rendering Workflow: File Size and Speed

Mar 14, 2026 · 7 min read

Designer seated at a drafting table under a warm spotlight inside a teal studio space.

Tools & Technology

What Makes a Good Scenic Design Rendering?

Mar 13, 2026 · 6 min read

Abstract scenic environment with layered architectural forms, a glowing focal portal, and a solitary figure establishing scale.

Scenic Design

The Visual Language of Scenic Design

Mar 5, 2026 · 6 min read

February 2026

A theatrical portfolio displayed on a laptop with project pages, images, and sectioned navigation.

Tools & Technology

The Modern Theatrical Design Portfolio: A Guide for 2026

Feb 6, 2026 · 3 min read

January 2026

A theatrical environment with game-like spatial cues, atmospheric depth, and layered navigation.

Scenic Design

Video Game Environments: Lessons for Scenic Design

Jan 6, 2026 · 7 min read

August 2025

A themed entertainment montage spanning ancient gardens, immersive environments, and modern attractions.

Themed Entertainment

The Evolution of Themed Entertainment: From Ancient Gardens to Modern Immersive Experiences

Aug 15, 2025 · 11 min read

A collage of scenic design production photographs from Brandon PT Davis's work at Okoboji Summer Theatre.

Scenic Design

40 Shows at Okoboji Summer Theatre: A Scenic Design Milestone

Aug 1, 2025 · 3 min read

June 2025

A handwritten birthday note over a photograph of Brandon PT Davis and his partner standing near the ocean.

Personal Essay

38

Jun 5, 2025 · 3 min read

April 2025

Brandon PT Davis at age 38 outside South Coast Repertory, holding a scenic model for a production design.

Scenic Design

Becoming a Scenic Designer: A Comprehensive Guide

Apr 24, 2025 · 8 min read

Scenic composition for Romero with ritual framing, projected imagery, and spatial tension shaped around memory and witness.

Design Process

Framing the Martyr: Scenic Design as Memory Work in Romero

Apr 22, 2025 · 3 min read

Maude Adams archival legacy framed through Stephens College theatre history, design pedagogy, and performance culture.

Scenic Design

The Lights Were Already On: Maude Adams' Legacy at Stephens College

Apr 17, 2025 · 11 min read

Scenic design student standing beside a review display with a model, drawings, and rendering boards.

Design Process

You're Wasting My Time! — A Scenic Design Lesson in Growth and Revision

Apr 17, 2025 · 6 min read

Student-designed immersive dining environment inspired by Studio Ghibli, combining themed storytelling, atmosphere, and restaurant planning.

Themed Entertainment

Studio Ghibli-Inspired Immersive Dining Experience

Apr 14, 2025 · 9 min read

March 2025

Desk with architectural sketches, a laptop, and a tablet displaying ruins against a yellow wall with shadows and drawings.

Tools & Technology

Sora in the Studio: Testing AI's Potential for Theatrical Design

Mar 31, 2025 · 7 min read

A blank canvas on an easel in a hazy artist's studio, lit by a warm spotlight and cool window light.

Tools & Technology

Lighting Styles in AI Models: How Lighting Changes Everything

Mar 30, 2025 · 10 min read

A domestic stage set for All My Sons with period furniture and tense family staging.

Design Process

Designing the Keller Home: A Look Back at All My Sons

Mar 19, 2025 · 8 min read

Stylized 1980s musical-cinema collage with dancers, records, neon light, and theatrical motion.

Performance History & Culture

The 1980s Musical Cinema Revolution: When MTV Met Broadway on the Silver Screen

Mar 16, 2025 · 15 min read

Scenic design workstation with drafting software, rendering views, and hardware components.

Tools & Technology

Understanding Computer Hardware: Why Scenic Designers (and All Theatre Designers) Need to Care

Mar 15, 2025 · 7 min read

A midcentury musical collage balancing Hollywood polish with rock-era rebellion.

Performance History & Culture

The 1960s Musical Revolution: When Hollywood's Golden Formula Met Rock and Rebellion

Mar 12, 2025 · 7 min read

Warm cinematic megamusical cover with a chandelier, barricade imagery, and sweeping theatrical light.

Performance History & Culture

When Broadway Got Spectacular: The Rise of the British Megamusical

Mar 10, 2025 · 8 min read

Warm theatrical montage cover featuring Stephen Sondheim, Harold Prince, Michael Bennett, and Bob Fosse.

Performance History & Culture

The Rise of the Concept Musical in the 1970s

Mar 5, 2025 · 11 min read

A scenic designer sketching ideas beside layered references and model pieces.

Scenic Design

Artistic Vision in Scenic Design: Finding My Creative Voice

Mar 3, 2025 · 6 min read

February 2025

Film and television art direction concept board with props, set dressing, and color studies.

Performance History & Culture

Building the Visual World: Art Direction in Film & Television

Feb 21, 2025 · 6 min read

Classic Hollywood musical staging with choreography, camera movement, and theatrical set scale.

Performance History & Culture

The Golden Age of Cinema: Musicals in the Spotlight

Feb 12, 2025 · 8 min read

Golden Age Broadway stage picture with ensemble balance, architectural scenery, and integrated musical storytelling.

Performance History & Culture

The Golden Age of Broadway: A Defining Era in Musical Theatre

Feb 10, 2025 · 6 min read

January 2025

Cinematic editorial cover showing the transition from silent film grammar to sound, color, and deep-focus cinema.

Performance History & Culture

The Evolution of Narrative in Cinema

Jan 31, 2025 · 8 min read

Opera staging with baroque machinery, scale, and architectural scene painting.

Performance History & Culture

Opera's Foundations: The First Act in American Entertainment

Jan 7, 2025 · 6 min read

Minimalist scenic design with open space, projection, and modular scenic elements.

Scenic Design

Minimalist Scenic Design: Dominating Regional Theatres in 2025

Jan 4, 2025 · 8 min read

November 2024

Dystopian Urinetown stage environment with layered platforms, industrial concrete textures, and a visible hierarchy of power.

Design Process

Urinetown Scenic Design: Building a Dystopia That Feels Uncomfortably Familiar

Nov 3, 2024 · 7 min read

October 2024

Scenic design presentation boards shown in a meeting with a director and production team.

Tools & Technology

The Art of Presenting Theatre Design: A Guide for Designers

Oct 24, 2024 · 7 min read

A scenic design workflow board with script notes, sketches, and stage plans.

Design Process

Navigating the Scenic Design Process: A Comprehensive Guide

Oct 2, 2024 · 9 min read

September 2024

Theatre production students learning digital tools in a classroom computer lab.

Tools & Technology

Empowering Theatre Production Students with Computer Literacy

Sep 17, 2024 · 5 min read

March 2021

Vectorworks Tutorial: Creating 2D Drafting from 3D Models

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Creating 2D Drafting from 3D Models

Mar 8, 2021 · 24 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: Creating a Camera and Rendering

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Creating a Camera and Rendering

Mar 1, 2021 · 11 min read

February 2021

Vectorworks Tutorial: Modeling a Table

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Modeling a Table

Feb 27, 2021 · 38 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: Creating 24x36 PDFs Without a Plotter

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Creating 24x36 PDFs Without a Plotter

Feb 23, 2021 · 4 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: 3D Modeling Tools

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: 3D Modeling Tools

Feb 23, 2021 · 19 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: Basics of Textures

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Basics of Textures

Feb 22, 2021 · 14 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: Hybrid Symbols

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Hybrid Symbols

Feb 22, 2021 · 6 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: 3D Modeling Basics

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: 3D Modeling Basics

Feb 22, 2021 · 22 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: 2D Annotations and Dimensioning

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: 2D Annotations and Dimensioning

Feb 10, 2021 · 28 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: Understanding Symbols

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Understanding Symbols

Feb 3, 2021 · 9 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: Resource Manager Basics

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Resource Manager Basics

Feb 1, 2021 · 6 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: 2D Edit and Modify Tricks

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: 2D Edit and Modify Tricks

Feb 1, 2021 · 13 min read

Vectorworks Quick Tip: Creating Trim Profiles with the Polyline Tool

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks Quick Tip: Creating Trim Profiles with the Polyline Tool

Feb 1, 2021 · 7 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: Sheet Layers

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Sheet Layers

Feb 1, 2021 · 8 min read

January 2021

Vectorworks Tutorial: Basics Tool Palette

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Basics Tool Palette

Jan 27, 2021 · 15 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: Installing a Workspace and Template

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Installing a Workspace and Template

Jan 25, 2021 · 6 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: Understanding Design Layers

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Understanding Design Layers

Jan 25, 2021 · 8 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: Understanding Classes

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Understanding Classes

Jan 25, 2021 · 10 min read

Vectorworks Tutorial: Navigating the User Interface for Scenic Designers

Tools & Technology

Vectorworks: Navigating the User Interface for Scenic Designers

Jan 25, 2021 · 11 min read