David Sumner Design
Theatre, Opera, Dance, Corporate Events, Exhibits, Broadcast & Interior Architecture

 

BROADWAY

 

"GYPSY PASSION" STAGE DESIGNER, Tomas-Rodriguez Pantoja, Director, Plymouth Theatre WORLD PREMIERE 1992
"MY FAIR LADY" SCENIC ADVISOR/ / Fran/Barry Weissler, Producer; Restaging of Ralph Koltai Design for USA Tour/ B'way 1994
"RAGGEDY ANN" ASSISTANT STAGE DESIGNER / Vicki Baral and Jerry Harrington, Designer 1986
"THE ICEMAN COMETH ASSISTANT STAGE DESIGNER / Ben Edwards, Designer 1987
"AS IS" ASSISTANT STAGE DESIGNER, David Potts, Designer 1985
"GOTTA TU GO DISCO" ASSISTANT STAGE DESIGNER / Jim Hamilton, Designer 1979

 

OFF-BROADWAY

 

"I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE" STAGE DESIGNER, Richard Sabellico, Director, American Jewish Theatre, NYC 1991

 

TOURS

 

"FUNNY GIRL" STAGE DESIGNER, Chet Walker Director,, Joop Van Den Ende Productions, Netherlands 1992
"THE MUSIC MAN" STAGE DESIGNER, Richard Sabellico, Director , 35th Anniversary National Tour, Musicals America 1993
"SHIM CHUNG" ** STAGE DESIGNER, Adrienne Dellas, Director/Choreographer/, Universal Ballet, Seoul Korea, WORLD PREMIERE 1988

 

NON-PROFIT ORIGINAL SHOWS, & CLASSIC MUSICALS

 

"I DO, I DO!", STAGE DESIGNER, Michael Arnold, Director. Village Theatre, Issaquah WA 2019
"DREAMGIRLS" STAGE DESIGNER, Steve Tomkins Director, Village Theatre, Issaquah WA. 2017

"HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING", STAGE DESIGNER, Co Design/ Tom Sturge; Bill Berry Director, 5th Ave Theatre, Seattle

"HOW TO SUCCEED ..." STAGE DESIGNER,Co Design/Tom Sturge; Theatre Under the Stars, Houston, 11/2016, Dan Knechtges, Director.

​

OPERA

 

"POSTCARD FROM MOROCCO: STAGE DESIGNER Boston Univ Opera. Gary Briggle director, conducted by William Lumpkin 1982
"TROUBLE IN TAHITI" STAGE DESIGNER, Libretto by Leonard Bernstein, Boston University Opera, Briggle director, conducted by William Lumpkin '82
"FEUERSNOT" STAGE DESIGNER, Lou Galterio, Director Manhattan School of Music 1984
"ANIMALEN" ASSISTANT DESIGNER / Franco Colavecchia, Designer, Minnesota Opera 1984
"CARMEN" ASSISTANT DESIGNER / Franco Colavecchia, Designer, NYC Opera / Tour 1984
"LA BOHEME" ASSISTANT DESIGNER/ Franco Colavecchia, Designer, NYC Opera 1983
"MACBETH" ASSISTANT DESIGNER/ Franco Colavecchia, Designer, Philadelphia Opera 1983
"CALVARRIA RUSTICANA" ASSISTANT DESIGNER/ Franco Colavecchia, Designer, NYC Opera 1985

 

REGIONAL

 

"OLIVER!", STAGE DESIGNER, Richard Sabellico, director; Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center, Nyack NY, Dec 2001

"THE TWELFTH NIGHT" ASSOCIATE DESIGNER/ w/ Franco Colavecchia, Thomas Gruenewald, director, Huntington Theatre Boston 1984
"BLOOD BROTHERS"  STAGE DESIGNER, Richard Sabellico, Director Bridgeport Downtown Cabaret, AMERICAN PREMIERE  1988

"AMAZING GRACE" STAGE DESIGNER, Eddie Gilbert Director w/ Marsha Mason, Michael Cristofer, playwright. PPT; WORLD PREMIERE 1995
"THE WIZ" STAGE DESIGNER Weyman Thompson, Director, Bridgeport Downtown Cabaret 1989
"HELLO DOLLY" STAGE DESIGNER. Richard Sabellico, Director, Bridgeport Downtown Cabaret 1988
"LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS STAGE DESIGNER, Bert Barnardi, director, Bridgeport Downtown Cabaret 1988
"DREAM GIRLS" STAGE DESIGNER. , Weyman Thompson, Director, Bridgeport Downtown Cabaret 1989
"THE BOYFRIEND" STAGE DESIGNER, , Lynette Barkley, director, Bridgeport Downtown Cabaret, 1989
"CYRANO DE BERGERAC" STAGE DESIGNER, Eddie Gilbert Director , Pittsburgh Public Theatre, 1996
"THE WEIR" STAGE DESIGNER, Eddie Gilbert Director, , PIttsburgh Public Theatre 2000
"SPINNING INTO BUTTER" STAGE DESIGNER, Eddie Gilbert, Director Pittsburgh Public Theatre 2001
"ALL THE RAGE" STAGE DESIGNER, Chris Coleman, Director, Pittsburgh Public Theatre 1998
"LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL" STAGE DESIGNER, George Faison, Director, Pittsburgh Public Theatre 1994
"FUN FEST" STAGE DESIGNER, Eddie Gilbert Director , PIttsburgh Public Theatre 2003
"THE GLASS MENAGERIE: STAGE DESIGNER, Eddie Gilbert Director , Pittsburgh Public Theatre 1999
"LOVES LABOR LOST" ASSISTANT DESIGNER / Franco Colavecchia, Designer, Circle Rep 1983
"SIZWE BONSI IS DEAD" ASSISTANT STAGE DESIGNER / Michael Hottois, Designer, Actors's Theatre of Lousiville 1971

 

OTHER PROJECTS

 

"LES FEMMES" PRODUCTION  DESIGNER, Larry Vickers, Director, Monte Carlo Sporting Club 1988
"CITY LIGHTS" PRODUCTION  DESIGNER, Larry Vickers, Director, Monte Carlo Sporting Club " 1988
"VIBE" PRODUCTION  DESIGNER, Larry Vickers, Director, Paris France" 2005
"MIDSUMMER NIGHTS' SWING " PRODUCTION  DESIGNER, , Rebecca Weller Producer, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
"BROADWAY ON BROADWAY" PRODUCTION  DESIGNER, Concert/ Broadcast,, Times Square Development 2000-02
1980 WINTER OLYMPICS" PRODUCTION  DESIGNER, Nightclub Installations 1980
"LITTLE WOMEN", STAGE DESIGNER , Olcott Preservation Alliance, Concord MA 1979

 

EXHIBITS

PHILIP MORRIS USA PRODUCTION  DESIGNER, FMI CHICAGO
ELLESSE PRODUCTION  DESIGNER, SUPERSHOW, ATLANTA
IBM OLYMPIC SHOWCASE, PRODUCTION  DESIGNER, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 2000
SONY VIAO EXHIBIT, NYC PRODUCTION  DESIGNER
AT&T PRODUCTION  DESIGNER, BEDMINSTER, NJ

 

INDUSTRIAL / CORPORATE

 

CREATIVE ESTABLISHMENT• CARIBINER • JACK MORTON PRODUCTIONS • WEISS WATSON • ANIFORMS • MAGNET COMMUNICATION • TODD STREET PRODUCTIONS • GLENN & GLENN PRODUCTIONS • DRURY DESIGN DYNAMICS

In a career spanning more than 35 years, Mr. Sumner's has designed numerous corporate meetings, exhibits, festivals, product launches, broadcasts, parties, and special events for an impressive list of Fortune 500 Clients including: Actelion, Acura, Apple, Audi, BASF, Blackberry, Bristol Meyers-Squibb, Canon, ESPN, Estee-Lauder, Ford, Gillette, GM, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, IBM, Intel, Liz-Claiborne, Lucent Technologies, MCI, Met Life, Microsoft, Novartis, NFL, McNeil, Pepsi, Peugot, Philip Morris USA, Sanofi-Aventis, T-Mobile, Sheraton North America, Sharp Electronics, SONY, and Xerox.

 

EXHIBITIONS:

 

GALLERY PARR, Prince St. NYC; 1990-92, Solo Exhibitions, and private commissioned paintings.

 

RELATED WORK

 

RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN / 1996 Dept of Interior Architecture, Professor, Fall Term. Mr. Sumner was brought on board in the late 90's and assigned the task of breaking down the walls of traditional architecture while imparting 21st century computer based design and communication skills. The intensive class he devised, co-taught with architectural lighting designer, Dennis Cohen, paired outward-bound team building training and cutting-edge computer based skills with heart pounding nightclub design. Notable industry professionals, from around the globe, representing a wide range of design related professions, were brought in to judge the work.

​

BOSTON CHILDREN'S THEATRE 80-82, STAGE DESIGNER .

​

LUMINA, INC VICE-PRESIDENT/ SENIOR DESIGNER 79-80 Designer for nightclubs, restaurants, events and corporate shows. Projects included: 1980 Winter Olympic Game Nightclubs, Hyatt Hotel Themed Sets, Jazz Tours, and Themed Restaurants for Sheraton NA.

 

 KEYNOTE SPEAKER, Northeast Educational Theatre Festival, December 2012; Portland, ME. 

 

MEMBER

 

UNITED SCENIC ARTISTS, LOCAL 829 Scenic Designer / Computer Artist

 

EDUCATION

 

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE BS, THEATRE / ART
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY MFA (INCOMPLETE) - I left school to design projects for the 1980 Olympics, & nightclubs in South America