Panelists Announced For Live Design Honors

Panelists have been announced for the 2007 Live Design Honors, a tribute to director and producer Harold Prince and his many design collaborators, to be held Tuesday, May 15 at the Rosenthal Pavilion of the Kimmel Center at New York University. Joining Prince for the panel discussion will be Lisa Aronson, Howell Binkley, Beowulf Boritt, Judith Dolan, Eugene Lee, Richard Pilbrow, and David Rockwell.

Live Design magazine hosts this event to honor “The Design Aesthetic of Hal Prince,” marking the Second Annual Live Design Honors. Each year, the magazine pays tribute to a group of outstanding individuals and the collaborative spirit of the designers who work together to create memorable and innovative productions.

The evening brings together many of the designers from all the disciplines who have collaborated with Prince over the years. A cocktail reception and the Live Design Honors panel discussion with Prince and a few of his design collaborators will be an opportunity to hear about some of their design challenges, as well as a few wonderful stories about the great theatre history they have made together.

In 2006 when Prince received a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre, he remarked in his acceptance speech, “I've had decades of working with the most brilliant creative artists in the American theatre.” Prince has always been a collaborative artist both as director and producer, bringing together some of the best creative teams to create some of the most memorable and innovative design work in theatrical history. It is these collaborations that the Live Design Honor celebrates.

Lisa Aronson, working with Boris Aronson, together collaborated with Prince on ten Broadway productions including the original and revivals of Fiddler on the Roof and Cabaret as well as Zorba, Company, and A Little Night Music. Lighting designer Howell Binkley first worked with Prince on Kiss of the Spider Woman later working on Parade and Hollywood Arms. Binkley is now working with Prince on Lovemusik along with scenic designer Beowulf Boritt and costume designer Judith Dolan. Dolan has also worked previously with Prince on four Broadway shows including Merrily We Roll Along where she also collaborated with scenic designer Eugene Lee. Besides Merrily we Roll Along, Lee has designed with Prince, Candide, the original production of Sweeney Todd, and the 1994 revival of Showboat. Lighting designer Richard Pilbrow was also part of the design team for Showboat. Pilbrow often credits Prince for bringing him over to America. Prince last year brought designer David Rockwell to Las Vegas to collaborate on Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian Hotel.

Live Design is pleased to be hosting this event as a special benefit for The ESTA Foundation's Behind the Scenes charity. As a part of the Live Design Honors evening, there will also be a silent auction to benefit the charity. There is no better way to honor the work of all these great designers than to support them and their colleagues should they find themselves in need. “The Live Design Honors applauds the spirit of working together for a common cause and we believe that is also the spirit of Behind the Scenes,” says David Johnson, associate publisher and editorial director of Live Design. “It is an important cause for the entertainment technology community, and we are proud to help out. We also are pleased to welcome such an esteemed group of designers as those joining us for the Live Design Honors panel.”

The May 15 event takes place in conjunction with Live Design's annual Broadway Lighting Master Classes at The Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University.