digthatnoise

Images from the design portfolio of

Doug Gessaman

Lighting & Scenic Design Credits

• BAM Festival Dance-Lighting 06/10, Boyd Vance Theater, Austin TX
• BAM Festival Prayze-Lighting & Production 06/10, ARA Lot 11th St., Austin TX
• In The Blood-Lighting 06/10, Off Center, Austin TX
  
• HueBin Grand Wedding Stairs-Lighting & Scenic 09/09, One World Theatre, Austin TX
• Common Ground-Lighting & Scenic 04/09, Boyd Vance Theater, Austin TX
• BAM Festival-Lighting 10/08, Various Theaters, Austin TX
• Trick the Devil-Scenic 04/08, Rollins Theater @ Long Center, Austin TX
• BAM Festival-Lighting 10/07, Various Theaters, Austin TX
• Branson CVB Regional TV spot-Art Director 09/07, Location, Austin TX
• Artspark Festival-Lighting 08/07, Off Center, Austin TX
• Comcast National TV spot-Art Director 12/06, Austin Studios, Austin TX
• GE Sealants National TV spots-Art Director 11/06, Austin Studios, Austin TX
• Artspark Festival-Lighting 06/06, Johnston HS Theater, Austin TX
• Love's Labours Lost-Lighting & Scenic 01/00, Alamo Theatre, San Antonio TX
• Charlotte's Web-Lighting 02/99, Magik Theatre, San Antonio TX
• It's a Wonderful Life-Lighting & Scenic 12/98, Magik Theatre, San Antonio TX
• Dracula-Lighting 11/98, Magik Theatre, San Antonio TX
• Bunnicula-Lighting & Scenic 10/98, Magik Theatre, San Antonio TX
• Willy Wonka-Lighting & Scenic 08/98, Magik Theatre, San Antonio TX
• Phantom of the Alamo-Lighting & Scenic 06/98, Magik Theatre, San Antonio TX
• Much Ado About Nothing-Scenic 08/97, Zilker Park, Austin TX
• Merchant of Vinice-Scenic 08/96, Zilker Park, Austin TX
• Twelfth Night-Scenic 08/95, Zilker Park, Austin TX
• Bajo Tierra: A Death Dream-Lighting & Scenic 08/94, Castillo Chapultapec, Mexico City D.F.
• Bajo Tierra: A Death Dream-Lighting & Scenic 11/93, Houston & Austin TX
• Modigliani-Lighting 08/93, Teatro el Granero, Mexico City D.F.
• Closed for Repairs-Lighting & Scenic 09/92, UH Lab Theater, Houston TX
• Captain WHAA!-Lighting & Scenic 09/92, Ensemble Theater, Houston TX
• The Fantasticks-Scenic 03/92, San Jacinto College, Pasadena TX
• Land of the Living-Lighting 11/91, UH Lab Theater, Houston TX
• Baby with the Bathwater-Lighting 10/91, San Jacinto College, Pasadena TX
• 5th of July-Lighting (Thesis Show) 09/91, UH Wortham Theater, Houston TX
• Albee Playwrights Workshop-Scenic 06/91, UH Lab Theater, Houston TX
• Orpheus in the Underworld-Lighting 10/90, UH Cullen Theater, Houston TX
• Albee Playwrights Workshop-Lighting 06/90, UH Lab Theater, Houston TX

I started as a carpenter straightening nails from a coffee can.

Growing up on the family farm near Dayton, OH that type of work involved little choice. My Dad and Grandpa were not builders by trade, but that didn't stop them from building houses and garages and shops, or from waking me up on Saturday mornings to help. I learned how to build and fix things, and operate heavy equipment.

I first encountered theatrical design when I entered the University of Texas at Austin in 1985. The program immersed students in all aspects of the craft, and I soon had my first paycheck working as a scenic carpenter and flyman for the UT Summer Musical. During that production I had the honor of working with Dr. David Nancarrow, discovering a passion for lighting design, and the craft of theater.

A transfer to the University of Houston in 1988 opened opportunities to continue my studies while working for the Alley Theater, Houston Grand Opera and the Houston Shakespeare and Childrens' Theater Festivals. I also had the chance to work with Edward Albee and Jose Quintero while at UH, both as a designer and actor. I was graduated from UH in 1992 with a Bachelors Degree in Drama (Lighting Design) and a Minor in Studio Art. I founded the North American Free Theater Alliance with a fellow UH graduate in 1993, dedicated to producing new works in English and Spanish, with a grant from the Mexican Government. The project produced shows at festivals in Houston, Austin and Mexico City.

For the past two decades I have worked as a designer and technician in theater, museum and trade exhibits, and most recently TV and movies. I have traveled the North Americas pursuing my craft, and now make my home in Austin, TX. I feel that design skills combined with my experience as carpenter, electrician, painter, foam sculptor and propmaker allow me to provide great value to my clients. It certainly makes meetings between the designer and TD easy to schedule.

Please contact me if I can provide any more information or assistance.