b i o g r a p h y
“I need to know a little bit about everything, but never everything about anything.”
Who is Michael?
Michael Downs is a career designer – a 3D storyteller of events, experiences and environments. For over 43 years, he has filled roles as varied as Experiential Designer, Creative Director, Production & Scenic Designer, Environments Designer, Video Content Designer, Illustrator and Art Director, and he has over 1150 productions to his credit…in 48 countries spanning 5 continents, and across 49 of the 50 United States.
Michael’s work has been seen from local Dinner Theatre to Regional Theatre, Tours and Broadway… within nineteen North American Science and Historical Museums… in connection with the last five National Presidential Elections… as part of four NFL Super Bowls, and five Olympic Games… on most major television networks… throughout the Pop, County, Rock & Rap stadiums, clubs and concert halls… and in association with countless Corporate Mobile Experiences, Trade Shows, Launches, Press Meetings and Events.
Notable Projects- TIANANMEN: A NEW MUSICAL (Phoenix Theatre Company), FOUNDING DAY (Saudi Arabia), DREAMKEEPERS (Utah Opera), INTO THE WOODS (HALO), CINDRILLON (Boston), CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (Sterling Rep), THE COLOR PURPLE (Roxy’s Downtown), MAGIC FLUTE (Huntington). International Tours: MY FAIR LADY (starring Richard Chamberlain), GREASE (South America), WILD WOMEN BLUES (starring Linda Hopkins), FAME,: THE MUSICAL, CRAZY FOR YOU. Concert Tours of SNOOP DOGG, ALICE COOPER, BERNER, CHER, FIFTH HARMONY, HALSEY, KHALID & CYPRESS HILL; Broadway Scenic Coordinator Credits: ROZA, PETER PAN, PLAY ON, OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD, STATE FAIR. Off Broadway hits: JONAH (Public Theatre), HELLO MUDDAH, HELLO FADDAH (Roundabout). Others: Music Theatre of Wichita (CRAZY FOR YOU, JERSEY BOYS, ROCK OF AGES), THE AMERICAN RODEO (Dallas) Music Theatre for Young People (RENT, ALL SHOOK UP), Center for the Arts (BUS STOP, COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE…), Crown Uptown (SWEENEY TODD, GODSPELL, SHREK: THE MUSICAL), Wichita State University (ASSASSINS, THE NIGHT THOREAU SPENT IN JAIL). Television: WONDERLAND (MTV), VIRGIN GALLACTIC’S UNITY 22 SPACE FLIGHT, BASSMASTERS CLASSIC & NFL GAME DAY (ESPN), DEMOCRACY PLAZA ELECTION NIGHT (NBC, 2005 Emmy Award Nominee) & THE WHISTLER MEDAL’S PLAZA at the 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS IN VANCOUVER. He has designed for four Olympics (Vancouver, Athens, Salt Lake City and Atlanta) and has designed, art directed or participated as a member of the Creative Team on three Super Bowl Halftime Shows.
In addition, he has also contributed to the illustrations of four books for children and collaborated with the US Military, developing theatrical tricks to help fool an enemy on the battlefield.
Michael owns and operates Downsart, Inc., but has also served As Vice President/Director of Environments with Production Design Group (a Jack Morton Worldwide company). He helped develop the Creative Arts Department as a Senior Design Director/Creative Director for Production Plus Technologies (Chicago) and developed his skills in design at Hotopp Associates, Chelsea Design, James Leonard Joy Studios and Falcon Perspectives (NYC).
Michael’s process has helped drive cohesive creative solutions for a wide variety of clients and is considered a creative hybrid, capable of contributing inventive ideas from the very beginning of any creative process. He transforms project strategies and theatrical challenges into visual stories for audiences to experience. He then translates his creativity and ideas into completely unique, multi-dimensional, awe-inspiring designs and environments to support plays, ideas, screenplays, film and TV and brand or product messaging.
His contributions reach further than most clients expect—and they appreciate his fresh, unexpected approach, touching virtually every communications channel that requires environments: public spectaculars, theatre/opera, retail, corporate meetings and product launches, sport production, concerts, mobile marketing, consumer events, museum and trade show exhibits—as well as film, television and video.
As a design scholar, Michael has studied with famed Russian Designer Alexander Okun and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Scenic Design from the School of Theatre Arts at Boston University (Magna Cum Laude, 1986). He continues to be a proud and active member of Unions: I.A.T.S.E. #190 & United Scenic Artists #829. Michael is an Emmy Award Nominee for NBC’s Democracy Plaza in Rockefeller Center and a 2011 Reggie Award Nominee for his work on the History Channel Pop Shop. He is an Adrian Award winner (honored for the British Airways Concorde Fleet Retirement Events by the international Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association), and has received an After Dark Award, two Roxys, two Mary Jane Teall Awards and three Sarah Awards for theatrical designs in the U.S.
Michael’s work has been seen from local Dinner Theatre to Regional Theatre, Tours and Broadway… within nineteen North American Science and Historical Museums… in connection with the last five National Presidential Elections… as part of four NFL Super Bowls, and five Olympic Games… on most major television networks… throughout the Pop, County, Rock & Rap stadiums, clubs and concert halls… and in association with countless Corporate Mobile Experiences, Trade Shows, Launches, Press Meetings and Events.
Notable Projects- TIANANMEN: A NEW MUSICAL (Phoenix Theatre Company), FOUNDING DAY (Saudi Arabia), DREAMKEEPERS (Utah Opera), INTO THE WOODS (HALO), CINDRILLON (Boston), CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (Sterling Rep), THE COLOR PURPLE (Roxy’s Downtown), MAGIC FLUTE (Huntington). International Tours: MY FAIR LADY (starring Richard Chamberlain), GREASE (South America), WILD WOMEN BLUES (starring Linda Hopkins), FAME,: THE MUSICAL, CRAZY FOR YOU. Concert Tours of SNOOP DOGG, ALICE COOPER, BERNER, CHER, FIFTH HARMONY, HALSEY, KHALID & CYPRESS HILL; Broadway Scenic Coordinator Credits: ROZA, PETER PAN, PLAY ON, OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD, STATE FAIR. Off Broadway hits: JONAH (Public Theatre), HELLO MUDDAH, HELLO FADDAH (Roundabout). Others: Music Theatre of Wichita (CRAZY FOR YOU, JERSEY BOYS, ROCK OF AGES), THE AMERICAN RODEO (Dallas) Music Theatre for Young People (RENT, ALL SHOOK UP), Center for the Arts (BUS STOP, COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE…), Crown Uptown (SWEENEY TODD, GODSPELL, SHREK: THE MUSICAL), Wichita State University (ASSASSINS, THE NIGHT THOREAU SPENT IN JAIL). Television: WONDERLAND (MTV), VIRGIN GALLACTIC’S UNITY 22 SPACE FLIGHT, BASSMASTERS CLASSIC & NFL GAME DAY (ESPN), DEMOCRACY PLAZA ELECTION NIGHT (NBC, 2005 Emmy Award Nominee) & THE WHISTLER MEDAL’S PLAZA at the 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS IN VANCOUVER. He has designed for four Olympics (Vancouver, Athens, Salt Lake City and Atlanta) and has designed, art directed or participated as a member of the Creative Team on three Super Bowl Halftime Shows.
In addition, he has also contributed to the illustrations of four books for children and collaborated with the US Military, developing theatrical tricks to help fool an enemy on the battlefield.
Michael owns and operates Downsart, Inc., but has also served As Vice President/Director of Environments with Production Design Group (a Jack Morton Worldwide company). He helped develop the Creative Arts Department as a Senior Design Director/Creative Director for Production Plus Technologies (Chicago) and developed his skills in design at Hotopp Associates, Chelsea Design, James Leonard Joy Studios and Falcon Perspectives (NYC).
Michael’s process has helped drive cohesive creative solutions for a wide variety of clients and is considered a creative hybrid, capable of contributing inventive ideas from the very beginning of any creative process. He transforms project strategies and theatrical challenges into visual stories for audiences to experience. He then translates his creativity and ideas into completely unique, multi-dimensional, awe-inspiring designs and environments to support plays, ideas, screenplays, film and TV and brand or product messaging.
His contributions reach further than most clients expect—and they appreciate his fresh, unexpected approach, touching virtually every communications channel that requires environments: public spectaculars, theatre/opera, retail, corporate meetings and product launches, sport production, concerts, mobile marketing, consumer events, museum and trade show exhibits—as well as film, television and video.
As a design scholar, Michael has studied with famed Russian Designer Alexander Okun and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Scenic Design from the School of Theatre Arts at Boston University (Magna Cum Laude, 1986). He continues to be a proud and active member of Unions: I.A.T.S.E. #190 & United Scenic Artists #829. Michael is an Emmy Award Nominee for NBC’s Democracy Plaza in Rockefeller Center and a 2011 Reggie Award Nominee for his work on the History Channel Pop Shop. He is an Adrian Award winner (honored for the British Airways Concorde Fleet Retirement Events by the international Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association), and has received an After Dark Award, two Roxys, two Mary Jane Teall Awards and three Sarah Awards for theatrical designs in the U.S.