Alan Edward Schwanke Design - Scenic Design for Theatre - The online portfolio of Alan E. Schwanke, Freelance Scenic Designer based in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Site includes a full visual portfolio, biography, resume and contact information.
Alan was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. In the Fall of 2000, an unexpected opportunity presented itself in the form of a scholarship from the College of Arts, Media and Design at the University of Central Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, Alan was given a solid theatre arts education and at the tail end of his sophomore year he began dabbling in scenic design. First within the academic structure of the university and then eventually branching out into the surrounding performing arts community.
During his time in Oklahoma, Alan designed scenery for the university’s ACTF (American College Theatre Festival) productions and received commendations from the Region VI design chair sighting “excellence in scenic design” for his work on “ Fences” and “Wild Oats”. Alan also designed for several professional companies including the Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, The Pollard Theatre Company and Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park.
In the Fall of 2005, Alan was accepted into the prestigious Graduate Theatre Design Program at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. At Northwestern, Alan received rigorous and intense training from two world class scenic designers: Tony Award and Olivier Award winning designer Todd Rosenthal and Tony Award nominated designer Dan Ostling. The curriculum not only focused on developing skill sets and process but also on building and working within collaborative relationships. Alan’s academic design work for Northwestern University includes “Pippin”, “Suitcase”, “The Bacchae” and “Mad Forest”.
In addition to teaching several undergraduate scenic design courses and seminars, Alan also worked as an assistant for Rosenthal and Ostling. His responsibilities as an assistant covered the entire scenic design process from research and models to drafting and paint elevations. Some of the productions in which Alan assisted include: “August: Osage County” for the Steppenwolf Theatre and the Music Box Theatre on Broadway; “The Crucible” for the Steppenwolf Theatre; “Up” for the Steppenwolf Theatre; “Doubt” for the Alliance Theatre; “The Cook” for the Goodman Theatre; “Lucia Di Lammermoore” and “La Sonnambula” for the Metropolitan Opera. Alan was also an associate scenic designer with Todd Rosenthal on the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre’s production of “Glengarry Glen Ross”
When not in school, Alan once again began designing for theatre companies within the surrounding Chicago area. Some of Alan’s favorite collaborative projects were with award winning director, choreographer and playwright David H. Bell. Under Bell’s direction, Alan designed scenery for world premiere productions of “Knute Rockne: All American” for the Theatre at the Center and “The Chicago Sound Connection” for B&B Promotions. Other favorite projects within the Chicago area include “Willy Wonka: The Musical” for the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and “John & Jen” for the Apple Tree Theatre. Alan has also done scenic design work for the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire under the direction of Rachel Rockwell.
In the Spring of 2008, Alan was proud to be selected to display his scenic design work at the USITT “Young Designer’s Forum” in Houston and at Ming Cho Lee’s legendary “Clambake” in New York City. While in New York, Alan also received the opportunity to intern with Tony Award nominated designer Robert Brill. In Brill’s studio he assisted on projects for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the Stratford Shakespeare Theatre.
In the spring of 2009 Alan moved back to the Pacific Northwest and began his own design firm: “alan edward schwanke design” or “aes design inc.” specializing in scenic design for the theatre. Since that time Alan's work has been seen at the Third Rail Repertory Theatre, the Salem Repertory Theatre, Bag&Baggage Productions, the Lakewood Theatre Company and the Broadway Rose Theatre Company.
Among his various honors, in 2010 Alan received the Award for “Outstanding Scenic Design” from the Oregon Theatrical Awards Society and a nomination for “Outstanding Scenic Design” from the Portland Area Musical Theatre Awards. Alan has also received several commendations for “Excellence in Scenic Design” from the Region VI Design Chair of the Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival.
Recently, Alan co-founded a new theatre company called the Artist's Laboratory Theatre with Co-Artistic Director Erika Wilhite in Fayetteville Arkansas. The theatre premiered its first production “Bombs Babes & Bingo”, a new play written by playwright and long time friend Merri Biechler, in August of 2010. The production was received with local and critical acclaim which has led to its admittance in the upcoming 2010 New Orleans Fringe Festival in November.
And most recently, Alan accepted the position as the assistant scenic designer for the nationally recognized Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. And although Alan is now located in the southern Oregon region, he and his design firm are still very active throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Questions? Comments? I would love to hear any comments or answer any questions concerning my work. I am located in Ashland, OR. If you would like to set up a meeting to discuss set designs for your upcoming production, please contact me at: Alan E. Scwhanke 15 S. Pioneer St. Ashland, OR 97520 Business Hours: 9am - 5:30pm M thru F Office: (541) 482-2111 EXT. 433 Mobile: (503) 409-1009 Email: alan@aeschwanke.com