Set Pieces

Working with a concept by Frontier founder Paddy Harrington and editor Jennifer Sigler, I collaborated closely with Diamond Schmitt and Birkhauser to make a book that answers a big question: Why does live performance still matter? Using design details from eleven performing-arts halls created by Diamond Schmitt, we brought together case studies and the voices of noted artists and critics to reveal how architecture enhances the impact of the performing arts and evokes enduring sensory experiences. The result is not just a monograph, but also a manifesto.

Encompassing such major buildings as the Mariinsky II Theatre in Saint Petersburg, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and David Geffen Hall in New York, Set Pieces highlights Diamond Schmitt’s exceptional ability to listen to constituents, collaborate with technicians and foundries, and, in the words of principal Matthew Lella, “layer many small decisions, details, and concepts that engage the body and trigger the senses.”

At the highest level, I commissioned an essay from a Pulitzer Prize–winning critic (reprinted here) and interviewed a Tony Award–winning stage designer. But as we made progress I also finessed the details, overseeing the book’s style guide, working with with the production team, collaborating on sequencing with the designer, and copy editing and proofreading the final layouts.

To learn more about the book, visit Frontier’s case-study page or this page on Birkhauser’s website.