Stephen Gifford

Stephen is a designer for plays, musicals, operas, immersive events and themed interiors. Originally from Missouri, where he spent many years working with companies like The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and The MUNY. Stephen’s work has been seen internationally and on both coasts from New York City where he received his MFA in Scenic Design from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, to Alaska, where he designed for Juneau’s Civic Light Opera. A resident of Los Angeles, Stephen has a close relationships with La Mirada Performing Arts Center/McCoy Rigby Entertainment, 3D Theatricals, Sacramento Music Circus, Laguna Playhouse, Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara, and many more within the Los Angeles area. His designs have been seen on stages across the country and internationally including: The Grand Ole Opry (Nashville), 5th Avenue Theatre (Seattle), Bass Hall (Fort Worth), Chicago Theatre (Chicago), Madison Square Garden (New York City) and Alandaleeb, Kawkab Elsharq, and Studio 1 Theaters (Riyadh, Saudi Arabria). Stephen’s work has given him the opportunity to work with people like Jason Alexander, Melanie Griffith, Laura Bell Bundy, Pink, Ellen Degeneres, Barbara Cook, Manny Paquiao, soccer teams F.C. Barcelona and Inter Milan and Directors Kathleen Marshall, Stafford Arima, Sheldon Epps, Ken Page, Charlie Repole, Glenn Casale, Michael Murray, Matt August, Brian Kite, Michael Matthews, and many more. He has garnered many awards and nominations for his work including eight Ovation Award nominations, three LA Weekly/Stage Raw nominations (one win), three LA Drama Critics Circle nominations (one win), was awarded The Bob Z Award for career achievement in set design by the Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle, 2014 & 2015 Sage Award, has been awarded the Scenie Award for LA Scenic Designer of the Year every year since 2008, and was awarded Scenic Design of the Decade for CABARET by Broadwayworld.com. Stephen is also a proud member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829.