A whimsical blend of 2 themes - revealing what’s behind the ‘mask’ of an actor and the playful glamour of vintage Hollywood nightlife.
The design contained nods to the history and art of acting. The center screen curved back at the base, mimicking the curvature of an actor‘s mask, while the flaking columns were filled with fluted glass to represent pleating of a theater drape. The glass columns contained silhouettes of palm trees, which were complimented by dozens of custom carved gold palm tree sculptures that surrounded the room — reminiscent of old Hollywood nightclubs like the Cocoanut Grove and honoring Los Angeles as the home of screen arts.
I brought the idea of placing the stage in the center of the length of the room to give intimacy to the event and allow the camera to capture the connection between the actors on stage accepting their awards and their contemporaries in the audience honoring them.
This was such a treat to design and I can’t say thank you enough for all the support given to make this design a reality.
32nd Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA, Live on Netflix. @actorawards@netflix
Produced by:
@silenthousegroup@sagaftra@jonbrockett
Directed by:
Russell Norman
Art Department:
Design: @steindesign_inc
Art Direction: @paperweight.inc@imkmerlino
Asst Art Dir: @lex.gernonwyatt
Lighting Department:
Design: @emarchwinski@bgtech11@lightbehindthedesk@jbehmdesign
Screens Department:
Producer: @drewdockser@fco_visual@matthewcotter
Thank you to the artists, craftspeople, carpenters, welders, painters and scenic magicians that brought @actorawards to life. Without these people, the ideas are just lines on a page. These artists make ideas a reality daily, locally in LA, and with a speed and skill that is unparalleled.
Stage, glass columns, glass walls and other stage scenery by @scenic_express / Tom / Kevin
Palm tree sculptures and epic balcony cover by Global Entertainment / Jamieson / Mario / Dave
Graphic art @emskat
Art Department:
Production Design: @steindesign_inc
Art Direction: @paperweight.inc@imkmerlino
Asst Art Dir: @lex.gernonwyatt
Ben Platt: Live at The Ahmanson
December 12-21, 2025
The Ahmanson was one of Ben’s first stage homes. We felt it was fitting for him to enter the stage via the actual stage door in the upstage wall, framing his silhouette. With this as the origin, the design radiated out towards the audience. The light cast from the door became a physical gesture onstage—a carpet beneath his feet. Overhead, suspended gauze panels abstracted the look of a cone of a spotlight, appearing and disappearing throughout the show, counter playing against the exposed back wall of the theater.
Thank you to Ben, his wonderful team, and Center Theatre Group for creating such a wonderful show.
Artist: @bensplatt
Director: @michaelarden
Lighting Designer: @ryanhealeylx
Production Designer: @steindesign_inc
Artist Management: @adammersel@priscillabfelten
Production Management: @mappelo@pp_scott
Venue: The Ahmanson Center, Theatre Group @ctgla
Photos: @baeth
Ben Platt: Live at The Ahmanson
December 12-21, 2025
The Ahmanson was one of Ben’s first stage homes. We felt it was fitting for him to enter the stage via the actual stage door in the upstage wall, framing his silhouette. With this as the origin, the design radiated out towards the audience. The light cast from the door became a physical gesture onstage—a carpet beneath his feet. Overhead, suspended gauze panels abstracted the look of a cone of a spotlight, appearing and disappearing throughout the show, counter playing against the exposed back wall of the theater.
Thank you to Ben, his wonderful team, and Center Theatre Group for creating such a wonderful show.
Artist: @bensplatt
Director: @michaelarden
Lighting Designer: @ryanhealeylx
Production Designer: @steindesign_inc
Artist Management: @adammersel@priscillabfelten
Production Management: @mappelo@pp_scott
Venue: The Ahmanson Center, Theatre Group @ctgla
Photos: @baeth
My friends at The CineVita are re-opening tomorrow night! Go check it out! Tarantino Live reopens tomorrow for a limited run inside the world’s largest spiegeltent. @thecinevita #livetheatre #liveconcert #venuedesign #architecture
