2017 House Programs Taylor Mac // A 24-Decade History of Popular Music | Page 11

MIMI LIEN
Scenic Designer JOHN TORRES
Lighting Designer JAWOLE WILLA JO ZOLLAR
Choreographic Consultant
Mimi Lien is a New York-
based designer of sets and
environments for theatre, dance
and opera. Having arrived at
set design from a background
in architecture, Mimi’s work
often focuses on the interaction
between audience/environment
and object/performer. Mimi is
an artistic associate with Pig
Iron Theatre Company and The
Civilians, and resident designer at
BalletTech. In 2012, Mimi received
an Obie Award for Sustained
Excellence in set design. Mimi’s
other achievements include
a Barrymore Award, four
Barrymore nominations, a Hewes
Design Award nomination, a Bay
Area Critics Circle nomination
and a Tony Award for Best Scenic
Design in a Musical. Mimi was a
recipient of the NEA/TCG Career
Development Program and a
MacDowell Colony fellow. Mimi’s
designs have been presented
at the Prague Quadrennial,
with sculpture work exhibited
at the Storefront for Art and
Architecture. Mimi holds an
MFA in Set Design from New
York University, and a BA in
Architecture from Yale. John Torres’ work includes
designs for dance, theatre, music,
fashion and print. With darling
Taylor Mac, designs include
performances at The Curran
Theatre in San Francisco, MASS
MOCA, New York Live Arts and St.
Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn. In
collaboration with Robert Wilson,
productions have included
Einstein on the Beach (2013—15
World Tour), Cheek to Cheek Live!
With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
(PBS Great Performances) La
Traviata (Landestheatre Linz),
Garrincha (SESC Teatro Paulo
Autran, São Paulo) and Hermes:
Here/ Elsewhere (Cedar Lake,
NYC). In Dance, ...Toss and Rogues
by choreographer Trisha Brown,
Theatre National de Chaillot/Par-
is; Available Light by choreogra-
pher Lucinda Childs, Walt Disney
Concert Hall/Los Angeles. In
fashion, Givenchy S/S 2015 (New
York) and Yeezy 3 by Kanye West
at Madison Square Garden. John
is a frequent collaborator with
fashion photographer Steven
Klein. In 1984 Jawole Willa Jo Zollar
founded Urban Bush Women
(UBW) as a performance
ensemble dedicated to exploring
the use of cultural expression
as a catalyst for social change.
In addition to 34 works for
UBW, Jawole has created
works for Alvin Ailey American
Dance Theatre, Philadanco,
University of Maryland, Virginia
Commonwealth University and
others; and with collaborators
including Compagnie Jant-
Bi from Senegal and Nora
Chipaumire. In 2006 Jawole
received a New York Dance and
Performance Award (Bessie)
for work as choreographer/
creator of Walking With Pearl…
Southern Diaries. Featured in the
PBS documentary, Free to Dance,
which chronicles the African-
American influence on modern
dance, Jawole was designated a
Master of Choreography by the
John F. Kennedy Performing Arts
Center in 2005. In 2011, Jawole
choreographed visible with
Chipaumire, a theatrical dance
piece that explores immigration
and migration.
nytelytedesign.com