Artslandia at the Performance: Portland Playhouse Nov/Dec 2014 | Page 31

01

CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

Breaking away from the
traditional southern mansion audiences have come
to expect, Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof is set solely in Brick and
Maggie’s bedroom. Relying
on a half-moon arena made
of sheer curtains (behind
which other characters lurk),
Acebo hints at themes of
secrets and lies.

What drew you to work in theatre and to the design
aspects in particular? Is it true that you fell in love with
the idea of sets at a production of Annie?
Yes. I think it was 1979. My parents took me to the
now nonexistent Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles to see
Annie. We sat in the back row, and from the moment
it started I was completely pulled into the experience.
When I got home, I went to my room and drew the sets
as I remembered them. It just took me another 15 years
to come back to realizing that’s what I should be doing.
When I really think about this question, I’d have to say
it was about finding my tribe. I didn’t come to this work
until my mid-20s. I was searching for direction and
completely unsure of my career path. I was always a
doodler, but I never took any art classes until I went to
a college — Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo — that had a theatre minor. In that small program, we all did a little of
everything. Turns out I was a terrible actor, but I loved
design and realized I wanted to study that.

02

You’ve worked at several of the top theaters in the
country: Lincoln Center, Berkeley Rep, South Coast
Rep, Yale Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, the Goodman, the
Guthrie ... What have all those experiences taught
you about the best processes and working conditions
for successful design?
Best processes, in my experience, are based on
open and transparent communication. And the
best communication comes about when people in
positions of leadership encourage open dialogue
within their staffs.

03

Your scenic designs for Oregon Shakespeare Festival
have shown such variety, from the abstracted/
symbolic approach of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, to the
period playfulness of