In the summer of 2007, the culmination of a project brought into existence the company formerly known as Bluegrass Scenic Studios—a scenic arts production company owned by David R Steinmetz. David was hired as the Technical Director for the world premiere of Thomas Pasatieri’s The Hotel Casablanca, which was designed by Richard Kagey. The Hotel Casablanca was presented during Merola’s 50th Anniversary Season and was the first world premiere opera ever to be produced jointly by the renowned Merola Opera Program and the University of Kentucky Opera Program. After completing a successful run in San Francisco, The Hotel Casablanca was brought back to Lexington to be remounted in the Lexington Opera House with great success.
During the build, David hired several members of IATSE 346 Stagehand Union to help construct the set. One of the craftsmen that were in brought in by the local chapter of IATSE 346 was Scott Mitchell, a native Kentuckian with years of experience as an Operations Manager. After a couple of years working together, they formed the newly renamed Set Works Inc.
Scott Mitchell originally grew up in Louisville, Kentucky… later moving to Lexington, in heart of the Bluegrass. He has worked for the last thirteen years with the IATSE 346 Stagehand Union and was inducted a member in 2002. Scott also works as an Operations Manager for the past thirteen years for a Utility Exposures company based here locally in Lexington. He is married to his lovely wife, Kim, and has a five year old daughter named Landan.
David R Steinmetz graduated from Otterbein College with a B.F.A. in Theatrical Design / Technology in 1993. After graduating from Otterbein, David went on to work for the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts where he received a Meritorious Achievement Award for his role as the House Production Manager for the Region III American College Theatre Festival, sponsored by the Kennedy Center, at the Vern Riffe Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Through the next years, he worked for the Reichhold Center for the Arts on the campus of the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas and the Alley Theatre (LORT B/D) located in Houston, Texas. After accepting a position at the Indianapolis Civic Theatre, he relocated to Indiana to become the Technical Director of the ICT. At the Civic, David initiated an era of technical advance introducing automation to the oldest operating civic theatre in the nation.
After working professionally for 12 years, David set his goal on earning his Masters degree. He earned his M.F.A. in Scenic Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2005). While attending college and during the summers, he was the Opera Technical Director at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, served as the Technical Director for the Danville Symphony Orchestra, and the New Harmony Theatre (Lort D) under the Artisitc Director, Scott LaFeber.
After earning his M.F.A. in 2005, David joined the theatre faculty at University of Kentucky as an Assistant Professor and Technical Director for the Theatre Department and relocated his wife, Janet and three children, Tyler, Justin, and Jennifer to Lexington, Kentucky. Upon arriving, David started working extra board calls for IATSE 346 at both Rupp Arena and the Lexington Opera House, where he became friends with Scott Mitchell. Eventually, David became a member of the IATSE 346 Stagehand Union in 2008.
Set Works Inc was created by David R. Steinmetz and Scott Mitchell in an effort to increase market potential and attract the highest quality clientele possible. As a result, Set Works was born to form a team of professionals that can tackle any project and exceed the customers’ expectations. David R Steinmetz serves as the Technical Director and Scott Mitchell serves the Operations Manager of the organization.
Photo: (top) The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, 2006, Scenic Artist: JR Bruce; (right) Lucia di Lammermoor, 2009, both photos by David R. Steinmetz. |
