Best Dream Designer

Michael Raiford

"...is see a show designed by the absolutely fabulous Michael Raiford. Possessed of a vaulting imagination and wicked wit,..."

Sept. 15, 2000 Best of Austin Feature

B. Iden Payne Award Nominations, 1999-2000

"...(eight nominations). It was a good year for designer Michael Raiford, who received four nominations, and for Peyton Hayslip,..."

Aug. 18, 2000 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Rigoletto

With Rigoletto , Austin Lyric Opera once again executes in bold strokes a classic opera in the vaulting openness of the City Coliseum, with director Joseph McClain again showing a flair for the theatrical and finding a degree of intimacy in that vast space.

"...again shows a flair for the theatrical and, with Michael Raiford's alley stage, finds a degree of intimacy in..."

May 17, 2002 Arts Review by Robi Polgar

Jouét

This Zachary Scott Theatre Center production of Allen Robertson's original musical Jouét is a slick theatrical product, with enough gadgetry and opulent design work to fill the space with a rich, powerful sound and imagery, but it's difficult to sympathize with its diva-ish heroine and her mixed messages about compassion.

"...to make the most high tech among us salivate. Michael Raiford's set design consists of a lo-o-o-ng runway thrusting..."

April 20, 2001 Arts Review by Barry Pineo

Plaid Tidings

Zachary Scott Theatre Center's charming production of Plaid Tidings, the sequel to the hit musical revue Forever Plaid, proves you can never have too much of a good thing

"...who's so nervous that he suffers from nosebleeds; Steven Michael Miller as Frankie, the all-American boy; and especially Charles..."

Nov. 24, 2006 Arts Review by Barry Pineo

Articulations

Choreographer Allison Orr pops up on the National Geographic Channel, and Ballet East and UT professor Bion Tsang are honored

"...Congratulations also to Dr. Bion Tsang and Michael Malone on being the UT College of Fine Arts'..."

Jan. 30, 2004 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Dirty Blonde

The Zachary Scott Theatre Center production of Claudia Shear's Dirty Blonde does not always work, but when it does -- such as any time Rosalie Teneth struts and curves and bends around the stage as Mae West -- the show embodies everything truly amazing about theatre.

"...it does it embodies everything truly amazing about theatre. Michael Raiford's set consists of two runways that jut out..."

Oct. 4, 2002 Arts Review by Barry Pineo

Big Love

Charles Mee's Big Love swirls almost madly from brainy discourse to visceral activity to contemplative imagery and back again, like a manic dance or, well, life, and the Rude Mechanicals, who are always up for a good dance, take Mee's play and tear up the floor with it.

"...episode that is echoed by their counterparts, Robert Newell, Michael T. Mergen, and Atticus Rowe, doing push-ups, squat thrusts,..."

Sept. 14, 2001 Arts Review by Robert Faires

A Different Beast

For Belle Redux, Stephen Mills takes an innovative approach to Beauty and the Beast

"...figuratively and literally. The set and costumes by designer Michael Raiford are primarily shades of black and gray, evocative..."

Feb. 13, 2015 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Wheels of a Dream

With the long-awaited Topfer Theatre, Zach races full-throttle into the future

"...the level of anticipation they're feeling about the Topfer. Michael Raiford has spent most of his career at Zach..."

Oct. 5, 2012 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Rent

A Broadway-quality staging of the popular rock musical with energy to spare

"...If Michael Raiford has designed a finer set than the Eastside..."

Oct. 8, 2010 Arts Review by Barry Pineo

Humana Festival of New American Plays

A report from Louisville, where Austin theatre artists stood tall

"...three brilliant sets at the festival designed by Austin's Michael Raiford), struggling to square their recollections of places and..."

April 2, 2010 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Object Lesson

In Sherry Kramer's new play, things that are ordinary become magical: flowers, Barbies, even the writer herself

"...is directed by Katie Pearl, with set design by Michael Raiford and visual elements by Lowell Bartholomee. It's sort..."

May 16, 2008 Arts Feature by C. Denby Swanson

Rockin' Christmas Party

This year's 'Rockin' Christmas Party' is flashy fun with an onslaught of seasonal classics and popular rock songs that aim to tickle those humbugs away

"...On a funky retro-futuristic set designed by Michael Raiford, the active ensemble shakes and rattles the room...."

Dec. 24, 2004 Arts Review by Heather Barfield Cole

Always … Patsy Cline

The Zachary Scott Theatre Center production of 'Always … Patsy Cline' radiates a warmth that draws the audience in close, to share a cozy moment with a star

"...as close to Cline as Louise does. Even with Michael Raiford's roadhouse set stretching fully across the back of..."

Feb. 13, 2004 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Search Through the Skies

The new musical Jouét represents a journey not only for the title character, a pop star in search of a home, but one for Austin composer Allen Robertson and for the city's Zachary Scott Theatre Center, which is producing its first original musical.

"...core group of theatre artists -- among them, designers Michael Raiford and Leslie Bonnell, performer Meredith McCall, and Robertson..."

April 6, 2001 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Rockin' Christmas Party: Party Out of Bounds

Robert Faires gets a buzz from the Zachary Scott Theatre Center production of Rockin' Christmas Party.

"...the Disco Era and later, and encouraging production designer Michael Raiford to cultivate his luxuriantly twisted dreams of spectacle...."

Dec. 24, 1999 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Top 10 Onstage Works of Wonder in 2002

Austin Chronicle Arts Editor Robert Faires delivers his list of the Top 10 most memorable productions in the performing arts for 2002.

"...unsettled mental state of Blanche DuBois hauntingly realized in Michael Yeargen's distorted sets, David Nancarrow's sumptuous colored lights, and..."

Jan. 3, 2003 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Crowns

The Zachary Scott Theatre Center production of Crowns sings a joyous hosanna to the African- American tradition of the church hat

"...these women worshipped (and which is suggested sublimely by Michael Raiford's set of diagonal white slats)...."

Nov. 12, 2004 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Austin Critics Table Nominations, 2002-2003

The full list of nominations for the 2002-2003 Austin Critics Table Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in local theatre, dance, classical music, and visual art

"...30, 2003. Contributing nominations were Austin American-Statesman staff reporters Michael Barnes and Jeanne Claire van Ryzin (arts); freelance writers..."

May 9, 2003 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Wit: Who We Might Yet Become

Margaret Edson's drama Wit could be just another story about someone dying of a dreadful disease, but director Michael Bloom stages the State Theater Company production with the skilled and experienced hands of a surgeon and Megan Cole's striking performance as the terminally ill poetry scholar makes us face our own mortality and makes two hours feel like one.

"...It's heavy material, but director Michael Bloom's touch is light. Eventually the space, created by..."

May 25, 2001 Arts Review by Barry Pineo

Austin Theatre Critics' Table 1999-2000 Nominations

"...awards for achievement in theatre. The participating critics -- Michael Barnes, Jamie Smith Cantara, and Jeanne Claire van Ryzin,..."

May 12, 2000 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Theatre Critics Table Nominations 1997

"...awards for achievement in theatre. The participating critics -- Michael Barnes, Jamie Smith, and Anna Hanks, Austin American-Statesman; John..."

May 9, 1997 Arts Feature

1999 Critics' Table Nominations

"...Michael Costello, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine..."

May 21, 1999 Arts Feature

1995 Austin Critics' Table Nominations

"...from May 1994-April 1995. Members of the table are: Michael Barnes and Jamie Smith, Austin American-Statesman; John Bustin, West..."

May 12, 1995 Arts Feature

Art Par Excellence

The nominees for the 2014-15 Austin Critics Table Awards

"...Michael McKelvey, Silence! The Musical..."

May 20, 2015 Arts Post

Spring Awakening

At Zach, foot-stomping teens score a victory for love and courage over fear

"...The casting in Zach's production, directed by Michael Baron with musical direction by Allen Robertson, is good,..."

Oct. 21, 2011 Arts Review by Elizabeth Cobbe

Pride's Crossing: Shimmering Waters

Script-wise, Pride's Crossing is PBS-esque : one of those wistful period pieces about a lively old woman looking back on her privileged youth : but throw a bunch of charming actors into the mix and hip director Sarah Richardson, and you get a show happily at odds with this Masterpiece Theatre-worthy tale.

"...quintet for its Millennium Season, Pride's Crossing serves nicely. Michael Raiford's terrific set has a pool down front into..."

May 5, 2000 Arts Review by Ada Calhoun

The Grand Designs of Ia Ensterä and Jason Amato

"...review: "Jason Amato's lighting design adds the color that Raiford's set purposely lacks, splashing varied patterns and bright, rich..."

July 17, 2015 Photo Gallery

God of Carnage

This show offers a gleeful thrill like that long, first drop on a roller coaster

"...truth-teller on the rest, but there's also Thomas Ward's Michael, Veronica's almost exasperatingly laid-back husband whose good humor curdles..."

Dec. 30, 2011 Arts Review by Robert Faires

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