Rob Howell
Robert Stuart Howellis a British costume andset designer.He is primarily known for his work on theLondon stage.Howell won theOlivier Awardfor his set design for the musicalMatilda the Musicalin 2012. He has also designed both scenery and costumes for severalBroadwayshows, and won theDrama Desk Awardfor Outstanding Set Design forGhost the Musicalin 2012.
Career
[edit]After leaving college, Howell worked for two and a half years with theRoyal Shakespeare Companyas a resident design assistant. He metMatthew Warchusthere, who years later asked him whether he would be interested in working onMatilda the Musical.[1]
Howell has designed sets and costumes for numerous plays and musicals in the UK, in London and for Broadway over a 20-year period (based on a 2012 interview).[1]In London, he has designed forRoyal National Theatreproductions includingBuried Child,Chips with Everything,Troilus and Cressida,Battle Royal,andHoward Katz.[2]He has also designed for productions at theRoyal Court Theatre,theDonmar Warehouse,theAlmeida Theatre,and the Royal Shakespeare Company as well as for regional UK theatres.[2]He was the set and costume designer for the stage musicalLord of the Rings(West End, 2007).[3]
Howell has won fifteenOlivier Awardsfor Best Set Design. The most recent of these was for his work on theWest Endproduction ofMatilda the Musical.[4]He has received 2013Tony Awardnominations for his work on the Broadway production ofMatilda the Musical,for both Best Scenic Design of a Musical and Best Costume Design of a Musical.[5]His set design forMatilda the Musicalwas described:
Howell's unique design forMatilda the Musicalsaw the entire Cambridge theatre, from foyer to stage, transformed intoRoald Dahl's imaginative world. The cast climb on giant Alpha bet soup letters, perform in health and safety defying scenes on wooden spoons and clamber over the imposing thighs of Miss Trunchbull, in her fearsome school... [the] eye-catching and uniquely eccentric design provides a fittingly colourful and exuberant setting.[6]
Howell designed set and costumes forRichard Eyre's 2014 production ofMozart'soperaLe nozze di Figaroat theMetropolitan Operain New York City.[7]
In 2015, it was announced he had teamed up with the least creative team fromMatildato designGroundhog Day.[8]
Broadway
[edit]- Matilda the Musical– 2013
- Ghostie The Musical– 2012
- Private Lives– 2011
- The Norman Conquests:Living Together– 2009
- The Norman Conquests:Table Manners– 2009
- The Norman Conquests:Round and Round the Garden– 2009
- Boeing-Boeing– 2008
- The Graduate– 2002
- Betrayal– 2000
- True West– 2000
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Tony Award | Best Costume Design of a Play | Boeing-Boeing | Nominated |
| 2009 | Best Scenic Design of Play | The Norman Conquests | Nominated | |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Set Design of a Play | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Nominated | |||
| 2012 | Tony Award | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Ghost the Musical | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Set Design | Won | ||
| 2013 | Tony Award | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Matilda the Musical | Won |
| Best Costume Design of a Musical | Nominated | |||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Set Design | Won | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Set Design | Won | ||
| 2017 | Tony Award | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Groundhogs Day | Nominated |
| 2019 | Best Scenic Design of a Play | The Ferryman | Won | |
| Best Costume Design of a Play | Won | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Scenic Design | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Nominated | |||
| 2020 | Tony Award | Best Scenic Design of a Play | A Christmas Carol | Won |
| Best Costume Design of a Play | Won |
References
[edit]- ^abBeckett, Lynda."Happy Birthday Matilda!"offscreenmagazine.co.uk, October 1, 2012
- ^ab"Rob Howell, Theatre Credits"lotr, accessed May 14, 2013
- ^"Cast and Creative"lotr, accessed May 14, 2013
- ^"Rob Howell Profile"cft.org.uk
- ^Gans, Andrew."Nominations Announced for 67th Annual Tony Awards; 'Kinky Boots' Earns 13 Nominations"Archived2013-10-21 at theWayback Machineplaybill, April 30, 2013
- ^Amer, Matthew."Matilda's Howell wins Best Set Design yet again"officiallondontheatre.co.uk, 15 April 2012
- ^"Season Opens, and the Intrigue Is at Last Onstage – Metropolitan Opera Opens withLe nozze di FigarobyAnthony Tommasini,The New York Times,23 September 2014
- ^"Groundhog Daymusical: Tim Minchin to write lyrics withMatildacollaborators also attached ".independent.co.uk.The Independent.4 April 2021.Retrieved16 May2015.
- ^Rob Howellat theInternet Broadway Database
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
