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Jo Mielziner

April 28, 2023

Joseph "Jo" Mielziner (March 19, 1901 – March 15, 1976) was an American theatrical scenic, and lighting designer born in Paris, France. He was described as "the most successful set designer of the Golden era of Broadway", and worked on both stage plays and musicals.[1]

Jo Mielziner
Born
Joseph Mielziner

March 19, 1901
Paris, France
DiedMarch 15, 1976(1976-03-15) (aged 74)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Known forScenic design
AwardsTony Award; Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design; Academy Award for Best Art Direction

Career

 
Jo Mielziner's design for George Bernard Shaw's The Doctor's Dilemma (1927)
 
Mielziner's setting for Elmer Rice's Street Scene (1929)
 
Mielziner's set design for Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (1949)

Joseph Mielziner was the son of artist Leo Mielziner and Ella Lane McKenna Friend, a writer. Mielziner was the brother of actor-director Kenneth MacKenna. Their paternal grandfather was a rabbi.[2] He studied painting at the Art Students League and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.[3] His brother recruited him as a stage manager for summer stock, where Mielziner discovered his passion for scenic design. With fellowships he received from the Pennsylvania Academy, he had the opportunity to study set design in Paris, Vienna, and Berlin. Additionally, he served as an apprentice to Robert Edmond Jones, designer of Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under The Elms.[4]

Mielziner was considered one of the most influential theatre designers of the 20th century,[5] designing the scenery and often the lighting for more than 200 productions, many of which became American classics. He "pioneered 'selective realism' in scenic design".[6] According to his obituary, he was perhaps "praised most often...for his sweeping canvas of people under the Brooklyn Bridge, used as a backdrop for Maxwell Anderson's Winterset.[2]

After his education and spending 13 months in Europe "absorbing the revolutionary changes occurring in traditional stage design", in 1923 he worked for the Theatre Guild in New York as an assistant stage manager and bit actor.[2] Mielziner's Broadway debut as a designer was in 1927 with The Guardsman, for which he designed the scenery and lighting.[7] His other Broadway credits include the original productions of Strange Interlude, Sweet and Low, Of Thee I Sing, The Barretts of Wimpole Street, Winterset, Oh, Captain!, Dodsworth, Another Part of the Forest, Carousel, South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, The King and I, A Streetcar Named Desire, Death of a Salesman, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Gypsy, and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,[8] as well as the film Picnic and the ballet Who Cares?. He won the Academy Award for best color art direction for his work on Picnic.[9]

During World War II, Mielziner worked as a camouflage specialist with the United States Air Force, until he was transferred to the Office of Strategic Services, a precursor to the CIA, where he served under General William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan.[10][11]

In the course of his career, Mielziner won seven Tony Awards and was nominated for another five.[12] He also won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design. His influence extended outside of the theatre. He was acquainted with the American artist Edward Hopper, who is said to have modeled his well-known painting Early Sunday Morning (1930) after Mielziner's set for Elmer Rice's play Street Scene, produced in 1929.

Mielziner designed the theater at Wake Forest University[13] and co-designed the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center with architect Eero Saarinen.[14] He designed the setting for the Vatican Pavilion's showing of Michelangelo's Pietà at the 1964 New York World's Fair.[2]

Later years

He resided for many years at The Dakota[15] and can be seen working in his studio in an exterior shot in the film Rosemary's Baby.

He died on March 15, 1976, in a New York taxicab four days before his 75th birthday. He was rushing between meetings for The Baker's Wife, a musical for which he was designing.[2][4]

Personal life

Mielziner was of both Jewish and Christian ancestries, though he converted to Roman Catholicism under the influence of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.

He was married three times, all of which were tumultuous, though only two ended in divorce. His first wife, Marya Mannes, a literary critic he married in 1926, was unfaithful to him. Annie Laurie Jacques, an actress and Mielziner's second wife whom he married in 1932, had substance abuse problems. Though, as a Roman Catholic, he could not divorce his third wife, actress Jean MacIntyre, their relationship ended due to Mielziner's relationship with Sheen's private secretary.

Mielziner and MacIntyre married in 1938, and were long-since separated at the time of death in 1976, despite still being legally married.[11]

Legacy

His scenic designs for the original production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman were re-created for the 2012 Broadway revival starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Andrew Garfield and Linda Emond. Director Mike Nichols said he felt he needed Mielziner's original set because it was "intimately connected with the way the play developed." He went on to say he has never seen anything "near as good in any of the productions of 'Salesman' because it's everything and nothing."[16]

References

  1. ^ Bloom, Ken; Vlastnik, Frank (2010-10-27). Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time. Running Press. p. 261. ISBN 978-1-57912-849-4.
  2. ^ a b c d e Krebs, Albin (1976-03-16). "Jo Mielziner Dead at 74; Pioneering Set Designer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  3. ^ . TIME. 1932-04-11. Archived from the original on 27 October 2010. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  4. ^ a b "archives.nypl.org -- Mielziner family papers". New York Public Library Archives & Manuscripts. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  5. ^ Thornton, Margaret Rose; Williams, Tennessee (2006-01-01). Notebooks. Yale University Press. p. 554. ISBN 978-0-300-11682-3.
  6. ^ Barranger, Milly S. (2006). Theatre: A Way of Seeing. Thomson/Wadsworth. p. 258. ISBN 978-0-495-00472-1.
  7. ^ Atkinson, Brooks."The Play:Pasting the Medicine Men" The New York Times (abstract), November 22, 1927
  8. ^ "Jo Mielziner – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  9. ^ . Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
  10. ^ Wright, Charles."No Ordinary Jo -- Mielziner: Master of Modern Stage Design" 2007-11-15 at the Wayback Machine theatermania.com, April 5, 2001
  11. ^ a b Henderson, Mary C. (2001-01-01). Mielziner: Master of Modern Stage Design. Back Stage. ISBN 9780823088232.
  12. ^ "Jo Mielziner Tony Awards Info". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  13. ^ "Harold Tedford Abstract" wakespace.lib.wfu.edu, accessed April 16, 2011
  14. ^ Calta, Louis (November 21, 1958). "Mielziner to Aid Lincoln Sq. Plan; Scenic Designer Will Assist Architect in Planning Repertory Theatre". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  15. ^ Birmingham, Stephen (1996). Life at the Dakota: New York's Most Unusual Address. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 978-0-8156-0338-2.
  16. ^ Bloom, Julie; Huang, Jon; Piepenburg, Erik (March 1, 2012). "Life of a 'Salesman'". The New York Times.

Further reading

  • Henderson, Mary C. Mielziner: Master of Modern Stage Design, Back Stage Books (2001), 320 pages, ISBN 978-0-8230-8823-2

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jo Mielziner.

April 28, 2023
mielziner, joseph, mielziner, march, 1901, march, 1976, american, theatrical, scenic, lighting, designer, born, paris, france, described, most, successful, designer, golden, broadway, worked, both, stage, plays, musicals, bornjoseph, mielzinermarch, 1901paris,. Joseph Jo Mielziner March 19 1901 March 15 1976 was an American theatrical scenic and lighting designer born in Paris France He was described as the most successful set designer of the Golden era of Broadway and worked on both stage plays and musicals 1 Jo MielzinerBornJoseph MielzinerMarch 19 1901Paris FranceDiedMarch 15 1976 1976 03 15 aged 74 New York City New York U S Known forScenic designAwardsTony Award Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design Academy Award for Best Art Direction Contents 1 Career 2 Later years 3 Personal life 4 Legacy 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksCareer Edit Jo Mielziner s design for George Bernard Shaw s The Doctor s Dilemma 1927 Mielziner s setting for Elmer Rice s Street Scene 1929 Mielziner s set design for Arthur Miller s Death of a Salesman 1949 Joseph Mielziner was the son of artist Leo Mielziner and Ella Lane McKenna Friend a writer Mielziner was the brother of actor director Kenneth MacKenna Their paternal grandfather was a rabbi 2 He studied painting at the Art Students League and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 3 His brother recruited him as a stage manager for summer stock where Mielziner discovered his passion for scenic design With fellowships he received from the Pennsylvania Academy he had the opportunity to study set design in Paris Vienna and Berlin Additionally he served as an apprentice to Robert Edmond Jones designer of Eugene O Neill s Desire Under The Elms 4 Mielziner was considered one of the most influential theatre designers of the 20th century 5 designing the scenery and often the lighting for more than 200 productions many of which became American classics He pioneered selective realism in scenic design 6 According to his obituary he was perhaps praised most often for his sweeping canvas of people under the Brooklyn Bridge used as a backdrop for Maxwell Anderson s Winterset 2 After his education and spending 13 months in Europe absorbing the revolutionary changes occurring in traditional stage design in 1923 he worked for the Theatre Guild in New York as an assistant stage manager and bit actor 2 Mielziner s Broadway debut as a designer was in 1927 with The Guardsman for which he designed the scenery and lighting 7 His other Broadway credits include the original productions of Strange Interlude Sweet and Low Of Thee I Sing The Barretts of Wimpole Street Winterset Oh Captain Dodsworth Another Part of the Forest Carousel South Pacific Guys and Dolls The King and I A Streetcar Named Desire Death of a Salesman Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Gypsy and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 8 as well as the film Picnic and the ballet Who Cares He won the Academy Award for best color art direction for his work on Picnic 9 During World War II Mielziner worked as a camouflage specialist with the United States Air Force until he was transferred to the Office of Strategic Services a precursor to the CIA where he served under General William J Wild Bill Donovan 10 11 In the course of his career Mielziner won seven Tony Awards and was nominated for another five 12 He also won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design His influence extended outside of the theatre He was acquainted with the American artist Edward Hopper who is said to have modeled his well known painting Early Sunday Morning 1930 after Mielziner s set for Elmer Rice s play Street Scene produced in 1929 Mielziner designed the theater at Wake Forest University 13 and co designed the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center with architect Eero Saarinen 14 He designed the setting for the Vatican Pavilion s showing of Michelangelo s Pieta at the 1964 New York World s Fair 2 Later years EditHe resided for many years at The Dakota 15 and can be seen working in his studio in an exterior shot in the film Rosemary s Baby He died on March 15 1976 in a New York taxicab four days before his 75th birthday He was rushing between meetings for The Baker s Wife a musical for which he was designing 2 4 Personal life EditMielziner was of both Jewish and Christian ancestries though he converted to Roman Catholicism under the influence of Bishop Fulton J Sheen He was married three times all of which were tumultuous though only two ended in divorce His first wife Marya Mannes a literary critic he married in 1926 was unfaithful to him Annie Laurie Jacques an actress and Mielziner s second wife whom he married in 1932 had substance abuse problems Though as a Roman Catholic he could not divorce his third wife actress Jean MacIntyre their relationship ended due to Mielziner s relationship with Sheen s private secretary Mielziner and MacIntyre married in 1938 and were long since separated at the time of death in 1976 despite still being legally married 11 Legacy EditHis scenic designs for the original production of Arthur Miller s Death of a Salesman were re created for the 2012 Broadway revival starring Philip Seymour Hoffman Andrew Garfield and Linda Emond Director Mike Nichols said he felt he needed Mielziner s original set because it was intimately connected with the way the play developed He went on to say he has never seen anything near as good in any of the productions of Salesman because it s everything and nothing 16 References Edit Bloom Ken Vlastnik Frank 2010 10 27 Broadway Musicals The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time Running Press p 261 ISBN 978 1 57912 849 4 a b c d e Krebs Albin 1976 03 16 Jo Mielziner Dead at 74 Pioneering Set Designer The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2023 03 10 Art Theatre TIME TIME 1932 04 11 Archived from the original on 27 October 2010 Retrieved 2023 03 10 a b archives nypl org Mielziner family papers New York Public Library Archives amp Manuscripts Retrieved 2016 04 21 Thornton Margaret Rose Williams Tennessee 2006 01 01 Notebooks Yale University Press p 554 ISBN 978 0 300 11682 3 Barranger Milly S 2006 Theatre A Way of Seeing Thomson Wadsworth p 258 ISBN 978 0 495 00472 1 Atkinson Brooks The Play Pasting the Medicine Men The New York Times abstract November 22 1927 Jo Mielziner Broadway Cast amp Staff IBDB www ibdb com Retrieved 2023 03 10 NY Times Picnic Movies amp TV Dept The New York Times 2012 Archived from the original on 2012 10 18 Retrieved 2011 04 16 Wright Charles No Ordinary Jo Mielziner Master of Modern Stage Design Archived 2007 11 15 at the Wayback Machine theatermania com April 5 2001 a b Henderson Mary C 2001 01 01 Mielziner Master of Modern Stage Design Back Stage ISBN 9780823088232 Jo Mielziner Tony Awards Info www broadwayworld com Retrieved 2023 03 10 Harold Tedford Abstract wakespace lib wfu edu accessed April 16 2011 Calta Louis November 21 1958 Mielziner to Aid Lincoln Sq Plan Scenic Designer Will Assist Architect in Planning Repertory Theatre The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved March 7 2022 Birmingham Stephen 1996 Life at the Dakota New York s Most Unusual Address Syracuse University Press ISBN 978 0 8156 0338 2 Bloom Julie Huang Jon Piepenburg Erik March 1 2012 Life of a Salesman The New York Times Further reading EditHenderson Mary C Mielziner Master of Modern Stage Design Back Stage Books 2001 320 pages ISBN 978 0 8230 8823 2External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jo Mielziner Jo Mielziner at the Internet Broadway Database Jo Mielziner at the Internet Off Broadway Database Jo Mielziner at IMDb Jo Mielziner designs and technical drawings 1924 1976 held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Jo Mielziner papers 1903 1976 held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Jules Fisher collection of Jo Mielziner designs 1926 1969 2003 held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Jo Mielziner book W H Crain Costume and Scene Design Collection at the Harry Ransom Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jo Mielziner amp oldid 1144766668, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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