The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) has featured Michelle Harvey’s scenic design from “Così fan tutte” in its national trade publication, Theatre Design and Technology.

Harvey is an associate professor in the BFA in Design, Technology and Stage Management program, housed within the Department of Theatre and Dance. She has been with Missouri State since 2019.

Professionals from across the country submitted their work for consideration to USITT’s “Design Expo” March 18-21 in Long Beach, California. Held every two years, this juried exhibition showcases scenery, costume and lighting design in the performing arts, Harvey explained.

Start with a script and a concept

Directed by actress and opera soprano Renée Fleming, “Così fan tutte” was performed at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado in July 2025. Harvey’s role as designer was to help Fleming transform her vision to the stage.

“A design always starts with the script and a concept,” Harvey said. For “Così fan tutte,” Fleming placed the opera in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, a small New England town, during the 1980s. Most of the story takes place within a boxing gym.

Working from the concept, Harvey researched the time period and locations, creating scenes that told the story visually while staying within budget parameters. She also needed to keep in mind the Wheeler Opera House’s limited space.

The venue is a “historic space with little to no backstage space,” Harvey explained. “The set had to be able to transform from the gym to several other locations, including the beach/boardwalk on the coast.”

Theatre design tradecraft

Harvey met the spacing challenge by designing scenic pieces that had elements of the boxing gym on one side. When rotated, the other side displayed the beach/boardwalk. As a result, most scenic pieces remained on stage. “Members of the cast and crew shifted scenic pieces through carefully choreographed movements in full view of the audience during and in between the scenes,” Harvey said.

Meanwhile, using the Vectorworks CAD program, Harvey drafted three-dimensional drawings. She then created scaled design elevations and transferred them to a scenic fabrication shop in Colorado. In addition, she created scaled paint elevations so the painting crew could match her specified colors and textures. Finally, Harvey created set renderings, which she shared with Fleming and other production team members.

College experience steered career path

While Harvey held an interest in theatre back to her high school days, her college experience helped her identify theatrical design as a career path.

“I’ve always been interested in drawing, architecture and structures and found theatrical design while in college at the Ohio State University,” she recalled. “I thought I wanted to be an actor, but I took a theatrical drawing class in the theatre department, and as a theatre major [I] had to work behind the scenes on college productions. Through this work I discovered my love for design and technical theatre.”

Building new worlds

Harvey enjoys blending her technical knowledge with her artistry. As a self-described visual storyteller, she likes to create “new worlds on the stage.”

Even her LinkedIn tag line reads, “Finding the real in the imaginary.”

Meanwhile, working with directors, other designers, technicians and students only reinforces the collaborative nature of theatre that she loves.

“I get to dive deep into a new place and time and learn all I can about this world while adapting it to the production’s needs,” she said. “I enjoy the creativity of discovering the world of the play.”

“A pretty cool job”

Harvey described working with Fleming as “a bit of a dream come true.”

“I was able to help her understand some of the more technical aspects of the design,” she said. “We were able to bounce ideas off of each other to develop a set that would work within the parameters of the space while still achieving all of the locations needed.”

Likewise, Harvey brings that “real world” experience to her classroom to help students “develop their own visions.”

“School can be very insular, and it’s easy to get stuck in habits,” she noted. “By working with companies outside of the university, I can stay familiar with current industry practices and trends and can bring these experiences back to the classroom to share with students.”

Harvey said her professional work creates more networking opportunities for her students as well. “I have often gotten students jobs in the industry because of people I know and who trust my recommendations. In this business, talent will get you far. But a connection will often get you in the door quicker.”

Pragmatics aside, Harvey remains devoted to the artistry within her craft and committed to her students’ success.

“I have a pretty cool job,” she said.

Study theatrical design @ Mo State

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