John Arnone Explained

John Arnone is an American set designer. He won a Tony Award in 1993 for set designs for the production of The Who's Tommy.

Early career

John Arnone studied at SMU to become an actor. He then moved to New York with a group of friends that included Garland Wright, Jack Hefner, Powers Boothe and Kathy Bates.^[1] In 1976, Arnone started designing sets, primarily for Jack Hefner’s Vanities, which ended up running for five years. He started taking night classes at the Parsons School of Design.

Career highlights

He has done set designs for Tommy Tune, playwright Edward Albee and choreographer Twyla Tharp. He’s worked at the Guthrie, the Mark Taper Forum and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario.

Arnone is also co-founder of the New York’s Lion Theatre Company, where he has designed numerous productions on and off Broadway.^[2]

Arnone has also designed for several television sets and films such as Mondo Beyondo with Bette Midler on HBO in 1982.^[3]

Awards

• Outstanding Set Design Drama Desk Award - 1993 for production of The Who's Tommy^{[4] [5]}
• Tony Award for Set Design - 1993 for production of The Who's Tommy
• Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in 1992 for Off-Broadway contributions to the theatrical community^[6]

Set Designs

• Volpone [Off-Broadway, 2012]^[7]
• The Lady from Dubuque [Off-Broadway, 2012]
• Black Tie [Off-Broadway, 2011]
• Nightmare Alley, Geffen Playhouse^[8]
• Oroonoko [Off-Broadway, 2008]
• Whistlin' Dixie, L.A's Geffen Playhouse, 2007^[9]
• Mimi le Duck [Off-Broadway, 2006]
• Mimi Le Duck [Off-Broadway, 2006]
• Indian Blood [Off-Broadway, 2006]
• Lennon [Broadway, 2005]
• Fortune's Fool[Broadway, 2002]
• Scenic Designer
• The Full Monty [West End, 2002]
• The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? [Broadway, 2002]
• Dracula[Regional (US), 2001]^[10]
• The Full Monty [US Tour, 2001]
• Tiny Alice [Off-Broadway, 2000]
• The Full Monty [Broadway, 2000]
• Gore Vidal's The Best Man [Broadway, 2000]
• The Full Monty [San Diego, CA (Regional), 2000]
• Wake Up and Smell the Coffee [Off-Broadway, 2000]
• Family Week [Off-Broadway, 2000]
• The Ride Down Mt. Morgan [Broadway, 2000]
• Waste [Off-Broadway, 2000]
• The Play About the Baby [Off-Broadway, 2000]
• Minnelli on Minnelli [Broadway, 1999]
• Marlene [Broadway, 1999]
• The Ride Down Mt. Morgan [Off-Broadway, 1998]
• The Deep Blue Sea [Broadway, 1998]
• Antony and Cleopatra [Off-Broadway, 1997]
• Sex and Longing [Broadway, 1996]
• Sacrilege [Broadway, 1995]
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying [Broadway, 1995]^[11]
• The Merchant of Venice [Off-Broadway, 1995]
• Grease [Broadway, 1994]
• The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public [Broadway, 1994]
• Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 [Broadway, 1994]
• Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 [Off-Broadway, 1994]
• Pounding Nails in the Floor [Off-Broadway, 1994]
• The Who's Tommy [Broadway, 1993]
• The End of the Day [Off-Broadway, 1992]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Weeks. Jerome. News and Features " Afternoon Delight: Animated 'This American Life' Wednesday Morning Roundup " John Arnone: Dallas' Master Set Designer -. 23 February 2011. Art and Seek. 21 July 2014.
2. http://www.broadwayworld.com/cincinnati/article/Tony-Winner-John-Arnone-to-Design-Sets-for-CCMs-THE-THREEPENNY-OPERA-228-310-20130221# Tony Winner John Arnone to Design Sets for CCM's THE THREEPENNY OPERA, 2/28-3/10
3. https://www.nytimes.com/tv/show/41339/Bette-Midler-s-Mondo-Beyondo/credits Bette Midler's Mondo Beyondo - Full Production Credits - NYTimes.com
4. Web site: John Arnone. Playbill Vault. 21 July 2014.
5. http://www.dramadesk.org/features/content/rising-projections-drama-desks-newest-award Rising Projections: Drama Desk's Newest Award | Drama Desk
6. Web site: 92.
7. Web site: John Arnone Theatre Credits. Broadway World. 21 July 2014.
8. http://ladramacriticscircle.com/2010-awards-nominees/ 2010 Awards Nominees :: LA Drama Critics Circle
9. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/112904-Whistlin-Dixie-New-Musical-Atlanta-Debuts-at-LAs-Geffen-Playhouse-Nov-20 Whistlin' Dixie: New Musical Atlanta Debuts at L.A's Geffen Playhouse Nov. 20 - Playbill.com
10. http://livedesignonline.com/news/whos-next-our-annual-look-five-young-designers-watch-0 Who's Next: Our Annual Look at Five Young Designers to Watch | News content from Live Design
11. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-13-ca-28155-story.html Critics' Nods Favor Smaller Theaters - Los Angeles Times