David L. Phillips is a Los Angeles based freelance scenic designer, scenic painter, and rendering artist. Originally from Indiana, he completed his MFA in Scenic Design at the University of California, Irvine (2016). His recent designs for UCI include Woyzeck, Ghosts, The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, and Spring Awakening. He has also served as properties master for The Orange County Shakespeare Festival, The New Swan Theatre, as well as the Brown Bag Theatre Company. He has also worked as a scenic artist for Mattel and an interior design company in West Hollywood. Prior to L.A., he has worked for the Laguna Playhouse, designing for the Youth Theatre program, served as their Assistant House Manager, Properties Master, Charge Scenic Artist, and as one of their box office representative.
David has a passion for learning and teaching, and has been a classroom instructor, guest instructor and mentor in numerous stagecraft, drawing, and art history classes, workshops, and drama camps. He has worked in educational settings as Technical Director and Resident Scenic Designer for Taylor University (2007-2013) Concordia Lutheran High School (2003-2007) and Leo Jr./Sr. High School (2004-2012). Favorite Scenic design works under the direction of Tracy Manning include Taylor’s productions of A Streetcar Named Desire, (KCACTF Scenic Design Nomination) Noises Off, The Crucible, Doubt, Crimes of the Heart, and The Odd Couple. Other favorites include Leo Jr./Sr. High School’s productions of Jane Eyre: The Musical, Aida, Trip to Bountiful, Wait Until Dark, and Little Shop of Horrors.
David has also directed a number of productions at Taylor University which include All in the Timing, Steel Magnolias, The Boys Next Door, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged.