Michael Thomas Essad - Technical Director / Scenic Designer

I have had a rich and full career and it keeps growing. I have worked from coast to coast and in many different organizations including regional LORT and educational theater as well as touring both rock and roll and theatrical groups.  Throughout my career I have been the technical director for well over two hundred productions and a scenic designer for over eighty shows.

I was the Technical Director, Resident Scenic Designer and an Adjunct Instructor for The Pittsburgh Playhouse and Point Park University for the past 11 years.   My career also includes 3 years as the Technical Director at the Pittsburgh Public Theater and 6 years at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami where we produced many world premiers and sent several shows to Broadway. Other credits include the Berkeley Repertory Theater, California Shakespeare Festival, Actors Playhouse in Miami, San Jose Repertory Company and the California Theater Center in Sunnyvale Ca. I have also designed for the Asolo Theater in Sarasota Florida and Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theater in Pittsburgh.

One of the great highlights of my career was as a  technician / crew supervisor for the half time show for Super Bowl 29.

I also design and build furniture for both theatrical productions and the private sector as well.