Kristen Sabo

Education

Equipment

My Equipment/Kit:

I can use:

About me

Kristen Sabo is a passionate artist and storyteller dedicated to the live design experience. Her creative career has spanned two decades, evolving from commissioned murals and scenic painting to the entertainment worlds of theater, film, and corporate environments. She is a member of USA, Local 829.

Kristen has designed sets for regional and academic theaters in the southeast, and worked with acclaimed designers for on and Off Broadway productions. She is known for her versatile style and strong commitment to excellence, but most of all her unique insights and artistry. She earned her MFA Degree in Production Design (Theatre & Film) at Savannah College of Art & Design, and her BFA Degree in Illustration from Ringling College of Art & Design. She spent her early career as a professional muralist in southwest Florida, and developed her theatre interests while working as a Scenic Artist in Repertory Theatre. In 2000, after the Director of a local production company recruited her to sketch set ideas for a production of An O’ Henry Christmas, a nine-year professional relationship developed. Kristen eventually became the company’s resident Scenic Designer & Artist, working on new plays and modern classics such as You Can’t Take It With You, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, and A Dickens’ Christmas Carol. As the production company grew, she provided designs for private functions and charity events for organizations such as AIDS Task Force and Gulf Coast Symphony until her collaborating efforts eventually evolved into a position as Artistic Director and Vice President of the company, encompassing both the creative and business vision of the organization.

In 2005 Kristen established Art & Soul Design Inc. in Naples, FL to focus her efforts on specialty commissions of murals and decorative finishes for residential interiors. Her signature “sophisticated tropical” style earned her a six-year partnership with Robb & Stucky Interiors and a “preferred vendor” position until 2011 when she officially returned to graduate school to expand her career into the field of Entertainment Design. She entered the New York scene producing studio work for Broadway and Off Broadway productions, and also worked independently as a Designer and Artist. From removed , Kristen accepted a position at the University of Miami Theatre Arts Department as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Scenic Design, where she taught courses in theater, film, and scenic painting and designed six main stage productions. In mid 2019 she joined the corporate event Creative Design team at PRA Events, Inc.’s South Florida office where she continues to conceptualize unique environments- at iconic venues, such as Fontainebleau, Vizcaya, and Wynwood Art District along the Miami coast. Kristen’s creative expertise encompasses both computer and hand-generated rendering, scale modeling, and drafting, as well as extensive scenic painting and faux finishing skills. She is insightful art director, team manager, and has administrative expertise ranging from budgeting to design presentations and B to B marketing. She enjoys traveling, taking in local culinary flavors and cultural experiences including theatre and the arts, and spending quality time with her family and her English Labrador named London.
Additional skills:
Hand & Digital Rendering, Hand & Digital Drafting, 3-D Modeling, Scale Modeling, Drawing & Painting, Faux Finishes and Scenic Painting, Story-boarding, Site Surveying, Budgeting, Moodboards, Design Presentations, Illustration and Graphics, Concept Design

Computer Proficiencies: AutoCAD 2019, Google SketchUp Pro 2019, Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator,
Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint & Excel, Social Tables, Eved (Event Proposal Writing Software)
Scenic/Mural Painting Proficiencies: Landscapes, skies, portraits and figure work, fabric, foliage, architecture, various trompe l’oeil techniques, stenciling, signage, and graphics in various painting styles & media
Faux Finish Proficiencies: Gilding, marbleizing, wood grain, brick/stone, plastering, scumbling, washes, ragging, sponging, spattering, flogging, stria, frottage, stippling, antiquing, glazing, etc.
Industry awards:
1st Place National Award for Theatrical Design Excellence (Stage Design)- Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (Machinal) 2015
Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for Production Design- SCAD 2014
Ovation Award for Best Scenic Design (Machinal)- Third Act 2014
2nd Place National Award for Sprite Films commercial, Paint the City- Production Designer 2013
2013 Official Selection” Orlando Film Festival, Der Bote- Production Designer 2012
Best of Ringling Award removed
Referees:
David Gallo
Designer for Broadway, Film, TV & Concerts
Upstate New York, NY
(917) 882 • 7629
removed

Laura Rikard
Asst Professor of Theatre
University of South Carolina
(646) 345 • 8088
removed

Sharon Ott
Theatre Department Chair
Virginia Commonwealth University, VA
(206) 330 • 6028
removed

Alicia Kingsley
Creative Director
PRA Events Inc., Ft Lauderdale FL
(305) 284 • 5360
removed

Laura Dunlap
Creative Designer
PRA Event Inc., Ft Lauderdale, FL
(903) 780 • 0013

Brett Scott
Stage Director
North Broward Preparatory School, Ft. Lauderdale
(347) removed
removed

Jana Acevedo
Costumer for TV & Film
Atlanta, GA
(580) removed
removed

Kassandra Patterson
Color Designer
Walt Disney Imagineering
(903) 780 • 0013
removed

Gerritt VanderMeer
Director, Theatre Lab & Asst Professor of Theatre
Theatre, FGCU Ft. Myers, FL
(239) 590 • 7245
removed

Anne Carncross
Technical Director, Theatre Lab & Asso Professor
Theatre, FGCU Ft. Myers, FL
(239) 590 • 7723
removed
Additional information:
MFA in Production Design (Theatre/Film) - Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), Savannah, GA
BFA in Illustration/Painting- Ringling College of Art & Design (RCAD), Sarasota, FL

License & Passport

Skills

Secondary Job Title	Scenic Artist
Job Titles	Set Artist / Designer, Theatre Technician
Years in industry	6+ years
Organisations / Memberships	IATSE, USA 829 (US), USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology)
Work Permits	USA