02.01.10 – Price Johnston, professor of Lighting, Sound and Projection Design at Colorado State University, was a member of the projection design team for the Pee-wee Herman Show at Club Nokia@LA Live. The popular show, starring Paul Reubens, was revamped from the original production by Reubens, Bill Steinkellner and John Paragon. Due to popular demand for tickets, the show was moved from the smaller Music Box Theatre to the 2,300 seat Club Nokia in Los Angeles.
According to the Pee-wee Herman website, “Many of the show’s original artists, both on stage and behind the scenes are involved in this re-imagined production.” Johnson worked with scenic designer David Korins, in collaboration with the influential artist and designer of both the original stage production, as well as CBS’s Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Gary Panter.
The playhouse is still so beautiful! It’s like what the board game Candy Land would be if it were a house. You’ve always had incredible taste, Pee-wee, and scenic designer David Korins captures the old kitschy magic,” said theatre critic Charles McNulty in a review posted on the Los Angeles Times website on January 21, 2010.
Club Nokia, a multi-use music, entertainment and concert venue, located in the heart of the acclaimed LA Live Complex, accommodates over 2,300 guests. Featuring state-of-the-art acoustics designed for live entertainment…the theatre brings the latest technology to music enthusiasts including an innovative interactive experience embedded in foot-controlled floor interfaces, touch screens, and a large LED installation within the lobby of the Club Nokia space. Club Nokia was awarded the “Best New Major Concert Venue” at the 2009 20th annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards.
About Price Johnson
Price Johnston’s career in design has spanned theatre, dance and opera in both the U.S. and abroad. With work in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Moscow, Athens (Greece), London, Atlanta, St. Petersburg (Russia), and Denver, he has designed over 130 productions. His credits include the World Premiere of Jomandi Productions – Lavender Lizards Lilac Landmines: Layla’s Dream by Tony nominated playwright Ntozake Shange (14th Street Playhouse – Atlanta, GA and the 2004 National Black Theatre Festival), Guys & Dolls (2000 British Tour), and the World Premieres of Huckleberry Finn: The Musical, and A Southern Christmas Carol (Cotton Hall Theatre), written by award winning playwright/director Rob Lauer. In addition to the Pee-wee Herman Show, Johnston’s recent work includes Janis Brenner’s Lost/Found/Lost (Isadora Duncan International Dance Festival – Kransnoyarsk – Russia), The 2008 Jeff Award Winning Production of 1776 (Chopin Theatre – Chicago), Lighting Supervisor for the International Touring Company – David Dorfman Dance: Underground. Johnston holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Lighting Design from the University of Florida and a Bachelors Degree in Theatrical Design from Mesa State College in Colorado.