Christopher Scott Murillo is a 2008/2009 Ovation Award Nominee for Scenic Design – Intimate Theatre for his work in HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical at The Chance Theater.
If you’d like to add a congratulatory message for Christopher (or any other Nominee or Nominated Company), to the Ovation Awards commemorative poster (distributed to all nominees and all attendees at the Ceremony), click here!
As an Ovation Award Nominee, LA Stage asked Christopher the following questions:
What was the moment that first inspired you to pursue working in the theatre?
Thinking back, the moment that eventually inspired me to pursue a career in theatre was as a young child seeing plays and musicals with my family. I was always intrigued by how artists could create so many different atmospheres and evoke so many emotions in a theatrical space. It wasn’t until I went to college that I decided to seriously pursue a career in theatre- which, it is a decision I will never regret.
What do you feel made the production you were nominated for particularly successful, either overall or for you specifically?
The success of “HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” was the result of many many hours of hard work and collaboration. The thing that probably made it most successful were the cooperation and complete collaboration among not only the actors, but by all of the creative staff. Of course, having a very clear artistic vision from our director, Oanh Nguyen helped to make this piece “in tune” on all levels. It is by far, a stand out in my career (being that I am a very young designer).
What project or projects are you currently working on?
Currently, I am working on an upcoming production of “Merrily We Roll Along” by Stephen Sondheim opening at the Chance Theater in Anaheim HIlls in late January 2010. I am the set designer on this production.
What do you love most about theatre in Los Angeles?
Theatre in Los Angeles is great because there is a huge variety of theatre on many levels- Los Angeles, as a major city, offers many different cultural collaborations for Theater as well as the traditional Broadway style shows, touring productions, opera, etc. The opportunities to see and be exposed to a wide variety of theatre is a wonderful resource to have- a resource that helps me grow as an artist and designer.
What’s your dream project?
My dream project would be to design a set for a Cirque du Soleil show. I admire the wide variety of creativity and talent that goes into their productions. They truly utilize the power of the imagination and suspension of disbelief to create artistically beautiful and impressive productions. Their work is a true collaboration of all of the arts on stage.
Biography: Christopher Scott Murillo is a graduate from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (2007). Over the course of his career, he has designed sets, costumes and props for a wide variety of theatrical productions. He is a resident designer with the Chance Theater Company in Anaheim Hills, Ca. Since graduating from UCLA, he has worked with many southern California theater companies, including, Long Beach Opera, The Chance Theater, East West Players, UCLA Opera, The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, and Opera Pacific. His work was also been featured at the Las Floristas Charity Ball held at the Beverly Hills Hotel this past May, which raised funds for the Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center. This past year he was awarded a Chancie Award for Best Scenic Design (Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol) for the Chance Theater 2008 Season. He is currently looking to pursue a Masters Degree in Theater. This will be Christopher’s first Ovation Nomination and is humbled and honored to be nominated- Thank you LA Stage Alliance. He would also like to thank everyone who experienced Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical at The Chance Theater this past summer. Lastly, he would like to thank his family, friends, and fellow theatrical colleagues for their continued support.
For a full list of Ovation nominees, or for information about the Ovation Awards Ceremony on January 11th, click here!
