Renée is the Lecturer of Set Design at Brown University's Department of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies. She is and Academic Advisor and the Design Mentor for all students interested in pursuing specialities in Theatrical Design and Production, and oversees the TAPS Department Senior Slot Production each year. Renée teaches courses in Theatrical Production Design, Set Design, Scenic Painting, and Director/ Designer Collaboration.
Renée is also a professional Set Designer and Scenic Artist based in Providence, Rhode Island.
Her design aesthetic balances a sense of heightened poetic visuals with an elegant practicality. Her design method is heavily rooted in the collaborative process, which results in designs that are tailored to the technical needs and the artistic vision of each production. She specializes in creating designs for new works and re-imagining the established canon.
The practical roots of Renée’s design work come from her extensive experience as a Scenic Painter, Carpenter, and Technical Director. She derives continuous artistic inspiration from studying traditional staging mechanics and painting techniques, as well as experimenting with new ideas, materials, and technologies.
Renée is also dedicated to the training and mentorship of her students. She has been teaching and creating courses in Set Design and Production at the collegiate level since 2010, and leading a production team and mentoring student interns at the professional opera training company, La Musica Lirica, in Italy each summer since 2013.
