Internationally famous Broadway set designer. Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he studied Fine Art at Harvard then began his theatrical career as an actor, working at the Greenwich Village Theater. Oenslager turned to set design for Broadway stage productions in 1924 and went on to create the scenery and lighting for over 140 Broadway plays and musicals including such memorable productions as "Good News!" (1927), "Girl Crazy" (1930), "The Farmer Takes a Wife" (1934), "Stage Door" (1936) "You Can't Take It with You" (1936), "Of Mice and Men" (1937), "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (1939), "Sabrina Fair" (1953), A Majority of One (1959), and "A Far Country" (1961). He won a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for his work on "A Majority of One" and is regarded as one of the major developers of modern American stage design who brought a new emphasis on symbolism over realism to American theater design.
Oenslager was well-known and had a varied career as a stage designer, professor, consultant, writer, and lecturer. He taught scenic design at the Yale School of Drama for many years and Yale continues to award an annual scholarship for stage design in his name.
He was a member of the Art Commission of the City of New York, the board of directors of the American Foundation of the Arts, and the Museum of the City of New York. Oenslager was also for many years on the faculty of the Yale School of Drama and was the author of "Scenery Then and Now" (1936).
Oenslager was well-known and had a varied career as a stage designer, professor, consultant, writer, and lecturer. He taught scenic design at the Yale School of Drama for many years and Yale continues to award an annual scholarship for stage design in his name.
He was a member of the Art Commission of the City of New York, the board of directors of the American Foundation of the Arts, and the Museum of the City of New York. Oenslager was also for many years on the faculty of the Yale School of Drama and was the author of "Scenery Then and Now" (1936).
Internationally famous Broadway set designer. Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he studied Fine Art at Harvard then began his theatrical career as an actor, working at the Greenwich Village Theater. Oenslager turned to set design for Broadway stage productions in 1924 and went on to create the scenery and lighting for over 140 Broadway plays and musicals including such memorable productions as "Good News!" (1927), "Girl Crazy" (1930), "The Farmer Takes a Wife" (1934), "Stage Door" (1936) "You Can't Take It with You" (1936), "Of Mice and Men" (1937), "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (1939), "Sabrina Fair" (1953), A Majority of One (1959), and "A Far Country" (1961). He won a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for his work on "A Majority of One" and is regarded as one of the major developers of modern American stage design who brought a new emphasis on symbolism over realism to American theater design.
Oenslager was well-known and had a varied career as a stage designer, professor, consultant, writer, and lecturer. He taught scenic design at the Yale School of Drama for many years and Yale continues to award an annual scholarship for stage design in his name.
He was a member of the Art Commission of the City of New York, the board of directors of the American Foundation of the Arts, and the Museum of the City of New York. Oenslager was also for many years on the faculty of the Yale School of Drama and was the author of "Scenery Then and Now" (1936).
Oenslager was well-known and had a varied career as a stage designer, professor, consultant, writer, and lecturer. He taught scenic design at the Yale School of Drama for many years and Yale continues to award an annual scholarship for stage design in his name.
He was a member of the Art Commission of the City of New York, the board of directors of the American Foundation of the Arts, and the Museum of the City of New York. Oenslager was also for many years on the faculty of the Yale School of Drama and was the author of "Scenery Then and Now" (1936).
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
