In Memoriam: Anna Louizos

	Anna Louizos

Anna Louizos, the prolific scenic designer who, among many other things, was associated with two era-defining Broadway hits, died on August 24. She was 69.

A statement from her family reads: "It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Anna Louizos. Anna was a beloved designer, artist, mentor, collaborator, and friend to so many throughout the theatre community and beyond. Her extraordinary talent and generosity touched countless people, and her impact on the creative community will be felt for years to come. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss and ask for patience and privacy as her family, friends, and colleagues grieve."

A native of Yuba City, California, Louizos was drawn to the stage after seeing the musical Applause, with Lauren Bacall, at 15. Planning on becoming an actress, she entered Mills College in Oakland before transferring to New York University. Instead, she earned an MFA in scenic design from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

Her regional theatre credits reach back to Much Ado About Nothing at the Old Globe in San Diego, in 2003. Others include The Baker's Wife at Paper Mill Playhouse (2005), the musical Minsky's at Center Theatre Group (2009), Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup at Berkeley Rep (2011), the musical Fly at Dallas Theatre Center (2013), the musical Ever After at Alliance Theatre (2018), Dial "M" for Murder at Bay Street Theater (2023), The Great American Mousical (directed by Julie Andrews) at Legacy Theatre, and the musical Regency Girls at The Old Globe.

Off Broadway, she designed the original production of Jonathan Larson's Tick, Tick...Boom! (2001), the George S. Kaufman comedy The Butter and Egg Man for Atlantic Theater (2002), the long-running spoof Altar Boyz (2005), the multi-award-winning drama Sons of the Prophet at Roundabout Theatre Company (2011), and two Charles Busch comedies, both for Primary Stages: Olive and the Bitter Herbs (2011) and The Tribute Artist (2014).

Two of her Off-Broadway designs had much longer lives. In the Heights (2007) launched the career of Lin-Manuel Miranda before transferring to Broadway for 1,184 performances. And Avenue Q won raves at the Vineyard Theatre before moving to Broadway for 2,534 performances, not to mention another lengthy run at New World Stages (in addition to productions in Las Vegas and elsewhere).

Other Broadway designs included Golda's Balcony (2005, starring Tovah Feldshuh), the musical Curtains (2007), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012), Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella (2013), Honeymoon in Vegas (2015), It Shoulda Been You (2015), and School of Rock: The Musical (2015). Her designs for Irving Berlin's White Christmas played several engagements on Broadway and in cities around the country.

She was nominated for three Tony Awards (for The Mystery of Edwin Drood, In the Heights, and High Fidelity), five Drama Desk Awards (for Scotland PA, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, In the Heights, Curtains, and High Fidelity), three Lucille Lortel Awards (for In Transit, In the Heights, and Avenue Q), and an Emmy Award for art direction of the 46th Annual Tony Awards.

As an art director for television, her credits include a season of Sex and the City and the Jim Gaffigan sitcom Welcome to New York.

Louizos founded the Broadway Design Exchange, an online marketplace for fans to purchase the work of their favorite designers, including set models, original costume and scenic sketches, limited-edition prints of sketches, miniatures, playbills, posters, and custom pieces.

Louizos is survived by her life partner, the producer Robyn Goodman.

Lin-Manuel Miranda offered the following tribute on Instagram:

"I will never forget the first time Vanessa [Nadal, his wife] saw the set of In The Heights, tears streaming down her face: 'How did you get MY block on that stage?' It was a refrain I would hear again and again over the course of the run and for the next 19 years, from Washington Heights residents AND people all over the world: That's MY block. That's MY home. That was the gift of Anna Louizos, our unforgettable and brilliant set designer and friend....I'm looking out my window this morning, on the same block where my wife grew up, still in awe that she got it all on that stage. She built our home. Thank you, Anna. Alabanza. Para siempre."