Danny Truxaw

"I could fill chapters extolling Danny’s talents. Aside from being an expert technician and an extremely efficient worker, he is also a born leader and an incredibly good-natured human being." 

 "When I was recently awarded a grant to direct a music video for Yo-Yo Ma, the first person I called to get on my crew was Danny. My idea for the video was deliberately tailored for Danny’s exceptional skill and sensibility. I was again faced with unique challenges with both lighting and art direction, but I knew Danny would find a solution for each and every problem. He is the MacGyver of production design."

Seth Dalton  MFA USC School of Cinema

"I hired him on a small budget production of an original theatre movement piece called "Four Seasons", set to Vivaldi's concerti. From the very first interview, Danny came fully prepared with sketches and ideas, while also armed with a good listening ear. His dedication and enthusiasm lifted our spirits in the darkest of moments and emboldened us when we felt lost or tired. He was relentless and infinetely resourceful. For a mere $250 flat fee, he created an entire set, complete with 180° drops, long waves of flowing fabric delineating four distinct areas, cascading ribbons dropping on cue from the flies, and custom designed and built lighting effects.

As the Producer/Director of the project, I found it very easy to communicate with Danny, via email, phone or in person. He molded his own particular eye in order to complement my vision. He also brought in his own load and strike crew, which allowed me to observe his gentle firmness as a manager.

I would and will hire Danny Truxaw any time in the future, and I believe that any theatre institution would be all too lucky to have him on board.

Thea Mercouffer - Director and Producer

"Witness for the Prosecution at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. Within the confines of an extremely limited budget, Danny designed the scenery for that scenically challenging show and he gave it a look that drew positive notice and comments in the reviews and from the audience. His scenic solution was elegantly clean and straightforward, capturing the essence of the play simplistically without the benefit of a turntable, fly space or an adequate budget. Not only did he design the scenery on this project, but he also served valiantly as the technical director, scenic artist, set dresser, and lighting designer. His lights, in deft coordination with the sound design, served to masterfully orchestrate the production emotionally." 

David Colwell Phd,  Director

" For a theater used to very detailed “box” sets, Danny truly demonstrated “out of the box” thinking.  The play requires several changes between the barrister’s office and the courtroom, scene changes which are challenging in a small theater.  Danny’s solution was to build two large “wagons” which could be reversed to change the setting.  Recognizing that our stage crew was limited, he enlisted the actors to perform the set changes in a well-synchronized “ballet.”  The set changes were accomplished quickly and the action was mesmerizing" 

Ward Calaway  - Sierra Madre Playhouse

" Danny Truxaw has functioned well in the department’s production program as a guest designer. The production program functioned in a manner that required designers to function many times as their own technical directors and scenic artists. These tasks have since become more exclusive in our program; however, when Danny began working in our program he performed all three functions simultaneously on many of the shows he for which he designed scenery. The separation of these functions provided greater time for our designers to work with students on the development of design through a collaborative process. Working as a collaborative member of the production team is the role model we stress to our students who are working in the technical portion of our production program. In both of our programs the scenic designer is responsible for design of both the set properties and the hand properties that are used in our productions. All of these talents are required for a designer to function successfully within our program, and Danny has repeatedly demonstrated all of them.

Dennis Dillon, MFA CSUN Technical Director and Designer

"From the cobblestone floor and burnished brown walls to the appropriately drab furnishings, Danny Truxaw's set is marvelously atmospheric, transporting us to the stifling domicile of a poverty-stricken everyman in mid 19th century Europe. Truxaw's lighting effects add to the magnificent look and feel, enhancing Troupe's efforts without creating a distraction. The emphasis remains on the words and actions of the character known only as Clerk, a nameless and practically faceless lower-class citizen lost amid the apathetic bureaucracy and social stratification of his time and place as he yearns to live a more prestigious and fulfilling existence."

Les Spindle  -- Backstage West

"Set Designer Danny Truxaw's depiction of a Chicago backyard with red brick and barren trees is true to life, and filled with the special atmosphere of the Windy City"

Jacob Clark - "Proof" Metro L.A.