Kirk A. Domer

domer@msu.edu
(517) 355-6690

FacultyTheatre

Professor
Scene Design

Curriculum Vitae

Biography

Kirk Domer, Professor of Scene Design and Director of Arts, Cultural Management, & Museum Studies, received his BA from Ashland University and MFA in Scene Design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829.His book entitled Collaboration in Theatre about the collaboration process between director and designer, co-written with colleague Rob Roznowksi was published by Palgrave Macmillan.

Kirk designed two world premiere productions by internationally renowned and best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster, and musician Mitch Albom. ERNIE performed at various venues throughout Michigan and Florida, and HOCKEY, THE MUSICAL, toured the State of Michigan.He has also designed for Stages, A.D. Players, 4th Wall Theatre Company, Williamston Theatre, Meadow Brook Theatre, Performance Network, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, Wharton Center for Performing Arts, City Lit Theatre, Eastman School of Music, Mercury Opera, BoarsHead Theatre, Stormfield Theatre, The Madison Repertory Theatre, Summer Circle Theatre, Riverwalk Theatre, Ashland Summer Theatre Festival, and Make*a*Circus. He is a member of USITT and recent design credits include The Who’s Tommy, The Effect of Gamma Rays on the Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, Babes in Arms, Permanent Collection, Tea and Sympathy and The Children’s Hour (in rep), The Life, Underneath the Lintel,L’Etoile, Man of La Mancha, As Bees in Honey Drown, The Rake’s Progress, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bad Dates, Over the Tavern, The Mikado and La Bohème.

Kirk designed two world premiere productions by internationally renowned and best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster, and musician Mitch Albom. ERNIE performed at various venues throughout Michigan and Florida, and HOCKEY, THE MUSICAL, toured the State of Michigan..

Artist Statement

My work as a theatrical scene designer and educator has a common thread – combining technique with artistry. In combining technique and artistry for the theatrical designer, a creative tension must be maintained between the intermingling of process and product and theory and practice. My designs are known for their impeccable draftsmanship and accuracy, from rendering to delivered design onstage.

Media Mentions

Awards and Honors

University News

College Receives National Award for Innovative Policies and Programs Supporting Non-Tenure-Track Faculty
Published October 10, 2024 in College of Arts & Letters
Michigan State University’s College of Arts & Letters has been selected as a winner of the 2024  Delphi Award for its dedicated work to include non-tenure-track faculty as full partners…Read now »
Theatre Professor Receives National Award for Excellence in Teaching and Mentorship
Published September 18, 2024 in College of Arts & Letters
A picture of a woman with shoulder-length brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a blue shirt with a pink flower on one of the arms.
As the 2024 recipient of the Betty Jean Jones Award, Ann Folino White, Associate Professor of Theatre Studies at Michigan State University, joins the ranks of a select group of scholars honored by…Read now »
Jyotsna Singh Leaves Lasting Legacy at MSU and Will Deliver Legacy Lecture on April 17
Published March 28, 2024 in College of Arts & Letters
As the 2023-2024 recipient of the College of Arts & Letters’ Legacy Lecture Award, Jyotsna Singh, who recently retired from the Department of English at Michigan State University, will deliver…Read now »
Theatre Graduate to Deliver College of Arts & Letters Student Commencement Speech
Published May 1, 2023 in College of Arts & Letters
Sophia Psiakis, who is graduating with a BFA in Acting for Stage, Screen, and New Media and a minor in Musical Theatre, has been selected as the Spring 2023 College of Arts & Letters student…Read now »
2023 Varg-Sullivan Endowed Graduate Awards Presented
Published April 18, 2023 in College of Arts & Letters
This year’s winners of the Varg-Sullivan Endowed Graduate Awards are Mona Jahani, MFA Candidate in Theatre Design, the Outstanding Achievement in the Arts recipient, and Naiyan Du, Ph.D. Candidate…Read now »
Kirk Domer Appointed Acting Associate Dean of Academic Personnel and Administration
Published April 25, 2022 in College of Arts & Letters
Kirk Domer, Professor of Scene Design in the Department of Theatre, has been appointed Acting Associate Dean of Academic Personnel and Administration and will serve in this position July 1-December…Read now »
Assignment to Design Auditorium Lobby Renovation and Major Donor Costume
Published February 15, 2022 in College of Arts & Letters
A class assignment by Kirk Domer, Professor of Scene Design, and Lucas Nunn, Academic Specialist of Sound Design, had their MSU Department of Theatre students thinking about renovating the MSU…Read now »
Collaborators from MSU’s Department of Theatre Help Bring Musical to Texas Stage
Published February 2, 2022 in College of Arts & Letters
Four collaborators from Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre have teamed up to help bring the world premiere of MacGyver: The Musical to Stages in Houston, Texas. Kirk Domer,…Read now »
Honky Tonk Musical in Houston Showcases MSU Scene Design
Published November 9, 2020 in College of Arts & Letters
a woman dancing while doing laundry
A new musical opening in Houston, Texas, at Stages Repertory Theatre features scenic design by Michigan State University Professor…Read now »
Renovating Learning Through Compassion and Innovation
Published July 13, 2020 in College of Arts & Letters
man wearing a gray suit and glasses posing for a photo
After 10 years and two terms as Chairperson of Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre, Professor Kirk Domer is returning to the faculty. His time as…Read now »
MSU Colleges Create 3D-Printed Face Shields in Response to COVID-19
Published March 30, 2020 in College of Arts & Letters
picture of masks lined up on a table
Michigan State University is helping local health professionals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus by making 3D-printed personal protective equipment…Read now »
Learning Continues Remotely at MSU’s Department of Theatre
Published March 23, 2020 in College of Arts & Letters
Students gathered in an online class for THR 292
On Thursday, March 12, Department of Theatre sophomores gathered for the course THR 292, also known as Sophomore Seminar. The class explores theatre-making and its connections to…Read now »
MSU Theatre Setting the Stage for Design and Mentorship
Published February 18, 2020 in College of Arts & Letters
A large room fully furnished, including a living room area, a dining area and art across the walls
In the theatre world, reviews tend to focus on the performers more than costumes, sets, or lighting. But for a recent production of Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner by the A.D….Read now »
New Adaptation of ‘Frankenstein’ Examines Gender Norms Through Non-Traditional Casting
Published October 8, 2019 in College of Arts & Letters
Man with brown eyes has a dirty hand covering his mouth. Behind him, a scary, dirty, disgruntled woman is staring creepily with her hand over his mouth.
Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre is presenting a new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic gothic horror novel, Frankenstein. Through the use of some…Read now »
Department of Theatre Announces 2019-2020 Season
Published September 12, 2019 in College of Arts & Letters
Poster with white background. Theres an outline of a lightbulb with the words "Invention and Reinvention" written across it. There a few wooden puzzle pieces in the bottom right corner, a typewriter in the bottom left corner, and a clock in the upper lefthand corner
The Michigan State University Department of Theatre announces its 2019-2020 Season, which focuses on invention and reinvention, adaptations of…Read now »
MSU Theatre Rakes in Pulsar Award Nominations
Published July 24, 2019 in College of Arts & Letters
Ariel shot of a group of eight women wearing dresses on a stage
MSU’s Department of Theatre’s 2018-2019 Season received 31 nominations for Pulsar Awards and walked away with seven of those awards, the most of…Read now »
UURAF First Place Winners Announced
Published April 11, 2019 in College of Arts & Letters
four adults standing around a poster and smiling at the camera
Several College of Arts & Letters students received first-place awards for their research and creative scholarship presented at the 21st Annual University Undergraduate Research and Arts…Read now »
2019 Alumni Board Awards Presented
Published April 1, 2019 in College of Arts & Letters
Photo of four people standing smiling standing in front of a window with the left person wearing a medal and the two middle people holding awards
College of Arts & Letters faculty and students were recognized for their outstanding achievements in leadership, teaching, innovation, and community engagement at the College of Arts &…Read now »
Theatre Alumna Performing in National Broadway Tour
Published February 13, 2018 in College of Arts & Letters
woman leaning on a piano while a man is playing the piano
Michigan State Theatre alumna Sarah Goeke came to MSU to pursue her Master of Fine Arts in Theatre, but she received so much more than just a degree. During her time here, she started a…Read now »
Five Faculty Promoted to Full Professor
Published November 17, 2017 in College of Arts & Letters
Photo of Beaumont Tower, a red brick building
This year, the College of Arts & Letters promoted five faculty members to Full Professor with tenure, including Kirk Domer, Bill Hart-Davidson, Alisa Henriquez, Shawn Loewen, and Rob…Read now »
Staging New Opportunities in Theatre
Published August 31, 2017 in College of Arts & Letters
close-up of a man's face. he is wearing rectangular glasses and a button-up and blazer
KIRK DOMER Department ChairpersonAssociate Professor of Scene DesignDepartment of Theatre Kirk Domer has had many successes both at Michigan State University and in the professional theatre…Read now »
Theatre Professor Selected as MASU’s Professor of the Year
Published April 5, 2017 in College of Arts & Letters
woman wearing a red jacket smiling at the camera
Ann Folino White, MSU Associate Professor of Theatre Studies and Directing, was selected as one of three Michigan Association of State Universities Professors of the Year. The committee…Read now »
Theatre Production Showcases Interdisciplinary Work
Published March 27, 2017 in College of Arts & Letters
MSU students who worked on 1984 at Williamston Theatre
Much work from College of Arts & Letters students, faculty, and alumni has gone into the Williamston Theatre’s current production – Michael Gene Sullivan’s adaptation…Read now »
Theatre Students Travel to Dubai for International Festival
Published February 16, 2017 in College of Arts & Letters
group of students posing with a skyscraper in the background
Eight undergraduate Theatre students recently traveled to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the first International Theatre Festival at the American University of Sharjah, located…Read now »
Theatre Students Traveling to Dubai for International Festival
Published January 25, 2017 in College of Arts & Letters
students standing together and smiling for the photo
Eight undergraduate Theatre students (six actors and two designers) are preparing to travel to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the first International Theatre Festival at the…Read now »