SITE DESIGN

For over 30 years Dean Taucher has worked professionally as a production designer, set designer, and scenic artist in television, film, theater, dance and opera. He was raised in Cicero, Illinois and after graduating from the Goodman School of Drama in scenic design he became an active member of the burgeoning Chicago off-loop theater scene. He designed shows for many theaters including the Goodman Stage II, The Body Politic, The Organic, St.Nicholas and Victory Gardens.

A few short years later he was hired by film director Michael Mann to work as an assistant Art Director for the psychological thriller “ Manhunter.” From his work with Mann, Dean took over the design of “Miami Vice” early in its third season, receiving the title of Visual Consultant. Mann later hired Dean for the NBC TV movie “LA Takedown”, which would later be re-shot as the feature film “HEAT.”

During his time on “Miami Vice” Dean worked with then head writer Dick Wolf, who went on to write and produce many hit television shows based in New York City. Since moving to NYC in 1980, Dean has worked extensively with Wolf Films as the Production Designer for H.E.L.P”, “New York Undercover”, “The Wright Verdicts”, and currently continuing with his 12th season of “ Law & Order: SVU.”

Dean has also designed other television projects including the CBS series “Dellaventura”, the TV pilot “Stuckeyville” which became the series “ED” and twelve episodes of the first season of the HBO series “The Sopranos”. While working on “The Sopranos” Dean reconceived Tony and Carmella’s house and had it constructed as a set on a sound stage. While some of the set was recreated from the location, much of what is known as the Soprano home was created and designed by Dean. He also created such iconic sets as the Pork Store, Satriales Storefront and the backroom at the Bada Bing. Dean also designed The Bada Bing logo and its exterior sign, as well as the first sketch of the now ubiquitous “Soprano” logo.

Throughout his career Dean has never lost his love of live performance and has designed sets for opera, dance and theater. Some venues of note include the Chicago Opera Theatre, the Penn Opera Theatre, The Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers, The Atlanta Ballet, The Pittsburgh Ballet and the Hubbard Street Dance Company. His Off-Broadway work includes the sets for Naked Angel’s “ Snakebit”, and “Tabletop” for the Working Theater, for which he was nominated for a 2001 Drama Desk Award. He also has collaborated with Gabrielle Lansner, the emotionally layered dance-theater and film director on her projects for the last 12 years. In January 2008, Gabrielle and Dean decided to collaborate outside of the theater and were married in San Francisco.

Some of Dean's work that appears on his website is in the permanent collection of the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City.

 

 

 

 

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