Alan Schwanke

Alan Schwanke is an Assistant Professor of Scenic Design at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) and an Adjunct Lecturer in Computer Aided Drafting (AutoCAD) at the University of Florida's Department of Theatre & Dance. He holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Scenic Design from Northwestern University and has been active in the theatre and entertainment industry since 2008. His expertise spans scenic design for theatre, opera, film, television, and theme parks, with notable collaborations including work with Tony & Olivier Award-winning designer Todd Rosenthal.

Education: MFA in Scenic Design from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Notable professional milestones include participation in the USITT Young Designers Forum and Ming Cho Lee’s Clambake Portfolio Review in 2008.

Research interests focus on integrating technical design (e.g., AutoCAD) with theatrical creativity, emphasizing collaboration across disciplines. His design work spans over 40 productions, including Broadway Off-Off productions and world premieres. Recent collaborations include Downstate (Playwrights Horizons) and King James (Manhattan Theatre Club).

He has designed for prestigious institutions such as the Goodman Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, and the Guthrie Theatre, alongside smaller independent companies. His portfolio includes scenic designs for Willy Wonka The Musical (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) and Pippin (Northwestern University).