Neil Mills

Neil Mills is an Assistant Professor of Scenic Design at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, housed within the School of Education. He holds an MFA in Scenic Design from Carnegie Mellon University (2013) and a BA in Theatre and Anthropology from the University of Denver (2010). His work spans theatre, opera, television, and themed entertainment.

Neil's professional experience includes roles as an Experience Designer at Themespace in Los Angeles, contributing to projects like The Secret Life of Pets at Universal Studios and the Dodger Stadium All-Star Game renovation. Earlier, he worked as a freelance scenic designer in NYC on over 100 productions, alongside art directing episodes of Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Today Show.

His design interests emphasize cross-disciplinary creativity, blending theatrical design with museum exhibits, attraction design, and educational spaces. He is a member of United Scenic Artists (USA 829).

Awards:

• Winner - Best College Production - Pippin (Broadway World Awards, 2018)
• Nominee - Outstanding Overall Design - The Time Machine (2017)
• Scenic Design Fellowship (Chautauqua Theatre Company, 2013)

Neil's teaching focuses on design principles in live performance and immersive environments. His professional portfolio includes collaborations with institutions like Kean University and the University of Denver on productions such as Bonnets and Killer Joe.