Bay, Howard

Howard Bay (1912-1986), whose career spanned more than fifty years, was considered by some to be the "dean of American stage designers."

Bay's set and lighting arrangements were used in some 170 Broadway shows. He received two Tony Awards as a scenic designer; the first for his work on Lillian Hellman's play, Toys in the Attic (1960), and the second, for Man of La Mancha (1966), the musical written by Mitch Leigh, Joe Darion, and Dale Wasserman. Other notable work for musical theater included the designs for the original productions of Carmen Jones (1943), Oscar Hammerstein's adaptation of the George Bizet opera, Carmen, Up in Central Park (1945) by Sigmund Romberg and Herbert and Dorothy Fields, Meredith Willson's The Music Man (1957), and Milk & Honey (1961) by Jerry Herman and Don Appell. In addition to original productions, Bay worked on revivals of Show Boat (1946) by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein, Finian's Rainbow (1955) by Burton Lane and Yip Harburg, and Pal Joey (1963) by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart on Broadway and at City Center. He also worked on numerous dramatic productions, including both the original version and the revival of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes (1939; 1946), William Inge's Come Back, Little Sheba (1950), and the American premiere of Peter Shaffer's Equus (1974). As a designer, he is remembered for his practical and realistic approach. Bay's designs have been used for operas, films, touring productions, and television productions. He also taught set design at various schools, spending fourteen years at Brandeis University.

...