Michael Ferguson is a cofounder of TheatreDNA Creative and a lighting and creative designer for architainment, theatre, and concert lighting.
Michael’s current entertainment design is informed by 30 years of ongoing professional experience which has included production management, lighting, sound, and scenic design, technical direction, and scenic construction, covering a wide range of live presentation forms including: theatre, dance, television, performance art, industrials, live concerts, circus, corporate trade shows, fashion shows, architectural lighting, and faith based services and performances.
His design credits range from concert events for artists that include:
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Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
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The Neville Brothers
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Patty Smith
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KebMo
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Michael Feinstein
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Joan Baez
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Clarence Clemmons
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David Sanborn
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Richie Havens
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The Bacon Brothers
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Don McLean
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Paul Williams
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Dickie Betts
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Stephen Wade
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Jose Limon Dance
He also has varied performance experiences that includes lighting design for Circus Flora, featuring the world famous Flying Walendas and various productions lighting and scenic designs for companies like San Jose Repertory Theatre, the American Conservatory Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse and PCPA Theatrefest. He has also enjoyed relationships with artists like Stephen Wade and San Jose Taiko drum troupe that have spanned over two decades.
He’s also been a theatre consultant for the last 25 years, working with Theatre Projects, the world’s leading theatre design and planning firm, for nearly 20 years, and now for TheatreDNA, a firm he cofounded in 2015. During his career he’s been involved with over 150 performing arts and entertainment venue projects around the globe including theatres, concert halls, educational facilities, arts centers, museums, houses of worship, and indoor and outdoor concert venues.
Committed to collaboration and creativity, he’s had the distinction of working on projects with some of the most creative architects, designers, artists, and companies in the world, on interesting and unique spaces of all sizes. Influential and favorite credits include working with architectural firms like Gehry Partners, Moshe Safdie and Associates, and the Office of Metropolitan Architecture on projects like: the Kodak (now Dolby) Theatre, the permanent home of the Oscars in Los Angeles; a Cirque du Soleil Theatre in the Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Japan; a convertible theatre in the new arena in San Francisco for the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors; a new home on Broadway for the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York; new studio concept designs for Google/YouTube at Space LA, and a new 2000 seat flexible event space for Facebook.
His conservatory training with a focus on design for the stage resulted in a certificate from the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, Santa Maria, California, and a BFA degree from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri.
Michael is a member and former board member of the American Society of Theatre Consultants, an allied member of the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Grammys), is a Construction Specifications Institute Certified Document Technologist, and a United Scenic Artist lighting designer, USA Local 829, IATSE.