FRANK J OLIVA (b.1992, Miami) is an Cuban-American Scenographer.
Frank’s extensive body of work has been seen in New York, throughout the United States and Internationally. His work is the recipient of several national awards and the subject of interviews and exhibitions worldwide. Frank trained in Theatre Design at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Frank was a featured designer at the 2019 & 2023 editions of the
Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design & Space.
His work has been profiled by Visa Magazine Japan,
The Miami Herald and VoyageMIA.
Frank is a recipient of the OperaAmerica Director/Designer Prize, a Carbonell Award, 3 Silver Palm Awards and an Innovative Theatre Award for Stage Design.
Nominated for Audelco, Henry Hewes and 4 Carbonell Awards.
A firm believer in the transformative power of mentorship and training, Frank has taught and been an guest artist in the Theatre & Film Programs at New York University, University of the Arts, University of Rochester, Marlboro College, Mannes School of Music, The New School and The Manhattan School of Music.
He mentored young designers through Wingspace Theatrical Design’s Flagship Mentorship Program from 2019-2024.
Frank is a member of Wingspace, United Scenic Artists and
The United States Institute of Theatre Technology.
Frank served as Associate Designer to the world’s leading theatre designers including Anna Fleischle, Jan Versweyveld,
David Rockwell, Andrew Lieberman and Lee Jellinek.
Frank is the grandson of Cuban expressionist Oliva Robain, who worked as a painter, illustrator, costume designer and muralist in Cuba, and later in exile in the United States.
Frank lives and works in New York City. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and is currently working on his Italian.
Forthcoming : A Knock on the Roof* (NYTW & Royal Court); King James (George Street Playhouse);
Le Nozze de Figaro (Opera Philadelphia); Madama Butterfly (Colorado Philharmonic) and Twelfth Night (Juilliard).
Selected Credits:
New York : This Beautiful Future (Cherry Lane & Theatrelab); Hound Dog* (Ars Nova); Headless* (The Shed);
Song of Songs* and Black Exhibition* (The Bushwick Starr); Spindle, Shuttle, Needle* (Clubbed Thumb); Border People* (Working Theatre); How to Catch Creation (Juilliard);
Le Nozze de Figaro, Missed/Connections* & The 1940 Project* (Manhattan School of Music); Street Scene (Mannes).
International : A Knock on the Roof* (Edinburgh & Dublin).
Miami : Defacing Michael Jackson* and Papa Cuatro* (Miami New Drama); award-winning immersive productions of
Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Oliver, Be More Chill and This is our Youth (Area Stage Company);
3 seasons/16 productions as Resident Designer at Gablestage.
Regional : Sister Act (Geva Theatre Center); A Nice Indian Boy* (Olney Theatre Center); The Merry Wives of Windsor (Two River); Las Hermanas Palacios* (Gala Hispanic Theatre);
Pippin, Singin’ in the Rain, HAIR and The Mountaintop (Weston Theatre Company); Rent and Legally Blonde (TheatreAspen); Our Orange Sky* (Profile Theatre).
Film : Marriage Story (Theatre Designer, Netflix);
Wetware (Art Director, Amazon); Late Expectations (Short)
Associate Designer: West Side Story, Hangmen, Oklahoma!, The Collaboration, Death of a Salesman (Broadway);
CAMP (Met Museum Costume Institute Exhibit);
2:22 A Ghost Story (CTG) and Weimar Republic (LA Phil).
*denotes World Premiere production
photos: Emilio Madrid