BEHIND THE CURTAIN with Don Hirsch Design Studio
05/17/2025 07:44AM ● By REINA ESSER
Ask Don Hirsch how he got into theater design, and you won’t hear about a childhood dream or a degree in architecture—you’ll hear about a school play. “I was teaching middle school English and helped with the set and lights. That was it. I fell in love with theater,” Don says. That moment sparked a journey from Vermont classrooms to grad school, then on to designing for regional theaters and dance companies, and eventually, founding his own firm: DON HIRSCH DESIGN STUDIO, LLC
Based in Montpelier, the studio blends Don’s love of the performing arts with a practical, people-first approach to design. Over the years, he’s worked on everything, from black box theaters to historic restorations, always with an eye toward spaces that bring people together.
Production
design for a future-themed university gala
celebration for 1,200 guests. “What gets me up every day is knowing we’re building places where communities can connect—where students and neighbors can laugh, learn, and experience something live,” he says. A turning point came when Don was invited to consult on the restoration of a historic theater in Central Vermont.
“That combination of bringing a theater back to life and helping a downtown feel vibrant again—that was powerful,” he recalls.
PHOTO BY DAVE BARNUM PHOTOGRAPHY
Historic restoration of an 850-seat neoclassic proscenium theater,
including fully restored seating and lobby. That moment not only shifted his career toward consulting, but also sparked a deep appreciation for how the arts can contribute to the revitalization of downtown communities. It has been a hallmark of his work ever since.
From high school auditoriums to university campuses, Don’s projects span the Northeast. His current work includes projects in Augusta and Portland, Maine; Saranac Lake, New York; Burlington, VT; and beyond. Each one is a reflection of his belief that performance spaces should be as inspiring as the stories told within them. Whether designing a thrust stage or planning backstage support areas, Don always starts with the people who’ll use the space. “Every project begins with conversations—lots of them,” he says. “We’re designing for artists, audiences, and educators. We have to listen first.”
Major
renovation of an outdated multi-use studio
theater at Fulton Montgomery Community College
in Johnstown, NY. When asked what advice he’d give someone interested in this field, Don doesn’t hesitate: “Learn how theaters work from the inside out. Get experience in both technical theater and arts admin, and always remember—it’s a team process.”
Historic theater
restoration architectural detail. For Don, design is about more than acoustics and sightlines. It’s about community, creativity, and creating spaces that support both performance and place. And judging by his body of work, he’s doing just that.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DON HIRSCH, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED RENDERINGS BY JMZ ARCHITECTS/PLANNERS
DON HIRSCH DESIGN STUDIO, LLC
95 Upper Barnett Hill Montpelier, VT
