Moníka Essen

Moníka Essen is an award winning, nationally recognized artist and designer.  The recipient of the prestigious Lawrence DeVine Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre, she studied Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Parsons School of Design NYC and received her MFA in Scenography from the renowned Hilberry Repertory Co.  Moníka has designed over 300 productions in theatre, opera and film, and is currently the Resident Designer at the Michigan Opera Theatre where she has just recently designed their highly acclaimed productions of Frida and Bliss. She has also designed for the Atlanta Opera, Florida Grand Opera and Cincinnati Opera. Some local favorite productions include Murder Ballad and American Hero at Detroit Public Theatre, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,  The Impossibility of Now and A Christmas Carol at Tipping Point Theatre, and she is pleased to be designing her first production here at Williamston. Additionally, she creates art, furniture, museum exhibits, interiors and full sensory, multi-media environments for residential and commercial clients, including the Detroit Zoo. All her design work can be viewed at www.studioepoque.com.