1. THE SIGN ON THE DOOR- photograph of the model of Mielziner’s first set for the Jessie Bonstelle’s stock company in Detroit, probably for Channing Pollock’s The Sign on the Door, summer 1921. As a more experienced designer in later years, Mielziner admitted that the bold design in red and black overpowered the actors. Little did he know then that the ancient symbol that he incorporated in the design was to become the infamous swastika of the Third Reich.

Courtesy of the estate of Jo Mielziner (Reproduction) NFS 

2. THE GUARDSMAN [1924]

In 1924, Mielziner designed three Broadway productions. (He was twenty-three.) Among them was The Guardsman by Ferenc Molnar and it was his first critical success. This design of the theatre box was singled out for special praise by critics.

Courtesy of the estate of Jo Mielziner (Reproduction) NFS 

3. SEED OF THE BRUTE [1926]

This play, called "a fair-to-middling play" by the NY Times critic, was by Knowles Entrikin. It was a rather heavy handed melodrama which had little stage life after the initial production. Mielziner’s design shown here is the only one he ever executed in grattage, a method of rendering a design by scraping away the dark wax surface covering the plate to reveal the lighter color beneath.

Courtesy of Richard Stoddard Performing Arts Books, NYC 

4. THE LITTLE SHOW [1929]

The first of the revues called The Little Show was the first revue that Mielziner designed. It had 27 different numbers, each demanding its own setting. Instead of full sets, he used paint and canvas plus lighting and ingenuity to segue from scene to scene. The big hit was the next to last number (rendering shown) which featured Libby Holman singing "Moanin’ Low."

Courtesy of Jules Fisher NFS 

5. THE RED GENERAL [1929]

Mielziner was commissioned to design the many sets for this play by Hermann Ungar. He used it as his first opportunity to try to develop ways of using multiple projections. His innovative designs were never realized on stage because the producers canceled the production. This is the design for the "Railroad Station."

Courtesy of Richard Stoddard Performing Arts Books, NYC