In Memoriam: Michael J. Hotopp Scenic and lighting designer Michael J. Hotopp died November 2, 2020, in Rhinebeck, New York. He was 74. Born in Charleston, West Virginia, he began designing scenery for the Charleston Ballet, the youth theater of the Charleston Symphony, and the Kanawha Players, while still in high school. He attended Carnegie Mellon University, then transferred to New York University, during which he apprenticed at Goodspeed Opera House for the original production of Man of La Mancha. He graduated from NYU with a BFA in 1968 and taught at the North Carolina School of the Arts before being drafted into the US Army. As a specialist serving in Vietnam, he produced, directed, and designed theatrical productions through the entertainment section of Special Services. He and creative partner Paul DePass formed Associate Theatrical Designers in 1973. Working usually with DePass, he designed the Broadway shows Broadway Opry (1979), well-received revivals of Oklahoma! (1979) and Brigadoon (1980), the musical Oh Brother! (1981), the revue Cleavage (1982), The Tap Dance Kid (1983), and Peter Pan (1991). His Off Broadway shows included Trixie True, Teen Detective (1980); Groucho: A Life in Revue (1986); the revue Cut the Ribbons (1992), and My Trip Down the Pink Carpet (2010). For many years, he also provided designs for The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Other events including Barbara Cook's Carnegie Hall concerts and Liza: Stepping Out, also at Radio City. He also designed concert tours for Mariah Carey and Simon and Garfunkel. Las Vegas credits included the show Enter the Night at the Stardust Hotel. Museum work included the Baseball and Basketball Halls of Fame. Regional theatre work included productions at Goodspeed Opera House, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Walnut Street Theatre, Baltimore Opera, Pittsburgh Civic Light opera, San Jose Civic Light Opera, among others. His many television designs include The Oprah Winfrey Show, CBS This Morning, ESPN Sports Center, NFL Prime Monday, the Winter Olympic Games (1992, 1994, 1998), World Cups, Wimbledon, ESPN Summer and Winter XGames, and various national and international specials. A veteran of dozens of television commercials, he won a Clio Award for his work with IBM. Hotopp's final set design was for Suze Orman's Ultimate Retirement Guide, aired earlier this year on PBS. He was nominated for 15 Emmy Awards, winning seven. In 1983, Hotopp formed his own firm, Hotopp Associates, branching out into production, corporate media, and themed entertainment. He sold the firm in 2013, remaining as a consultant, and serving as a lecturer and arts jurist. Hotopp is survived by his husband, Sam Viverito, and brother John Hotopp. Donations may be made in his name to the Wounded Warrior project. 
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