"Sumptuous" is the word that most often appears in reviews of the costumes of Murell Horton, who is best known for his designs for the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C. His work there has garnered him three Helen Hayes Award nominations:
Lorenzaccio with Jeffrey Carlson and Robert Cuccioli (2006),
Hedda Gabler starring Judith Light (2002) and
Camino Real starring Joan Van Ark (2001).
At the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Horton designed
The Night of the Iguana starring Linda Hamilton and Garret Delahunt (2006),
Moby Dick Rehearsed (1999),
A Woman in Mind starring Marlo Thomas (1997),
Visiting Mr. Green starring Eli Wallach (1996),
The Transit of Venus (1998),
Desire Under the Elms (1998),
The Illusion (1995),
Mad Forest (1994) and
The Game of Love and Chance (1994). Designs for the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival include:
Cyrano De Bergerac (1998),
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1997, costumes and sets),
Leocadia (1996),
Henry V (1997) and
The Winter's Tale (1996). At Manhattan's Pearl Theatre Company, he designed costumes for
When Ladies Battle (1995),
The Barber of Seville (1996),
The Guardsman (1997),
Cymbeline (2006),
The Chairs (1997) and
Venice Preserved (1997). Also at The Pearl Theatre, he designed both scenery and costumes for
Richard III (2000),
The Miser (1998) and
The School for Scandal (1997).
Designs for other companies include:
The Cherry Orchard,
A Question of Mercy (1999, sets and costumes) and
A Doll's House (2006) at the Juilliard School;
O Pioneers! (2001) at the Acting Company;
A Tale of Two Cities for Jeffrey Finn Productions;
Eurydice and
The Game of Love and Chance (2003) at the Madison Repertory Theatre;
Clean House (2007) at the Cleveland Playhouse;
The Goat (2004),
After Ashley (2006) and
A Question of Mercy (1998) for the Philadelphia Theatre Company; and most recently the world premiere of
1001 at The Denver Center Theatre.
In 2005, Horton designed costumes for the world premiere of
Lysistrata, or The Nude Goddess at the New York City Opera and the Houston Grand Opera. His design for the Indiana Repertory Theatre's
A Christmas Carol has been in use since 1997. In addition, he has designed men's sportswear for Izod, L.L.Bean and Liz Claiborne. Upcoming projects include:
Titus Andronicus and
Hamlet at The Shakespeare Theatre Company and
Love! Valor! Compassion! at the Berkshire Theatre Festival.