The Academy has hired another Oscars first-timer with a long history in television, this time to serve as production designer of the 83rd Academy Awards show.

Steve Bass, who has won Emmy Awards for designing the Centennial Olympic Games’ opening ceremony and the 2005 Grammy Awards, will design the Oscar show for producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer.

Bass has worked several times with Mischer, a veteran producer of television events who has never before worked on the Oscars. Their collaborations include the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial,” and the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He has also worked on the Tony Awards.

In the press release announcing the selection, Mischer commented, "I have collaborated with Steve several times, and he’s the perfect person for this year’s Oscars. He’s an innovative, creative talent who I know will do justice to the tradition and glamour of the Academy Awards.” 

Added Cohen, “Don and I knew right away that Steve would be the absolute best partner to bring our vision to life in terms of the production design of the Oscar show. He is truly a master at designing for high-profile, grand-scale events.”

For the past two years, the show’s production design has been handled by David Rockwell, whose firm also served as architects for the Kodak Theater.

The 83rd Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 27 at the Kodak Theater.