Michael Cotten’s visual artistry in production design, theatrical staging, animation, and graphic arts have garnered him accolades and a clientele that boasts many of the worlds’ top performers, entrepreneurs, brands, and events. With clients ranging from legendary Las Vegas hotelier Steve Wynn to Michael Jackson, Disney to McDonalds, Carrie Underwood to High School Musical, Shania Twain to Britney Spears, and The Olympics to the Super Bowl, Michael Cotten’s design work has thrilled audiences around the world.
Specializing in the creation of immersive entertainment experiences in a theatrical environment, Mr.Cotten has pioneered technical design innovations as best seen in Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ tour production, the onboard stage show of Disney’s new ocean liner Fantasy, the outdoor extravaganza Sirens of TI at Las Vegas’ Treasure Island Hotel, the dancing sculptural orbs at Steve Wynn’s Lake of Dreams show and the super spectacle ‘Vivid’ at the Palast theatre in Berlin. Mr. Cotten has designed shows for scores of other clients: Porsche, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Bette Midler, Miley Cyrus, Robert Plant, Luis Miguel, The Beach Boys, Bonnie Raitt, N Sync, Blondie, Gloria Estefan, Phil Collins, Run DMC, P. Diddy, Retail clients Macys, Henri Bendel, The Limited, Bloomingdales, and I N C. Charity events include The International Red Cross, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Foundation, Bette Midler’s Central Park Conservancy, and AMFAR. Recently, Mr Cotten designed the production of a new ballet ‘Pearl’ at Lincoln Center honoring the life of Pearl S. Buck. The presentation was directed by Daniel Ezralow. In 2017Cotten served as creative director for Roberto Bolles’ award winning TV special ‘Danza Con Mi’ (Roberto is the principal dancer for La Scalla and the American Ballet Theatre). In 2018 Cotten premired a mega spectacle installation show ‘Vivid’ for the Friedrichstadt Palast theatre in Berlin Germany. Mr. Cotten’s career began in the mid 1970’s as a member of the pioneering San Francisco theatrical rock group, The Tubes. Michael Cotten lives in New York City.