Las Vegas Weekly

February 20, 2009 · 9:22 AM

Photo Gallery: Local David Rockwell is secret weapon for Oscar’s new look

By Robin Leach

Slumdog Millionaire is the second most nominated film of the Academy Awards with 10 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film is already the most decorated of the ceremony with four Golden Globes and seven BAFTA Awards.

Photo: oscar.com

When you tune into Sunday’s Academy Awards, producers are hoping you will be knocked out with the new stage and sets for the 81st Oscars telecast. It’s not all about those fabulous red carpet gowns and Australian Hugh Jackman’s first-ever opening monologue or the glittering gold statues.

The showbiz ceremony, which gets underway on ABC live at 5 p.m. PT, will have a whole new look thanks to veteran designer David Rockwell.

David’s been juggling the Oscar assignment with the upcoming opening of the modern burlesque Peep Show at Planet Hollywood on March 30. The hectic schedule of tackling Vegas assignments with projects on both coasts is nothing new to him. David has put his design with a difference stamp on a number of Vegas hotel and restaurant projects. Everybody from Cirque du Soleil to star chefs Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck and Nobu Matsuhisa here in Vegas has recruited him.

Now he’s prepping for Peep Show with Spice Girls pop star Mel B and sexy TV siren Kelly Monaco. The sexy striptease show, with its highly stylized, high-level production values, will feature dancers from television and Broadway. Vegas DeLuxe will be chatting with David after the Oscar telecast for a sneak peek at his Peep Show plans.

Incidentally, the Oscars will be broadcast from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood -- and that’s just one more of the extraordinary buildings David has designed! Check out www.oscars.com for everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Hollywood’s prestigious affair.

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