Notable Achievements

Professor of Theatre Desiderio Roybal designed the scenery and stage properties for I’m Proud of You  by Tim Madigan. This production is a staged adaptation of Madigan’s novel, I’m Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers. The play chronicles the true and extraordinary bond between Tim Madigan, a Texas author and reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and Fred Rogers, the iconic TV host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. This production will be the inaugural production in Penfold Theatre’s new and permanent theatre venue in Round Rock, TX. Roybal also served as a theatre consultant on the new venue, which will be the first professional theatre in Round Rock. The production showcases Professor Emeritus Rick Roemer and SU alumnus Zac Carr ’11 as actors. SU Scene Shop Manager Monroe Oxley is the Technical Director for this production. Additionally, the stage and seating risers were designed and constructed by Oxley using a build crew that included Connor Bustos ’26 and Ash Zunker ’25. The production runs October 4-26.

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Desiderio Roybal

Professor of Theatre

Expertise

Scenic and Lighting Design, Scenic Painting, Creative Drama for Youth

Desiderio Roybal is the Director of Productions, Chair, Resident Scenic Designer, and Professor of Theatre for The Sarofim School of Fine Arts at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas. Roybal received a Master of Art from South Dakota State University with a focus in theatre and film, and a Master of Fine Art from University of Missouri- Kansas City (UMKC) with a focus in scenic design, scenic painting, and stage lighting. His early career focused in the research and recreation of early 20th century painted backdrops using dry pigment paint and animal glue. He has painted olios and backdrops for many wing and drop theatre productions using dry pigment paint, and has led workshops in the painting and rigging of roll drop scenery. He has also served as a theatre consultant for improvements in stage lighting and rigging. For the past 35 years, Roybal has designed scenery and stage lighting for over 200 productions throughout the USA and Eastern Europe. Other professional production credits include Costume Designer, Production Manager, Scenic Artist, Property Master, and Technical Direction. He has worked with The Rhodopi Theatre in Smolyan, Bulgaria; The Dramski Theatre in Skopje, Macedonia; The Childrens Theatre, and Theatre in the Round in Mpls., MN; Starlight Theatre and University of Missouri- Kansas City and the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, MO; Barrington Stage Company, in Sheffield, MA; Prairie Repertory Theatre in Brookings, SD; Sioux Falls Playhouse, Sioux Falls, SD; Centre College in Danville, KY; Summer Stage Repertory Theatre in Georgetown, TX; Hillside Theatre at Zilker Park, Austin, TX; David Jarrott Productions, Austin, TX; Penfold Theatre, Austin, TX.

Roybal also works with current students to provide learning opportunities for the Boys and Girls Club of Georgetown, TX. The creative arts of poetry, puppetry, mask making, improvised play are explored over a three week period. Southwestern University students work with members of the club to create a final performance for all club members, family and friends. In addition to the Boys and Girls Club, he also works with intergenerational constituents in developing a partnership to explore theatre collaboration between college students and the elderly.

Roybal is affiliated with the Unites States Institute of Theatre Technology, Texas Educational Theatre Association, Preservation Georgetown Heritage Society and the SU Faculty Athletic Represent for the NCAA. 

  • Biography

    Desiderio Roybal is the Director of Productions, Chair, Resident Scenic Designer, and Professor of Theatre for The Sarofim School of Fine Arts at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas. Roybal received a Master of Art from South Dakota State University with a focus in theatre and film, and a Master of Fine Art from University of Missouri- Kansas City (UMKC) with a focus in scenic design, scenic painting, and stage lighting. His early career focused in the research and recreation of early 20th century painted backdrops using dry pigment paint and animal glue. He has painted olios and backdrops for many wing and drop theatre productions using dry pigment paint, and has led workshops in the painting and rigging of roll drop scenery. He has also served as a theatre consultant for improvements in stage lighting and rigging. For the past 35 years, Roybal has designed scenery and stage lighting for over 200 productions throughout the USA and Eastern Europe. Other professional production credits include Costume Designer, Production Manager, Scenic Artist, Property Master, and Technical Direction. He has worked with The Rhodopi Theatre in Smolyan, Bulgaria; The Dramski Theatre in Skopje, Macedonia; The Childrens Theatre, and Theatre in the Round in Mpls., MN; Starlight Theatre and University of Missouri- Kansas City and the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, MO; Barrington Stage Company, in Sheffield, MA; Prairie Repertory Theatre in Brookings, SD; Sioux Falls Playhouse, Sioux Falls, SD; Centre College in Danville, KY; Summer Stage Repertory Theatre in Georgetown, TX; Hillside Theatre at Zilker Park, Austin, TX; David Jarrott Productions, Austin, TX; Penfold Theatre, Austin, TX.

    Roybal also works with current students to provide learning opportunities for the Boys and Girls Club of Georgetown, TX. The creative arts of poetry, puppetry, mask making, improvised play are explored over a three week period. Southwestern University students work with members of the club to create a final performance for all club members, family and friends. In addition to the Boys and Girls Club, he also works with intergenerational constituents in developing a partnership to explore theatre collaboration between college students and the elderly.

    Roybal is affiliated with the Unites States Institute of Theatre Technology, Texas Educational Theatre Association, Preservation Georgetown Heritage Society and the SU Faculty Athletic Represent for the NCAA. 

  • Research

    Scenic Design

    Early 20th Century Wing and Border stage scenery

    Construction techniques used in Wing and Border scenic fabrication in early legitimate theatre and tent theatre in the United States

    Painting large murals/backdrops using the early 20th Century process of dry pigment paint and ground flake glue

    Community Engaged Learning with intergenerational constituents

  • Works
    selected work

    The Herd directed by Robert Tolaro; David Jarrott Productions, Austin, TX

    The Price directed by Mary Fritzgerald; David Jarrott Productions, Austin, TX

    Clybourne Park directed by Nathan Jerkins; Penfold Theatre, Austin, TX

    Coup Klux directed by John Remmington; Theatre in the Round, Mpls. MN

    Henceforward directed by Anthony Haigh; Center College, Danville, KY

    Angels in America directed by Jared Stine; Dramski Theatre, Skopje, Macedonia

    The Color Of Dissonace directed by Alexander Iliev (guest director from the National Theatre in Sofia, Bulgaria); Alma Thomas Theatre, Georgetown, TX

    She Stoops to Conquer directed by Lara Toner, Austin Playhouse, Austin, TX

    Lend Me a Tenor directed by David Bisset; Wimberly, TX

    The Fair Maid directed by Anthony Haigh, Center College, Danville, KY

    Durang, Durang directed by Rick Roemer; Rhodopi Theatre, Smolyan, Bulgaria

    Chicago directed by Michael McKelvie; Austin Playhouse, Austin, TX

    My Favorite Year directed by Scott Schroder; Zilker Hillside Theatre, Austin, TX

    Hound of the Baskervilles directed by Emily Rankin; Penfold Theatre, Austin, TX

    The Fantasticks directed by Andrew Henrickson; Sioux Falls Playhouse, Sioux Falls, SD

    Grease directed by Darlene Jaggar; Barrington Stage, Great Barrington, MA

    La Boheme directed by Mathew Latta; Conservatory of Music, Kansas City, MO

    Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily; directed by Michael Stuart, Austin Playhouse, Austin, TX

    Exhibits

    Presented Scenic Design portfolio to National and International directors/designers at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, NYS

    Presented Scenic Design Renderings for The Cherry Orchard at USITT

    The Stage Design for the Cherry Orchard and Grease were represented at The World Stage Design international exhibition in Toronto, Canada