Rockwell to design Oscars set

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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- David Rockwell has signed on to be the production designer for the 82nd Academy Awards in Los Angeles for the second year in a row, it was announced Thursday.

The hiring decision was announced by Oscar telecast producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic.

"We loved the look and feel that David created for the Oscar show last year," Mechanic said in a statement. "As soon as we signed on as producers, Adam and I knew that we wanted to work with him for our show."

"David is so creative and has such a great big-picture approach to set design," added Shankman. "I'm beyond excited to be collaborating with him on the Oscars."

Rockwell's firm designed the Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland complex. In addition to the 81st Academy Awards, his set design work includes the Broadway productions of "Hairspray," "Legally Blonde," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "The Rocky Horror Show," as well as the upcoming "Catch Me If You Can," "Elf" and "Houdini."

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 are to be presented March 7 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center. The ceremony is to be televised live by the ABC Television Network.