A popular, well-connected, and highly involved member of the industry, Taylor was born in London. He studied theatre aesthetics at the University of London, followed by attendance at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and graduate studies at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Taylor spent 21 years at Theatre Projects Consultants where he was involved in a number of acclaimed and high-profile projects, including the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, New Amsterdam Theatre in New York, Hyperion Theatre at Disneyland, Goodman Theatres in Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, San Jose and Seattle Repertory Theatres as well as new homes for the Seattle Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and New World Symphony. His international experience includes projects in Southeast Asia, Japan, Europe and the UK, including the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas Hall in Kuala Lumpur for the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orange Tree and Tricycle Theatres in London.
In 2006, he joined the design/engineering/consulting firm Arup to lead the company's theatre consulting work in the Americas. Among his projects there was the Jerome Robbins Theatre at 37 Arts in Manhattan. He was scheduled to be in Miami next week for the opening of New World Symphony, in which he played a key role.Taylor also worked as a lighting designer. For London's Tricycle Theatre, he lit The Gamblers, Dreyfus, The Mai, Macbeth, Wine in the Wilderness, and Water. In New York, he designed the musical Shabbatai and the New York premiere of The Workroom for American Jewish Theatre. Other credits included Lucia di Lammermoor for Lyric Opera of Kansas City, The Lady's Not For Burning at San Jose Repertory Theatre, and the Bollywood musical I Believe at the National Theatre in Mumbai. Most recently, he lit the American tour of The Great Game: Afghanistan, produced by the Tricycle Theatre, and seen at the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C.; the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis; Berkeley Rep in California; and at New York University's Skirball Center, where it was presented by the Public Theatre. A return engagement in Washington saw the production staged for personnel at the Pentagon.
A statement from Arup says, 'It is with the greatest sadness that Arup advises the passing away of Mr David I. Taylor. David was Arup's global leader of Theatre Consulting, based in New York.
"David's untimely death occurred during a business visit to Taipei. He was starting a wonderful project that he had brought into Arup through his typical combination of skill, design flair, enthusiasm and commitment."David was a major and much-loved international name in the theatre business, both as an exceptional forward thinker and designer for the performing arts, theatre planner, technical systems consultant, and active stage lighting designer.
"David will be irreplaceable to Arup and to the theatre design industry, but most to his family, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy."
Taylor was also very involved in both ESTA and PLASA. He served as vice-president on the ESTA board for five years and was the vice chair of the new PLASA North America regional board as well as a member of the new PLASA governing body.
Matthew Griffiths, chief executive PLASA, notes that Taylor was equally well-known in Europe, both for his design and consulting work and for his participation in Showlight, the quadrennial symposium on lighting design held in various European cities. "David had a lot of friends and associates in the UK," adds Griff
