Shannon Noel, Doug Davidson Masters Of Set Design Turn Companies’ Visual Statements Into A Fine Art

A man snoozed in an overstuffed couch in front of the living room television. A child’s painting a Christmas present to his father hung on the wall. Framed photos lined the wall next to a bookcase full of encyclopedias.

This idyllic scene may sound like the average American household, but it actually was a booth at this month’s Spokane Interstate Fair.

Washington Water Power’s booth was designed by theatrical consultants Shannon Noel and Doug Davidson, who helped WWP create a scene that felt like home.

“Companies should celebrate who they are visually,” said Noel, 35. “A lot of times, they don’t realize they need a concept.”

“Folks are becoming more sophisticated in their demands for visual input,” chimes in Davidson, 49. “We are expert at creating memorable events and use our theatrical talent and techniques to evoke emotion.”

Through their company, Admit One, Noel and Davidson have been giving companies personality for years.

At a retirement party for a former Medical Services Corp. chief executive officer, Admit One designed a fishing scene, highlighting the guest of honor’s post-retirement plans. Noel and Davidson created the city-scape backdrop for the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting and built display pedestals for the Economic Development Council’s trade show.

“It was a really striking exhibit,” said Katie Haney, membership manager for the EDC. “We had an idea of what we wanted to do, and they helped us conceptualize that whole idea and convert it to reality.”

Helping companies - from tiny art galleries to corporate powerhouses - develop concepts that give them an identity is what Admit One does best.

“It’s refreshing for us to start having bigger companies realize that drama works,” said Noel, her blue eyes dancing with excitement. “There’s all sorts of tricks of the trade that people in theater are aware of, but the general public isn’t.”

Noel and Davidson are well-schooled in theater.

Noel’s father is a long-time theater and movie actor (“Fargo” and Lois’ father in TV’s “Lois and Clark”). Noel studied fine arts at the University of Washington, but quit to learn about job opportunities in set designing.

She moved to New York City and cold-called David Mitchell, who had won a Tony award for his set design of the musical, “Annie.” She offered to work for free and he accepted on the spot.

She returned to UW seven months later, finished her fine arts degree, and was hired immediately by the Seattle Repertory Theater to do costuming.

Noel moved to Spokane in 1987 and started her own company, Wonder Worlds, which designed and painted decor for several businesses, including Five Mile Heights Pizza’s children’s room, Christmas scenes at River Park Square and murals at Europa Pizzeria and Bakery.

When she met and married Davidson, 49, the pair joined their talents to form Admit One.

If Noel’s the artist of the pair, Davidson’s the technical expert. She dreams up the “look,” and he knows instantly how to put it together.

Davidson has a degree in theater from the University of California at Los Angeles. He’s done production design and lighting for years, touring with such groups as the Seattle Repertory Theater and the Oregon Ballet Theater. He also did production design and road management for well-known Seattle pianist David Lanz.

Noel and Davidson live and work in an old brick building in downtown Spokane, which they used their design talents to refurbish. Between them, they have four children, aged 16, 9, 7 and 3.

Their home and office is a bright, airy building with props and art supplies on the first floor and bedrooms, bathrooms and children’s rooms upstairs. One entrance to the room shared by Noel’s two daughters, 7 and 9, resembles something out of “Alice in Wonderland,” with a tiny arch-shaped door. A miniature staircase leads up to two little bunkbeds with desks and shelves tucked cozily underneath.

Inherent in Noel and Davidson’s work is a desire to positively influence their community. Big downtown supporters, they say they live in the only single-family residence in the inner city. Indeed, nestled between parking lots and run-down buildings is their stylistic little haven, complete with sunflowers bursting from a backyard garden.

Being a parent has led Noel to dream up her most ambitious project to date.

Noticing a lack of exciting events for children at Christmas, she’s sketched out plans for “A Magical Journey” to “Santa’s Palace.”

Under the plan, families will ride the trolley through downtown to the STA Plaza, which will be transformed into a winter wonderland, ending at Santa’s Palace. The price of admission would be one toy or gift for a needy child.

“We need an identity,” Noel said of downtown Spokane. “If downtown is the heart of our area, what’s in our heart? What’s our identity?”