Scenic Designer David I. Mitchell Dead at 79

David I. Mitchell, Tony-Winning set designer of 1980's Barnum and 1978's Working, has passed away at the age of 79 in Los Angeles. The seven-time Tony nominee is probably most famous for his design of the set for Annie, about which Mitchell said, "I don't think anybody would continue in this business unless there was a chance to hit that kind of jackpot." In his review for Barnum, Frank Rich of the New York Times wrote, "When circumstances require it, Mr. Mitchell is not averse to sending scenery flying from all directions, including the floor. Yet the set is more than a collection of pretty gimcracks. Its roseate, gaslit glow and golden crown of letters spelling out America suggest another, deeper entertainment."