By Nancy Richards, Director of Marketing and Public Relations – North Coast Repertory Theatre
Marty Burnett, North Coast Repertory Theatre’s beloved Resident Set Designer/Technical Director, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2026 — his 72nd birthday — after suffering a heart attack.
Marty joined North Coast Rep in 1992 and, over the course of 34 extraordinary years, designed and built more than 270 sets for our stage. That number alone speaks to a dedication that is almost certainly unmatched by any set designer in the history of American theatre. But the number only tells part of the story.
Marty Burnett was born on June 13, 1954, in Bellevue, Nebraska, to Robert and Gwendolyn Burnett. He attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Theatre from Creighton University. In 1979, he made the leap from Nebraska to San Diego with a dream of becoming an actor — and the theatre world is better for everything that happened next.
He began acting at Coronado Playhouse under director Tom McCorry, and it was there, while contributing ideas for a production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, that his eye for scenic design revealed itself. Mentored by James Baker of Grossmont College, Marty shifted his focus from performing to designing — and never looked back. He served as Resident Designer at Coronado Playhouse from 1981 to 1984, then at Fiesta Dinner Theatre from 1984 to 1987, and co-owned Props and Drops from 1987 to 1991. His work took him to the Union Plaza, Hacienda, and Sahara Hotels and Casinos in Las Vegas, Harrah’s in South Lake Tahoe, the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago, and Laguna Playhouse — before he found his true home at North Coast Rep in 1992.
Marty was the beating heart of our theatre — a craftsman, a collaborator, and a constant presence whose artistry shaped the world our audiences stepped into, production after production, season after season. He was known for his creativity, his attention to detail, and his ability to conjure entire worlds on our intimate stage. He was, quite simply, irreplaceable. His work was featured in several articles locally, including the San Diego Union Tribune, and mentioned in many publications of reviews of plays at NC Rep.
Beyond the theatre, Marty was an avid golfer who achieved five holes-in-one, a devoted godfather to three godchildren, and a beloved uncle to 19 nieces and nephews. He deeply loved his dog, Bailey. He will be buried at Bellevue Cemetery in Bellevue, Nebraska, alongside his parents. He is survived by his brothers David (Chicago), Bruce (Minneapolis), Jim (Omaha), and Mike (Omaha), along with his godchildren, nieces and nephews, and countless friends whose lives he touched.
North Coast Rep will host a celebration of Marty’s life — date to be announced.
Marty wore a T-shirt that said it all: “Life would be boring without a little drama.” And true to the spirit he lived by, we know he would want the show to go on.
