Mike Monsos is a professor of Scenic Design/Technology and currently the Director of the School of Theatre & Dance at The University of Montana. Mike has a BFA and an MFA in scenery and lighting design from UM as well as an MS in Architectural Studies from the University of Utah. He has worked and designed for many regional theatres including the Idaho Repertory Theatre, Montana Repertory Theatre, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Missoula Children's Theatre, and the Bigfork Summer Playhouse. In addition, Mike has been a contributing author for the book "Late & Great: American Designers 1960-2010," published by Broadway Press and USITT and for "World Scenography 1990-2005" Vol 2 published by OISTAT. Mike has also had several articles published in "Theatre Design & Technology" (TD&T). Beyond writing, designing and teaching, Mike is Chair of the Missoula Historic Preservation Commission and is active in his professional organization, the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT) where he has served on their Board of Directors and on the Publications, International and Conference committees for many years. Mike also served as the Project Manager in charge of the construction for the exhibits from the United States in the 2011 Prague Quadrennial.

Widely adopted as a college textbook, "Stock Scenery Construction Handbook" is one of the easiest to use, and most complete manuals on scenery construction. It has over 200 full-page drawings showing construction techniques for every conceivable kind of stock scenery piece, from flats (plain ones, door units, hardwall, etc.), to platforms and step units (including two kinds of parallel platforms and even folding-brace stairs), to all kinds of soft goods like curtains and drops.The second edition added a chapter on paint.

This third edition includes updates throughout the book by Mike Monsos, professor of Scenic Design/Technology and Bill Raoul's colleague at University of Montana.