CONTACT INFO

P I 541.554.1542

E I laurennychelle@gmail.com

W I laurennychelle.com

Lauren Nychelle is a New York-based lighting and projection designer working across film, theatre, dance, and other live events. Her designs are driven by the emotional storyline of the characters in the pieces she works on. She also loves to explore the absence of light and the use of shadows. She loves working on new pieces and being a part of the first design team creating the world.

Recent designs include: We the People of the 50 Acre Woods* (Columbia University); Itamar Moses’ Outrage, Clare Barron’s You Got Older (NYU Tisch Graduate Acting); Hudson Guild Operas: Program B (American Opera Project and NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program); Ladies’ Lady: A New Musical* (Vino Theatre); Home Planet* (University of Oregon); Notes on Nudes (Big Red Films Studio). She also designed several pieces for Studio Tisch and  NYU Tisch Graduate Acting classes including two holiday cabaret shows. * indicates a new work 

CONTACT INFO

P I 423.534.7410

E I gavinstrawnatodesign@gmail.com

W I gavinstrawnato.com

Gavin Strawnato (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist working in Lighting Design, Projection Design, Scenic Design, Animation, Photography, and Installation design. They have recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with an MFA in Live Design and Production. As a designer, their work is driven by their passion for research and dramaturgy. Every production is an opportunity to learn something new and to experiment. 

Gavin is passionate about Queer art and history. They can often be found spending money on books they don’t need. They love working on the grittiest underground performance as much as a polished opera. 

Recent Credits Include: Ghosts of Versailles (Butler Opera Center) Undead: Haunted House of Dance (Ventana Ballet) And A Beautiful Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of the Great Lakes (U.T. Theatre).

CONTACT INFO

P I 603.903.4963

E I anniegarrettlarsen@gmail.com

W I anniegarrett-larsen.com

Annie Garrett-Larsen (she/her) is a New York based lighting designer for live performance. Annie is passionate about creating art that gives voice to people who are too often silenced, explores humanity at its core, and speaks to the deeply hurting world we are living in right now. Annie’s most recent designs include Queen, The House That Will Not Stand, and Fabulation (all at New York University). Annie’s design work has been seen in New York at: Ars Nova, HERE Arts Center, Judson Memorial Church, Atlantic Acting School, The Flea, The Tank, Dixon Place, The Chain, The Gallery Players, The Secret Theater, Theaterlab, Pregones PRTT. Her work has also been seen regionally/non-NYC at: Cleveland Play House, Chautauqua Theater Company, Detroit Public Theater, and The Peterborough Players. She holds a BA from Bard College and recently completed her MFA at NYU Tisch.

CONTACT INFO

P I 631.793.9490

E I thieleconor@gmail.com

W I conorthiele.com

Conor Thiele Is a visual collaborator specializing in new and exciting live performance. His work is focused on enhancing and uplifting narrative, giving visual power to stories and performance. Specializing in forms such as Dance, Plays, Opera, and non-traditional narrative, Conor has a passion for exploring new work and new ideas. Based out of NYC and Boston, Conor is a 3rd year candidate of Boston Universities MFA program for Lighting Design. Select credits include: Nostalgia (Mosaic Dance Company),  RESILIENT (Novum Dance company), Sunday in the park with George (Boston University), House of Legendary (American Opera Project)

CONTACT INFO

P I 909.762.7681

E I kemble.lighting@gmail.com

W I iliakemble.com

An accomplished Entertainment Designer, based in Dallas, TX, Ilia Kemble has experience in multiple design disciplines. While her focus has primarily been Lighting Design, she is also a talented Set and Costume Designer. Ms. Kemble is a creative self - starter who is motivated to get the job done on time and on budget. She is technically minded, as well as design capable. Ms. Kemble has experience solving complex design questions for multiple show formats. She has been privileged to work on complex projects Internationally and in the United States. She is currently open to career opportunities and mentorship.

CONTACT INFO

P I 501.415.6822

E I julianoellemansur@gmail.com

W I juliamansurdesigns.com

Julia Mansur is a NYC based designer currently earning her MFA in Theatrical Design and Production from Brooklyn College. After graduating with a BFA in Technical Theatre, she decided NYC was the best place to continue her education and start her career. Being Italian American herself, she values surrounding herself with various cultures and found NYC the perfect place to do just that.

While earning her bachelor’s, Julia found great passion for both lighting and scenic design. Her favorite theatre are pieces that speak on important and current issues and ask the hard-hitting, thought-provoking questions. She believes theatre has great power (in its various forms) to open avenues of thought and understanding for all people, as well as entertain and create appropriate safe spaces. Lighting and scenery are crucial to powerful storytelling, creating environments and beautiful, artistic moments that stick with audiences long after a performance. Her hope is to aid in the sharing of a wide range of stories through her designs and contribute to social justice through her art.

CONTACT INFO

P I 205.470.9171

E I justinkirkpatrick83@gmail.com

W I jkscenic.com

Justin Kirkpatrick is a dynamic Lighting and Scenic Designer based in New York City. Currently, he is advancing his craft through a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatrical Design & Production at Brooklyn College.

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a specialization in Technical Theatre, obtained from Troy University in Troy, AL, Justin pairs his academic prowess with a minor in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing. His journey has seen him collaborate with esteemed directors, designers, and theater companies across the nation, including prestigious venues like The Santa Fe Opera, Off-Broadway's Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, and Birmingham Children’s Theatre.

In leadership roles, Justin has served as the Technical Director of both the Birmingham Children’s Theatre and Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York, NY.

When not immersed in the world of theater, Justin spends time with his family, residing in New York City alongside his wonderful wife, Haley, and their daughter, Emma.

CONTACT INFO

P I 215.460.9211

E I Kaia.l.merrell@gmail.com

W I kaiamerrelldesign.com

Kaia L. Merrell (she/her/they/them) is a New York based Lighting Designer for theatre, opera, and dance. They are interested in telling stories that push the envelope, and lead audiences to a catharsis through rich, compelling text or music, and striking visual composition. They think a lot about the things that haunt us, how hauntings aren't necessarily scary, but in fact are the things we carry with us everyday.

Recent productions include: Robert Icke’s Oresteia, DREAD/D.R.E.A.D, The Fifth of July (all for NYU Tisch Graduate Acting); Hudson Guild Operas: Program A(American Opera Projects and NYU Tisch Opera Lab);and multiple showings at Second Avenue Dance Company – where they were a resident designer from 2023-2025. They have assisted at the San Fransisco Opera, Barrington Stage Company, and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival to name a few. Recently they recieved their MFA in Design for Stage and Film from NYU Tisch. 

CONTACT INFO

P I 443.804.8936

E I productionbysim@gmail.com

W I simcarpenter.com

Simean “Sim” Carpenter is an award-winning, African-American scenic, lighting and production designer from Baltimore, MD.

Sim holds a deep passion for social equality. His goal as a designer is to use his many mediums to captivate the audience and reveal the too often disregarded stories of marginalized groups.

 Selected credits: Everything That Never Happened (Baltimore Center Stage) Long Way Down (Olney Theatre/Apollo Theater); Tiny Beautiful Things (Baltimore Center Stage); The Folks at Home (Baltimore Center Stage); Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (Marriott Theatre); D.R.E.A.D. (New York University); FLEX (New York University); Hoodoo Love (Raven Theatre)

Sim earned a B.F.A. in Stage Design from DePaul University and is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Design for Stage & Film at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He is also a 2024 Princess Grace Award Honoraria recipient.

CONTACT INFO

P I 704.840.6045

E I taylorolsonlighting@gmail.com

W I taylorolsonlighting.com

Taylor Olson is a San Diego-based lighting designer. She has worked as a freelance designer in the community and serves as the Resident Lighting Designer at DISCO RIOT. Recently, she earned her MFA in Theatre and Dance from the University of California, San Diego. At UCSD, Taylor gained valuable experience collaborating on new plays, dance works, installations, and classical plays. She also taught students about lighting programming, conceptual approaches to lighting design, and introductory to design.

Select credits include Vinegar Tom (UCSD, LD), Rose Colored Griefs (Fresh Congress Dance, LD), Ex Nihlo (DISCO RIOT, LD), Between (Lighthouse Circus Theatre, LD), Velour: A Drag Spectacular (La Jolla Playhouse, ALD), and Appropriate (The Old Globe Theatre, ALD).

CONTACT INFO

P I 626.757.9359

E I vidahuangdesigns@gmail.com

W I vidahuangdesign.com

Vida Huang is a lighting designer originally from Taiwan, now based in San Diego. She previously worked as a lighting technician at the National Theatre and Concert Hall in Taiwan. Recently, she earned her MFA degree from the Theatre and Dance program at the University of California, San Diego. During her time at UCSD, she gained extensive experience in lighting design and assisting in the theatre and dance field. She also teaches students how to program lighting consoles and introduces them to lighting design concepts.

Recent lighting design credits: The Rogue’s Trial, Your Local Theatre Present: A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens, Again (ALD), New Direction 2024, The Half-Sibling Play, Dead Girl’s Quinceañera, Winterwork24, X (ALD), The Glass Menagerie, The Promise, 900 Years, Blu (ALD), Dance Nation (ALD)

CONTACT INFO

P I 847.989.9450

E I Zacharyyoung93@gmail.com

W I zycreations.com

Zach Young is a third year M.F.A candidate for Live Design and Production. He is a creator  in many forms when it comes to lighting. He is always investigating how to design lights in  new and different way. Especially how to incorporate lights into the world to help give it life.  Collaborating with other designers to create something truly wonderful that can speak to  the story and characters is his lasting goal. He will forever ask the question how can he do  it better? His most recent work with DRT: Equinox where he design lights for three pieces  and projections for one, Scenic Designed for Ghost of Versailles, and Lighting Designer for  James and the Giant Peach. He is the recipient of the Bernhard R. Works Master Crafts Award 2025 from USITT.