Lighting Design

University of Nevada, Reno -- October 2025

Written by William Shakespeare, Directed by Rosie Brownlow-Calkin

Independent Study - B.A. Design Thesis

Director Rosie-Brownlow Calkin endeavored to bring Romeo & Juliet into the contemporary moment by envisioning a setting of an American fundamentalist enclave. The production explored primary themes of totalitarianism, control, manipulation, naivete, and explosive passion. In my lighting design, I focused on the moments of thematic elevation and removal from a naturalized setting to further the tension between the characters and their society. How does a community get formed in these ways? What does it take to keep people divided? What lengths might one go to for those they think they love? Will we learn the lessons we need to, or continue with the status quo?

University of Nevada, Reno 

Written by Thornton Wilder

THTR 403 - Lighting Design Final Project

For this project, I ventured to develop a lighting design, independently envisioning a director's vision. My primary concept was to achieve a sense of realization after life has passed you by. I see the central message of Our Town as encouraging the appreciation of the small things in life through the loss of the characters' ability/want to do so. What do we value in life? Should we value something else? What regrets do we hold when we no longer have the ability to make a different decision? I enjoyed playing with the sharpness of focus to portray that message.