Embarking on this journey from the serene Sierra Nevada to the pulsating heart of New York City, it's been a profound privilege to paint the world of performing arts with light for more than two decades. My canvas has stretched across theater, dance, opera, contemporary music, and the immersive experiences that pull us into new realms. This endeavor, a delicate dance of light and shadow, has been nurtured by a confluence of theatrical styles, personal milestones, and the leaps in technology that continue to reshape our world.

My work spans a spectrum from Theatre of the Image to Theatre of the Absurd, a range that speaks to an eclectic foundation. It’s a palette informed not only by my experiences but also by the early inspirations I found in the work of design luminaries like Roy Bennett and Baz Halpin. Their iconic collaborations with titans of the stage and music—figures like Prince and Tina Turner—served as a prologue to my own explorations in lighting.

Yet, it's in the deeper, more introspective layers of my work, inspired by the stark, existential themes of Samuel Beckett and Bertolt Brecht, where my approach to lighting truly finds its voice. In this realm, light and shadow perform a poignant ballet, a dance of profound dissonance drawn from a well of diverse inspirations. This dance allows shadows to mingle with light in a playful yet meaningful way, deepening my designs and weaving narratives that resonate on a visceral level.

For me, light transcends its physical properties to become a storyteller, a delicate balance of vibrant spectacle and intimate introspection. It's in this balance that I find the essence of my work, crafting moments that not only illuminate but speak, connecting with audiences in a dialogue of luminance and darkness.

My journey into the world of light began at Emerson College, the prologue to a narrative rich with light. From the intimate embrace of Lower Manhattan theaters to the grandeur of Broadway's stages, from the historic playhouses of Scotland to the cutting-edge Steve Jobs Theatre in California, my mission has remained unchanged: to tell stories, to evoke emotion, to illuminate the unseen, regardless of the venue's scale or the event's spectacle.

Among the myriad projects that have been graced by this journey, a few resonate with a particular intensity, embodying the essence of my design philosophy and ethos. The National Theatre of Scotland’s “The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart” was one such adventure—a project where lighting wasn't merely a technical element but a core narrative thread, earning both critical acclaim and a nod from the Drama Desk Awards.

Similarly, the task of lighting "Parable of the Sower" demanded more than illumination; it required a sensitivity to the emotional landscapes within Octavia E. Butler's dystopian world, a challenge that brought the stark contrasts of despair and hope into relief, and ultimately, contributed to its celebrated run at Lincoln Center.

A pivotal chapter in this narrative has been my ongoing collaboration with Punchdrunk's "Sleep No More" in NYC. Immersive theatre, by its nature, demands that light does more than simply reveal; it must guide, conceal, and above all, tell a story. This production, a redefinition of theatre experiences, demanded a unique approach to lighting design, one that I embraced with both hands, steering audiences through a maze of emotion and intrigue.

For Apple’s Steve Jobs Theatre, the challenge has always been to match the elegance of light with the precision of architecture, creating moments that resonate with Apple’s ethos of innovation and emotional connection. It's a task that calls for subtlety and a keen understanding of how light shapes our perception of space and narrative.

And then, there’s Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, where the aim was to capture the essence of celebration and anticipation. Here, lighting design transcends mere decoration—it creates an atmosphere, a mood, a memory. It's been an exercise in blending luxury with narrative depth, contributing to the magic of those fleeting moments.

Through each of these projects, it’s been the narrative possibilities of light and shadow, my commitment to enhancing storytelling, and a versatility across genres that have propelled my work into the realms of the varied and prestigious. Reflecting on this journey, it’s clear that the role of a lighting designer is not just to illuminate but to enchant, to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. It’s a path I’ve walked with a sense of wonder, constantly reminded of the profound impact thoughtful, narrative-driven lighting design can have on the collective experience of audiences worldwide. In every shadow, in every beam of light, there’s a story waiting to be told.