Carnegie Mellon School of Drama - Undergraduate Lighting Design

Dramatic purple and blue stage lighting shine down onto a performer sitting at a piano in a production of “Preludes” at the School of Drama.

Illuminating Possibilities

The Carnegie Mellon School of Drama’s lighting design program offers a holistic view of lighting as an art and craft, requiring both aesthetic and technical training and skill. With access to top-flight facilities and equipment, students are prepared to design across a wide array of venues and genres. Our faculty and alumni work throughout the industry, and are instrumental in helping new graduates launch their professional careers.

A lighting design student wearing all black and a headset sits at a table with a large computer monitor in a dimly lit theater space.

Lighting Design Curriculum

Lighting students learn processes that explore all aspects of light as a visual design element. Learning to communicate ideas verbally, visually and in written documentation is central to the program. Students gain knowledge and expertise in the latest technology including automated lighting fixtures, LED fixtures, computer consoles, visualization software programs and media design software. Additionally, Lighting students learn to become efficient in focus and cueing, Vectorworks and Autocad drafting, designer and master electrician paperwork, lighting design for a range of genres, scales of productions and different types of spaces.

Click the link and navigate through each program’s curriculum using the gray menu on the right hand side of the screen.

curriculum

Student Work

A brightly and colorfully lit stage with a scene from the School of Music’s opera “Cosi Fan Tutte.”

Opera Design Oppportunities

Design students from the School of Drama often have the opportunity to collaborate with the School of Music on their productions.

Pictured here is Pablo D. Antón’s (Class of 2023) lighting design for the School of Music’s opera “Cosi Fan Tutte.”

A slide showing three square images on each side with various lighting design inspirations for a production of “Godspell” and the song “All Good Gifts.”

Process to Production

Process work by J.D. Hopper (Class of 2023), who was lighting designer for the School of Drama’s production of “Godspell” in 2023.

A dancer in silhouette kicking one leg up, with arms in alternate positions, against a bright orange and yellow lit backdrop.

Dance/Light

Dance/Light is an annual opportunity for students to explore the art form of dance. It is the largest and longest- running cross-discipline project in the School of Drama. The purpose is to unite the elements of choreography, performance, lighting design, costume design, and stage management in a concert dance format.

Pictured: “Brown Girl” – a dance piece from Dance/Light 2022 – with lighting design by Willem Hinternhoff (Class of 2022).

Dancer: Ayana Cymone
Choreographer: Rayven Bailey
Lighting Designer: Willem Hinternhoff
Costume Designer: Lily Cunicelli
Stage Manager: Kaylie Carpenter

In a dark theater, a table with lit up computer screens and students sitting and working with headsets.

Production Experience

Lighting Design students gain experience working on productions as designers, managers, technicians, and crew.

Pictured here is part of the team working in tech rehearsals for “this old haunt,” as part of the School of Drama’s 2022/2023 season.

Technical Experience

Students working on lighting load-in for the School of Drama’s production of “Dance Nation” in the Helen Wayne Rauh Studio Theater.

A model set depicting a facade of a house and a bright orange light shining in from behind; a small figure stands in front of the house.