Photo of C. Todd Brown - a white man with blonde hair, wearing a black shirt.

C. Todd Brown

Associate Teaching Professor of Lighting and Production Technology

Design and technology work hand in hand in the entertainment business–I strive to join as many hands together as possible.

-C. Todd Brown

Todd developed the Production Technology program within the Production Technology and Management area in the School of Drama and acts as the lead faculty in that program. In addition, Todd is a core member of the Lighting Design faculty, teaching and advising students in that discipline. Todd is a member of the CMU Green Practices and School of Drama Safety committees and is a Campus Emergency Responder.


C. Todd Brown has worked in many aspects of the live entertainment world through his career, primarily in the area of lighting. Highlights include roles as the Lighting Supervisor at La Jolla Playhouse and Lighting Director for three tours with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Other production work includes industrial/corporate theatre, themed entertainment, live music, film, and video. As a Lighting Designer, Todd has worked for many companies across the country. Around Pittsburgh, his design work has been seen at City Theatre, Jewish Theatre of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Playhouse and Quantum Theatre, for whom he has designed more than 40 productions.

Todd has been associated with Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama since 2001, where he has created and taught courses related to lighting design, technology and management as well as other content in the field of Production Technology. Previously, Todd worked in the Theatre Department at the University of California, San Diego.