When I first started my undergraduate studies at Drury, I was a theatre & psychology double-major hoping to become a psychotherapist. Throughout this time, though, I came to realize that the theatre is the one place where I feel truly alive. Every time I watch (or take part in) a production, I am mesmerized by what kind of atmosphere the creative team, cast, and crew has been able to form together. Theatres can become living rooms, forests, city streets, or dreamscapes- and every design element contributes to shaping those realities. It was this fascination with world-building that pushed me away from psychology and drew me into theatrical lighting design.

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Lighting can set mood, sculpt space, and guide attention. A wash of amber can turn a bare stage into a sunlit morning, while a sudden shift in angle and color can transform that same space into a moment of fear or revelation. Light itself is ephemeral- existing only in the moment- yet it has the power to shape entire scenes and leave lasting impressions on audiences. I am drawn to the challenge and the beauty of this paradox: designing something that disappears as quickly as it appears, but in doing so, leaves a memory that endures.

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I am looking for an MFA program that stands out for its emphasis on mentorship and employability. Working with Bob Robins in a small department at Drury has been invaluable for my development as a designer, and I believe that the right graduate mentor will push me to continue to develop the skills necessary to produce quality designs on a professional level. Although I hope to primarily design for the theatre (and possibly later teach design at a collegiate level), I understand that industry professionals have to take on non-theatre work: this is why I am seeking a program with courses designed to ensure that its students have multiple career avenues in lighting design while still offering courses that provide the opportunity to build and refine my technical skills in areas like emerging technologies, paperwork, and visualization. I want to build practical, real skills that will deepen my ability to use light as a narrative force while also growing as a partner in the creative process where bold, transformative theatre can flourish.