Howell Binkley Fellowship
The Howell Binkley Fellowship Program announces their third Fellow for 2023, Amara McNeil. McNeil is a New York-based, Hartford-raised, theatrical lighting designer and filmmaker. She holds a B.A. in Theater from Fordham University and is a 2019 ALW American Theater Wing Scholar.
As a visual storyteller, McNeil aims to create an immersive experience for the audience, using vibrant colors and dynamic angles to bring texture to the stage. As she continues to learn and grow, McNeil hopes to create work that breaks down society’s perception of who gets to tell stories and what stories deserve to be told. McNeil is extremely excited to learn from Amanda Zieve and Ryan O’Gara for the next four months, gaining technical experience and a wonderful network of mentors and collaborators.
“Please join us in congratulating Amara as she takes the next step in her career, says Zieve and O’Gara. “We are thrilled that Amara found us and cannot wait to have such a gracious and motivated young designer join our team. Amara embodies the legacy of Howell Binkley and we know he would have been delighted to meet her and watch her soar.” See McNeill’s work at www.amaramcneil.com.
Created in partnership with the Hemsley Lighting Programs, the Fellowship honors Howell Binkley’s legacy of mentorship by providing the extra ‘push’ and assistance in fostering the next generation of theatrical lighting designers as they begin their careers. For more information and to donate to the Howell Binkley Fellowship: (www.bit.ly/SD_Binkley)
TONY Honor for Lisa Dawn Cave
An announcement by the Tony Awards Administration Committee was of particular note from Stage Directions ‘behind the scenes’ perspective: a 2023 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre will be presented to Production Supervisor and Production Stage Manager Lisa Dawn Cave. The Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were established in 1990 and are awarded annually to institutions, individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories.
Lisa Dawn Cave was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She attended the H.S. of Performing Arts and received her BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase. Her professional theatre career started as a dancer/singer where she performed in Cats, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls, Bubblin’ Brown Sugar and Golden Boy. After 10 years of performing on the stage, Lisa Dawn’s career transitioned to behind the scenes, where she has worked consistently in stage management. These credits include the Broadway productions of Frozen, Shuffle Along, Fun Home, Rocky, The Humans, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Bring It On, West Side Story (2009), Come Fly Away, The Color Purple, Hot Feet, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, The Woman In White, Julius Caesar, Caroline or Change, Hollywood Arms, Into the Woods, Wild Party, Parade, Smokey Joe’s Café and the 1994 revival of Showboat.
Lisa Dawn is currently the Production Supervisor for Disney’s The Lion King and Frozen worldwide, along with the re-imagined Aida, which is currently playing in the Netherlands. In addition to her theatre credits, Lisa Dawn serves on the Board of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. She is a founding member of both Black Theatre United and Broadway & Beyond: Access for Stage Managers of Color and has served as an elected Councilor for Actors Equity Association for 11 years.
TONY Design Nominations
The American Theatre Wing’s 76th Annual Antoinette Perry ‘TONY’ Awards® nominees were selected by an independent committee of 40 theatre professionals appointed by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. The 2023 Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. Per an agreement that the striking WGA will not picket the Tony Awards, the broadcast will air live on Sunday, June 11, 2023, from the historic United Palace in Washington Heights, in New York City.
Stage Directions in PLSN congratulates all the design nominees:
Best Scenic Design of a Play
- Miriam Buether, Prima Facie
- Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding, Life of Pi
- Rachel Hauck,Good Night, Oscar
- Richard Hudson,Leopoldstadt
- Dane Laffrey & Lucy Mackinnon, A Christmas Carol
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
- Beowulf Boritt, New York, New York
- Mimi Lien, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
- Michael Yeargan & 59 Productions, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
- Scott Pask, Shucked and Some Like It Hot
Best Lighting Design of a Play
- Neil Austin,Leopoldstadt
- Natasha Chivers,Prima Facie
- Jon Clark, A Doll’s House
- Bradley King, Fat Ham
- Tim Lutkin, Life of Pi
- Jen Schriever,Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
- Ben Stanton, A Christmas Carol
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
- Ken Billington,New York, New York
- Lap Chi Chu, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
- Heather Gilbert, Parade
- Howard Hudson, & Juliet
- Natasha Katz,Some Like It Hot and Sweeney Todd
Best Costume Design of a Play
- Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell, Life of Pi
- Dominique Fawn Hill, Fat Ham
- Brigitte Reiffenstuel,Leopoldstadt
- Emilio Sosa,Ain’t No Mo’ and Good Night, Oscar
Best Costume Design of a Musical
- Gregg Barnes, Some Like It Hot
- Susan Hilferty,Parade
- Jennifer Moeller,Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
- Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi,KPOP
- Paloma Young, & Juliet
- Donna Zakowska, New York, New York
WNO’s New Director of Production
Washington National Opera General Director Timothy O’Leary and Artistic Director Francesca Zambello announced two new appointments that will oversee the newly defined Artistic and Production departments. The delineation aims to create clearer lines of responsibility, a more sustainable workload for Washington National Opera (WNO) staff, and new support for WNO’s mission. Chelsea Antrim Dennis will join WNO as Director of Production, beginning August 7, 2023. Dennis comes to WNO from Santa Fe Opera, where she currently serves as Director of Production and where she began her career in 2004. Dennis’ position will oversee the technical production, costumes, lighting, stage management, facilities planning & administration, and rehearsal departments.
Samuel Gelber has been promoted to the role of Director of Artistic Planning and Operations, taking on an expanded portfolio of responsibilities including WNO’s artistic and music administration, the WNO music staff, engagement of stage directors, orchestra management, and he will continue his duties as casting director.
“We are excited to welcome Chelsea to the WNO and Kennedy Center families,” said O’Leary and Zambello. “We are grateful to our colleagues at the Santa Fe Opera for helping us with a smooth transition.”
Dennis has served 19 seasons with the Santa Fe Opera beginning her opera production career as a stage management intern in 2004 and over the next 15 years, she is filling the role of production stage manager for nine seasons. Dennis worked in stage management departments nationwide. and had a flourishing career working with various opera companies. In 2019, Dennis joined the year-round Santa Fe Opera production staff and was promoted to director of production in 2020.
