The application process for the annual Howell Binkley Fellowship Program opens March 1, 2023. Applications for the 2023 fellowship will be accepted through March 17, 2023. This year the fellowship will take place in the fall of 2023 (approximately September through November).
The Howell Binkley Fellowship, which is a part of the Hemsley Lighting Programs, is designed to offer support and exposure to early-career New York-based lighting designers, and honors the legacy of Tony Award-winning lighting designer Howell Binkley, who took the time to mentor young designers. The fellowship recipient will have direct access to Howell’s long-term associates: Ryan O’Gara and Amanda Zieve.
Previous Howell Binkley Fellowship Recipients
The 2021 Fellowship recipient was Kat Zhou, who made her Broadway debut assisting Ken Posner on Mr. Saturday Night. Zhou received her MFA from Boston University in 2020 and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. Last year’s winner, Samantha (Sam) Weiser, is a graduate of Long Island’s High School for the Arts and received her BFA in Theatre Design and Production, with a concentration in Lighting Design from the University of Michigan in 2020.
Howell Binkley Fellowship Program
The Howell Binkley Fellowship offers an individual exposure to New York City based Lighting Designers and the Theatrical Lighting Community. It will expose them to the worlds of commercial and nonprofit lighting design. O’Gara and Zieve will provide an inside look at the industry including: developing excellent drafting techniques, advice on finding the next job, observing the tech of a Regional, Opera, Dance or Broadway production, and experience at the tech table for the process of a show.
O’Gara and Zieve will be available to answer questions and help the recipient navigate the industry to start their career. This fellowship will take place in the Fall and will last three months. The fellowship program honors the legacy of Howell Binkley. When referring to having young designers observe the process with him and his team, Howell would always say, “No one has ever done this for me.” He would take the time to talk to young designers; he loved to hear their stories and help them anyway he could. This fellowship continues his efforts, providing the extra ‘push’ and assistance in fostering the next generation of theatrical lighting designers as they begin their careers.
You can email the program for more information: BinkleyFellowship@gmail.com.
The ideal candidate must:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Be a United States citizen
- Have at least 2 years of higher education or equivalent experience
- Have a design background
- Desire to have a career in Theatrical Lighting
- Be proactive, reliable, hardworking, mature, and a self-starter
Applicants must submit:
- Resume
- One-page statement addressing the follow questions:
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- What drew you to Lighting Design?
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- Why are you the ideal candidate for this mentorship?
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- What do you hope to gain from this mentorship?
- Three letters of recommendation
Finalists will be interviewed by The Howell Binkley Fellowship Committee:
Ryan O’Gara
Amanda Zieve
Mark Stanley
Ken Billington
Ken Posner
Jiyoun Chang
For further information and/or to email completed applications, please contact: Ryan O’Gara & Amanda Zieve at BinkleyFellowship@gmail.com
The mission of Hemsley Lighting Programs is to help bridge the gap for young designers between their educational environment and the beginnings of their professional careers. Like Gilbert Hemsley, Howell Binkley embodied the same passion for helping young designers as well as the same joyous personality. For this reason, Hemsley Lighting Programs is proud to be teaming up with The Howell Binkley Fellowship as we work together to help bring more young designers into our design community.
Binkley was a masterful “painter of light”. He was well known for his use of saturated color, accompanied by white or slightly cool highlights. He frequently used smoke or haze to draw attention to his use of angle. His designs are partly based upon Craig Miller and Tom Skelton’s use of cross focusing to make diamond effects. Highlights of his 52 Broadway credits include: Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations (2019 Tony nomination), Come From Away (2017 Tony nomination), Hamilton (2016 Tony Award), Allegiance, After Midnight (2014 Tony nomination), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011 Tony nomination), West Side Story (2009 Tony nomination), In the Heights (2008 Tony nomination), Jersey Boys (2006 Tony, Henry Hewes Design Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Avenue Q, The Full Monty, Parade, and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993 Tony nomination, Olivier Award and Dora Award winner). He was the proud co-founder/resident lighting designer of Parsons Dance. He lived in New York City and North Carolina.
The Hemsley Lighting Programs P.O. Box 1321 Ansonia Station New York, NY 10023
Further information and to donate to the Howell Binkley Fellowship Program: hemsleylightingprograms.com/howell-binkley-fellowship
The Hemsley Lighting Programs, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation organized under IRS code 501c (3). All donations are tax deductible and receipts will be provided.
