UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Stanley E. Romanstein has announced the addition of Kevin Lawson to the college’s roster of distinguished performing and media arts faculty members. An award-winning theater and television professional, Lawson’s appointment as Assistant Professor of Lighting Design and Technology begins on Aug. 15, 2021.
Lawson’s early career was spent in theater, working as an assistant/associate and lighting designer in regional, off-Broadway and Broadway theaters. After a serendipitous career shift to broadcast television, he has spent most of the last 21 years as a lighting designer, lighting director, and/or programmer on more than 200 televised productions.
His professional credits include work on high profile events like Mandela Day, Live Earth, and the election night rallies and acceptance speeches for 44th U.S. President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.
Lawson received Live Design’s Excellence Award – Live for Broadcast – for the Election Night Rally in 2008 and for NBC’s Hairspray Live!broadcast. He was nominated for Emmy Awards for the 2012 installment of CNN Heroes, the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,The Wiz Live!and Hairspray Live!. His other career highlights include work on HBO’s 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts, MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows,PBS’ Soundstage, and Live at Lincoln Centerand Great Performances.
He has worked on concerts featuring Britney Spears, N’Sync, Tim McGraw, Aerosmith, Alicia Keys, Metallica, Dixie Chicks, J-Lo, Jay-Z, U2, Paul Simon, Garth Brooks, and Usher. Lawson’s credits also include work on comedy specials featuring Ellen DeGeneres, Will Farrell, Robin Williams, and Chris Rock. In addition, he has worked on two Super Bowl Halftime Shows, seven Miss America competitions, 13 Comedy Central Roastsand 19 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions ceremonies. Lawson was the Lighting Designer for four seasons of Gospel of Music with Jeff Majorson TV One, Signing of the Starsfor University of Michigan and various corporate events including Turner Networks Upfront Presentations and Press Reveals for Lexus and Toyota.
Lawson received his BFA in Lighting Design from the Theatre School at DePaul University. He is a recipient of the Arena Stage’s Allen Lee Hughes Fellowship, and the Lincoln Center Institute Fellowship.
“Kevin Lawson brings more than two decades of experience in live events and broadcast productions to our Lighting Design and Technology program, making him a perfect fit for CCM’s multidisciplinary environment,” said Romanstein. “I want to acknowledge the excellent work of our search committee chaired by Sharon Huizinga, which included faculty members Michele Kay, Greg Falcione, Denton Yockey, Donald Hancock, Stirling Shelton, and Vincent DeGeorge, along with students Alex Mason and Tayler Durantini.”
