Jon Retsky

Master of Professional Studies in Lighting Design

DePaul University Theater School
Lighting Design Concept

The concept for this five story performing arts center is “Upstage Center”.

The lighting will tell the story of what happens behind the fourth wall, upstage, backstage, and beyond.  The design celebrates the collective work that goes into the audience experience…and all the things that happen behind the fourth wall.

Lighting Design Goals | Objectives:

  • We want to celebrate & collaborate with the architecture.

  • There needs to be a very high level of controllability between being a student center and a public center…between performance and study, classroom and show.

  • Decorative lighting will help to brand the building with landmarks that can be wayfinding reference points. 

  • In such a large space, there needs to be connectivity and a through line…basically a connecting theme, plot, or characteristic. 

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