Tess James Lighting Designer

Tess James Lighting DesignerTess James Lighting DesignerTess James Lighting Designer

Tess James Lighting Designer

Tess James Lighting DesignerTess James Lighting DesignerTess James Lighting Designer
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Freelance Lighting Design Projects

Public Works Winter's Tale                 The McCarter Theatre                                        Fall 2023

Song of the Nightingale                      On Site Opera                                                      Fall 2023

Felon*                                                    The McCarter Theatre                                        Spring 2023

The Running Show                               Monica Bill Barnes & Company                         Fall 2022

Assassins*                                             Classic Stage Company                                       Fall 2021

The Running Show                               Monica Bill Barnes & Company                         Fall 2021

The Cradle Will Rock*                          Classic Stage Company                                       Spring 2019

Voyage of Time                                     BAM – Opera House                                            Fall 2018

New York Comedy Festival                 BAM – Opera House                                            Fall 2018

The Resistible Rise of Autuor Ui*      Classic Stage Company                                       Fall 2018

Roe                                                         Asolo Repertory Theatre                                    Spring 2018

New Sounds Live Festival                   Brookfield Plaza                                                   Fall 2017

Pink Martini                                          BAM – Opera House                                            Spring 2017

RadioLoveFest                                     BAM – Harvey Theatre                                         Spring 2017

In Your Face                                         St. Ann’s Warehouse                                            Fall 2016

RadioLoveFest                                     BAM – Opera House                                             Spring 2016

Pop-Up Magazine                               BAM – Opera House                                             Spring 2016

*Co-Design with Jane Cox



Freelance Associate Lighting Design Projects

Appropriate                         Hayes Theater                                     Broadway                 Fall 2023

The Weir                              The Abbey Theatre                              International           Spring 2023

Macbeth                              Longacre Theatre                                Broadway                 Spring 2022

Felon                                    Princeton University                            Regional                   Fall 2021   

Jitney                                    Regional Tour                                       Regional                   Fall 2019     

Soft Power                           The Public Theatre                              Off Broadway          Fall 2019

True West                             The Roundabout Theatre                  Broadway                Fall 2018

The Color Purple                 Papermill Playhouse                          Regional                   Fall 2018

Soft Power                           The Curran Theatre                            Regional                   Summer 2018

Othello                                 Delacourte Theatre                             Off Broadway         Summer 2018

Soft Power                           The Ahmanson Theatre                     Regional                   Spring 2018

The Color Purple                US National Tour                                 Touring                     Fall 2017

Pacific Overtures               Classic Stage Company                       Off Broadway          Fall 2017

Roe                                       Berkeley Rep                                        Regional                   Spring 2017

Roe                                       Arena Stage                                          Regional                   Spring 2017

Jitney                                    The Manhattan Theatre Club            Broadway                 Fall 2016

Noises Off                           The Roundabout Theatre                   Broadway                 Spring 2016

The Color Purple               Bernard B. Jacob’s Theatre                 Broadway                 Fall 2015

The Real Thing                   The Roundabout Theatre                   Broadway                 Spring 2014

The Realistic Joneses         The Lyceum Theatre                           Broadway                 Spring 2014

Violet                                    The Roundabout Theatre                  Broadway                 Spring 2014

Machinal                              The Roundabout Theatre                  Broadway                 Fall 2014                            

Other Professional Experience


Monica Bill Barnes & Company
Lighting Director – Fall 2013-Present

Responsibilities included working with the resident production and design teams as well as the production team of touring venues to advance the shipping of props and scenery as well as the rental and construct of a lighting package that accommodates the fiscal and time limitations and fulfills the artistic intent of the touring production.  Daily duties included managing the load-in, set up and strike of all props, scenery and lighting equipment, and full responsibility for maintaining the overall artistic esthetic as well as acting as the calling Stage Manager for the performance.
 


New York City Opera                  
Lighting Director – Spring 2009-Spring 2013
Responsibilities include collaborating with designers and other department heads to develop functional and feasible lighting designs for new operas produced in a variety of venues ranging from BAM to New York City Center, El Museo Del Barrio and The Lynch Theatre at John Jay College.  Daily duties included the coordination of rental lighting and projection equipment, the development and management of the departmental budget as well as staffing and managing both union crews.


BAM                        
Production Coordinator - Fall 2008-Spring 2009
Responsibilities included working with a wide range of artistic, administrative staff and rental clients to coordinate the production of a variety of events including live musical concerts, literary readings, film festivals, receptions, lectures, theatrical performances as well as art exhibits and auctions.  Daily duties included the management of I.A.T.S.E. Local 4 stagehands, creating and administrating specific production budgets and acting as the primary contact and Production Manager for the BAM Café Live Concert Series.


Educational Experience


Princeton University

Full Time Lecturer – Fall 2022-Present

Responsibilities include acting as a participating instructor in a studio-based seminar class. This class is constructed to mentor student designers through their first design process from conception to collaboration, to construction and execution. The class incorporates much one on one time between instructor and students to allow for a positive process-based experience.

In addition to class instruction, duties include working as a one on one mentor with the students working as lighting designers for the Princeton Theatre Department production season.


Roundabout Theatre Company 

Master Teaching Artist – Fall 2012-Present 

Responsibilities include working with a wide range of students and educators to plan and execute workshops created to teach lighting and production skills to populations ranging from high school freshman to New York City public school teachers to recent paroles participating in community enrichment programs. The current primary focus of responsibilities is with the development and execution of the lighting curriculum for the “Theatre Workforce Development Program.” TWDP is a continuing education program focused on preparing students from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds to successfully enter the theatrical production workforce.


United Scenic Artist Local 829

Apprentice and Education Administrator – Spring 2017-Fall 2018

Responsibilities included working with USA829 staff members and Training and Apprentice Trustees to plan and schedule educational seminars for both the USA829 Scenic Apprentice Class as well as continuing education opportunities for the union’s general membership. These seminars range in content from “3D Vectorworks Drafting for Lighting Designers” to “Understanding the Language in Design Project Contracts.”


Brooklyn College

Adjunct Professor – Summer 2015-Spring 2018

Responsibilities include acting as the primary instructor for the department’s undergraduate Introduction to Lighting Design course. In this class, throughout the semester we endeavor to explore the purpose of stage lighting design as well as basic design elements that make up the art form. The class is constructed to give students a full view of what lighting design is as well as hands on experience creating and constructing it. In addition to class instruction, duties include working as a one on one mentor with the graduate and undergraduate students working as lighting designers for the Brooklyn College production season.



Personal Education   
Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design from Louisiana State University received May 2000.
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and English from Louisiana State University received December 1996.


Special Skills
Advanced skill with Windows and Mac operating systems, Vectorworks, AutoCAD, Lightwright, ETC EOS lighting console software, MS Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Photoshop, After Effects and Power Point.




References – Available Upon Request




Copyright © 2018 Tess James Lighting Designer/Design Associate - All Rights Reserved.


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