Enthusiasm for new work, adaptations, and storytelling interwoven with music & movement.
“My joy as an artist is to create striking and thoughtful work. Lighting Design is a composition of visual storytelling with the ability to shift in an instant. The way performers exist in context with their environment, combined with how light interacts with perception, can be used to draw the audience further in or pull the rug out and subvert the expected.”
Based in Philadelphia, Krista’s design work has been seen across the United States and internationally in The Philippines, Romania, Scotland and Australia. An experienced teaching artist with 3 years of collaboration with young playwrights in the development of their artistic voice though Yale Rep’s Dwight/Edgewood Project (modeled after the 52nd St. Project in NYC), guest lectured on Lighting Design and Process at Colgate University while an Artist in Residence, and assisted Tony Award Winner and MacArthur Genius Grant Recipient Jennifer Tipton in the teaching of her Lighting Design Master Class of Swan Lake in partnership with The Asian Arts Council and Ballet Philippines in Manila. Before the institution sadly shut down, Krista was a member of the devoted design faculty at The University of the Arts teaching: Intro Lighting, Sound and Projection Design, & Theatrical Hand-Drafting.
Frequent design associate to Jennifer Tipton, including Tipton’s installation of Our Days and Night presented at the Baryshnikov Arts Center. With the experience and dedication of designing light for everything from Dance, Opera, Theater and Experimental works, Jennifer said, “[this installation] is designed to show the relationship of the earth to the sun, tracing the origin and precarity of the sun’s support of life, and exploring the visual archetypes of the seasons.” Additional projects with Jennifer Tipton include: Ain Gordon’s RELICS and their Humans (La MaMa, Wexner Center for the Arts, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Arizona Arts Live, UCLA Nimoy Theater), Richard Nelson’s Uncle Vanya (Hunter Theater Project), David Cale’s We’re Only Alive For A Short Amount Of Time (The Public Theater), and The Saintliness of Margery Kempe (Duke Theater on 42nd Street).
Originally from California, Krista is a recipient of Theatre Bay Area’s Eric Landisman Fellowship. Professional experience includes working as Assistant Technical Director for American Conservatory Theater’s M.F.A. Acting Program, and as Design Associate (Scenic & Lighting) for A.C.T.’s Geary Theater in San Francisco. Training includes her B.A. in Theater Arts from San Francisco State University and M.F.A. in Design from Yale School of Drama. Proud member of USA 829.
In my work I attempt to honor those no longer with us who’ve had great impact on me as an artist. Emalie Mayo, Mark Rucker, Peter West, and Eric Landisman. Teachers, Mentors, Family and Friends.
Thank you for your interest. To contact me: krista@kristasmithld.com