Lighting Design

“The Department of Performing Arts believes that the hands-on, realized stage experience is just as important as classroom work. The production season is an active element of Marquette's pedagogical program, where much of the true learning happens under the close individual guidance of department faculty.” – From the department mission statement

The lighting design and technology program in the Diederich College’s Department of Performing Arts continues to grow and advance. Thanks to generous gifts from the Alvin and Marion Birnschein Foundation and the Evan P. and Marion Helfaer Foundation, the Helfaer Theatre has undergone a complete replacement and upgrade of the lighting instrumentation—providing state-of-the-art technology. The new inventory includes a full replacement of standard instrumentation, with new ETC Source 4 fixtures and the addition of Ocean Optics Seachangers and Robe Colorspot intelligent equipment.

This all means you gain true hands-on experience in the lighting area. Students serve as electricians, master electricians, assistant designers and lighting designers on the departmental productions. Most productions are designed by students, working closely with faculty. The faculty members guide you in developing your craft and creating aesthetically brilliant, artistically challenging and dramatically appropriate lighting in our productions. Our student designers have received a number of KCACTF Certificate of Merit citations for their lighting design work on productions. Many of our lighting designers and technicians have graduated and moved on to work with theatre and dance companies in Chicago, New York and Hollywood.

Chester Loeffler-Bell - Faculty Lighting Designer and Technical Director

Much of our lighting students’ success is a direct result of working with our faculty lighting designer, Professor Chester Loeffler-Bell. Students in the department will tell you that Chester is a man of few words. That’s because he lets his long list of professional experience do the talking. His recent work includes professional lighting design for local companies including the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Cornerstone Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, and In Tandem Theatre. Professor Loeffler-Bell strongly believes his goal is to promote the work and growth of his students. He regularly has student assistants working with him both on campus and professionally, preparing them to work as lighting designers and technicians. Many of his former students can be found doing design and technical work at professional theatres in Milwaukee, Chicago and New York—and all of them credit Marquette for their success.