Elaine J. McCarthy | |
|---|---|
 McCarthy in 2003 | |
| Born | May 11, 1966 Woburn, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | video designer |
Elaine J. McCarthy (born May 11, 1966) is an American projection and video designer for theater and opera. [1]
Elaine J. McCarthy | |
|---|---|
| McCarthy in 2003 | |
| Born | May 11, 1966 Woburn, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | video designer |
Elaine J. McCarthy (born May 11, 1966) is an American projection and video designer for theater and opera. [1]
She was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, and grew up in nearby Arlington, Massachusetts.
Intending to study Political Science, McCarthy initially attended Catholic University in Washington, D.C. but found herself drawn to the architectural studio. She subsequently left to take a semester of architectural courses at Harvard University Graduate School of Design then a year at University of Massachusetts Boston studying photography and set design. She eventually enrolled at New York University where she earned a B.F.A. in Photography & Imaging from the Tisch School of the Arts, Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film & Television. [2]
McCarthy held an administrative job in the early years of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, where she learned about computers. “I was exposed to the most bleeding-edge technology and everybody in that environment had a point of view to add, whether you were a tenured professor, or, like me, a glorified secretary — it was all part of the mix. That was my first exposure to a barrier-free environment.” This experience led her to the MIT Community Players which was her first exposure to the idea of theater as a potential career. After that she worked with an experimental theater company, the Pilgrim Theater Research and Performance Collaborative. While stage managing for them at the Edinburgh Festival it became clear to her that she wished to pursue a career in theater. She eventually worked her way to New York City working as a design assistant to noted projection designer Wendall K. Harrington through whose studio many of today's top projection design practitioners have passed. This is where she saw her varied interests in technology, art, design, photography, architecture, film and theater come together in one discipline, projection design for theater.” [3]
She has since gone on to work with a diverse group of notable directors including Leonard Foglia, Michael Greif, Kristin Hanggi, Andrei Konchalovsky, James Lapine, Joe Mantello, Michael Mayer, Dejan Miladinović, Mike Nichols, Jack O'Brien, Diane Paulus, Tim Robbins, Peter Sellars, Julie Taymor, John Tillinger and Rob Urbinati. [4]
She has many Broadway productions to her credit including After the Fall (2004 revival), Good Vibrations , The Green Bird , Judgment at Nuremberg , [5] the Tony Award nominated productions of Man Of La Mancha (2002 Revival) [1] and Wicked [6] (the 4th longest-running Broadway show [7] and the 10th longest-running West End show) as well as the Tony Award winning productions of Into The Woods (2002 Revival), Assassins and Monty Python's Spamalot . [8]
She designed projections for Tan Dun's adaptation of The Peony Pavilion at the Wiener Festwochen [9] as well as Tchaikovsky´s Mazeppa [10] [11] and the Andrei Konchalovsky directed production of Prokofiev's War and Peace , [12] both co-productions of the Kirov Opera at the Mariinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. She recently designed Alfredo Catalani's La Wally [13] and Tchaikovsky's rarely performed Iolanta [14] for The Dallas Opera.
In August 2015 McCarthy designed projections for the world premiere of the new opera Cold Mountain composed by Jennifer Higdon with a libretto by Gene Scheer at the Santa Fe Opera. [15]
In the Fall of 2015 McCarthy returned to the Dallas Opera to design projections for the world premier production of Great Scott , a new opera by Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally directed by Jack O'Brien with Sets and Costumes by Bob Crowley and Lighting by Brian MacDevitt . [16]
McCarthy designed projections for the world premiere of Jake Heggie's new opera It's a Wonderful Life for the Houston Grand Opera December 2016. The production was directed by Leonard Foglia with Sets by Robert Brill, Lighting by Brian Nason and Costumes by David C. Woolard. [17]
Late summer 2016 McCarthy designed projections for the New England premier production of Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education, created, written and performed by Anna Deavere Smith in Boston at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) then it moved to New York City's Second Stage Theater that fall. Directed by Leonard Foglia with Set design by Riccardo Hernandez, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting design by Howell Binkley [18]
Fall 2018 McCarthy designed projections for Gloria: A Life, the story of Gloria Steinem at the Daryl Roth Theatre starring Christine Lahti in the title role. It is written by Email Mann and directed by Diane Paulus with scenic design by Amy Rubin, costume design by Jessica Jahn, lighting design by Jeanette Yew and sound design by Leah Gelpe. [19]
McCarthy will design sets and projections for the world premiere of Joby Talbot's new opera The Diving Bell and the Butterfly for the Dallas Opera, originally scheduled for the 2020-21 season but postponed until fall of 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [20] The production will be directed by Leonard Foglia with Lighting by Gavin Swift and Costumes by David C. Woolard. [21]
McCarthy designed the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's performance of Haydn: The Creation presented in May 2023. Conducted by Robert Spano. [22]
McCarthy is a frequent collaborator with Director Leonard Foglia. She designed projections for his Off-Broadway production The Stendhal Syndrome; [23] his Broadway productions Thurgood , [24] and The People in the Picture ; [25] and his production of the Opera's Dead Man Walking [26] for the New York City Opera as well as the World Premiere productions of Moby-Dick [27] and Everest [28] for the Dallas Opera and El Pasado Nunca se Termina for the Lyric Opera of Chicago for which she designed both Sets and Projections. “What Elaine is able to do,” he says, “is to use my ideas as a departure for her own creativity. She will take my ideas and lift it out to a level I could never have imagined. It's what I pray every designer will do.” [1]
McCarthy is currently an Adjunct instructor at Boston University College of Fine Arts, School of Theatre [29] and Emerson College [30] . She was previously a Lecturer in Design at the Yale University School of Drama [31] and an Adjunct Instructor at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts and Texas State University and has been a guest lecturer at City University of New York College of Technology, Pace University, University of Alabama, University of Maryland, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Wesleyan University, University of Wisconsin, and numerous others.
She has also appeared as a guest speaker at the USITT Conference, [32] Live Design's L.D.I. [33] and Opera America's Opera Conference.
McCarthy is a member of United Scenic Artists local 829 and USITT and was a Lucille Lortel Award voter 2019-2022. [32] McCarthy is an Associate Volunteer for as well as a member of the Steering Committee of The 1/52 Project, founded by Scenic designer Beowulf Boritt in 2022 as a financial grant program financed and run by working designers to encourage early career designers from historically excluded groups. [34]
In 2020 McCarthy was honored with the USITT Distinguished Achievement Award for Digital Media. [35]
McCarthy's projection design work on Gloria: A Life was recognized with the American Theater Wing's Henry Hewes Design Award Nomination for Notable Effects in August 2019. [36]
In June 2019 McCarthy won a Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Projection or Video Design for her work on Everest at the Calgary Opera. [37]
McCarthy was nominated in 2017 for the Drama Desk Award [38] the Lucille Lortel Award [39] and the Henry Hewes Design Award [40] for Outstanding Projection Design for Notes from the Field at Second Stage and for an IRNE Award in the category Large Theater: Best Projection Design for Notes from the Field at the American Repertory Theater. [41]
McCarthy was nominated for Best Video Design for Entertainment Today's Ticketholder Award in 2010 for Thurgood at the Geffen Playhouse. [42]
McCarthy was nominated for the Henry Hewes Design Award in 2009 for Notable Effects [43] for Frequency Hopping produced by the Hourglass Group at the 3LD Arts & Technology Center in New York City for which she designed both the scenery and projections. [44] The production was noted for its use of a fully robotic orchestra as well as McCarthy's utilization of Musion Eyeliner, which is a modern version of the 19th century Pepper's Ghost effect. [45]
McCarthy was nominated for Best Video Design for Entertainment Today's Ticketholder Award in 2007 for the Center Theatre Group's World Premier production of Lisa Loomer's play Distracted at the Mark Taper Forum for which she designed both Sets and Projections [46]
In 2003 she was awarded an Entertainment Design Magazine (now Live Design) Eddy Award for Projection Design Excellence [47]
McCarthy is married, has a daughter and lives in Connecticut. [48]
William Peter Charles Williams is an English show director, stage and lighting designer and video director for concerts, theatre and multimedia projects. He is best known for his work with the rock band U2, and is recognised as one of the leading artists in this field. William Gibson, writing in Wired magazine, said "Willie Williams combines a passionate delight in technology with an infectious low-tech joy. His innovations have become industry standards."
Tharon Myrene Musser was an American lighting designer who worked on more than 150 Broadway productions. She was termed the "Dean of American Lighting Designers" and is considered one of the pioneers in her field.
Kevin Adams is an American theatrical lighting designer. He has earned four Tony Awards for lighting design.
Gilbert Vaughn Hemsley Jr. (1936–1983) was a noted United States lighting designer and teacher of lighting design.
Luc Lafortune is a Canadian lighting designer for the entertainment industry as well as one of the original designers of the Cirque du Soleil.
The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) is a membership organization which aims to advance the skills and knowledge of theatre, entertainment and performing arts professionals involved in the areas of design, production and technology, and to generally promote their interests. To this end, the USITT mounts conferences and exhibitions, promulgates awards and publications, and supports research. USITT is a non-profit organization which has its headquarters in Syracuse, New York.
Roger Morgan is a pioneer in the world of theatre design consulting. He became interested in theatre architecture while a student at Carnegie Mellon University, and worked as an assistant to the scenic designer Jo Mielziner who became the primary influence on his career. He is the Tony Award-winning lighting designer of over 200 plays on and off-Broadway and in regional theater. He founded Sachs Morgan Studio in 1976 to provide comprehensive theatre planning and design services to the performing arts community.
Richard Pilbrow was a British stage lighting designer, author, theatre design consultant, and theatrical producer, film producer and television producer. He was the first British lighting designer to light a Broadway musical on the Broadway stage with the musical Zorba.
Rick Fisher is an American lighting designer, known for his work with Stephen Daldry on Billy Elliot the Musical and An Inspector Calls. He is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Dickinson College, but has been based in the UK for the last 30 years.
Imero (Immie) Fiorentino was an American lighting designer, considered one of the most respected pioneers and leaders in the American entertainment industry. Beginning his career as a lighting designer in the Golden Age of Television, he designed productions for such celebrated series as Omnibus, U.S. Steel Hour, Pulitzer Prize Playhouse and Kraft Television Theatre. Fiorentino's expertise was often called upon by industry professionals throughout the world to consult on the planning and development of major productions, exhibits, museums and architectural projects; from the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention and numerous United States presidential election debates, major concert tours and television specials to the environmental lighting for Epcot’s World Showcase at Walt Disney World. His consulting work on major corporate events with clients included: Anheuser-Busch, Michelin, Electrolux, American Express and Xerox.
Jane Greenwood is a British costume designer for the stage, television, film, opera, and dance. Born in Liverpool, England, she works both in England and the United States. She has been nominated for the Tony Award for costume design twenty-one times and won the award for her work on The Little Foxes.
Paul Tazewell is an American costume designer for the theatre, dance, and opera and television. After training at New York University Tisch School of the Arts he started his career on Broadway. He went on to win a Tony Award and a Emmy Award as well as a nomination for an Academy Award.
Leland H. "Lee" Watson (1926 – December 8, 1989)7 was a Broadway and television lighting designer and theatre educator.5 His 1990 bio states that he worked "extensively in nearly all fields of lighting design."6
The People in the Picture is a musical with book and lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler. The musical is about a grandmother recalling her life in the Yiddish theater and the Holocaust.
Live Design is a monthly digital trade magazine, owned by Questex, that covers the latest projects and gear in live entertainment, including theatre, film, concerts, opera, ballet, architainment, and more. Columbia College Chicago's Theatre Department cites it for providing "comprehensive coverage for professionals in the fields of lighting, sound, staging, and projection." It originated as Lighting Dimensions, which combined with Theatre Crafts and Entertainment Design (1999-2005). Until December 2013, it was a print magazine, but has since converted to a free app with monthly issues for Apple and Android devices. Live Design is geared towards aspiring and established designers in the disciplines of lighting, audio, projection, and scenery. The magazine also manages its own website. Live Design is affiliated with the LDI trade show, and hosts the Live Design Master Classes and Envision Symposium. In his undergraduate textbook on stage management, Lawrence Stern recommends subscribing to the magazine and attending LDI as way for professional stage managers to keep current on theater technology. Live Design also presents awards and scholarships to younger designers, including the Pat MacKay Diversity In Design Scholarships for undergraduates and the Rising Star Award to early career professional designers.
Wendall Keehn Harrington is an American theatrical projection designer and head of projection design at Yale School of Drama, sometimes referred to as 'The Queen of Projections’. She has been considered the nation's leading projection designer for more than three decades.
Peter Nigrini is an American projection designer of live theater. His best-known designs include Dear Evan Hansen, Fela!, and Here Lies Love. He also works occasionally as a scenic and lighting designer, most notably his long standing collaboration with Nature Theater of Oklahoma, of which he is a founding member. He is also a lecturer at New York University
Desmond Heeley was a British set and costume designer who had an active international career in theater, ballet and opera from the late 1940s through the 2010s.
Merris Shirley Prendergast was a theater lighting designer notable for being the first African-American woman admitted to the United Scenic Artists’ lighting division in 1969. She was also the first African-American woman lighting designer on Broadway in 1973. Prendergast designed lighting for Broadway shows such as Waltz of the Stork, Amen Corner, and the Paul Robeson one-man show. She designed lighting for fifty years, well into her mid-80s. One of her last productions was Zora Neale Hurston: a Theatrical Biography in 2016.
Allen Lee Hughes is an American lighting designer for theater, dance, and opera. He has a long association with Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., where the fellowship and internship program is named in his honor. Hughes is a four time Tony Award nominee.
| Authority control databases: Artists |
|---|
