lauren duffie (she/her)

Cognitive Equity in Design, Lighting Design for Black Theatre

Charleston, South Carolina

laurenduffie.com

Lauren is the Professor of Lighting Design at College of Charleston in Charleston, SC. She began designing in London (King’s Head Theatre, Etcetera Theatre, British MTV, Edinburg Festival) before moving to NYC in 1999.

Broadway credits include: The Downtown Messiah (WFC WinterGarden), Round About (Lynch Theatre). Off-Broadway and notable NYC favorites: Navigator in Love, A Toy Gun, Beef (SLANT Theatre Project); In the Room (Wheelhouse Theatre, 5 NYIT nominations), Summer and Smoke (ALD, Transport Group/Classic Stage), The Blue Carbuncle, Gift of the Magi (Stage M12); Project: Ground Control (BAM-Brooklyn), Ballet Folklorico (Abrons Art Center) among many, many others.

Thirteen National Tour designs include: Black Broadway, Unforgettable Nat King Cole, Mahalia: a Gospel Musical, Unsinkable Women, My Soul is a Witness, Jackie Vi & Lena, Rejoice Dear Hearts, An Evening with Brother Dave Garner.

A few Regional highlights: Natasha, Pierre &; the Great Comet of 1812, The Weir, Fefu & her Friends (Riverside Theatre); Henry V, Twelfth Night (Shakespeare in the Park, Iowa City); Constellations, Marie Antoinette, Glengarry Glen Ross, Fun Home (PURE Theatre, Charleston, SC); Lobby Hero, Unforgettable Nat King Cole, Status Update (Piccolo Spoleto Festival USA); Moments of Joy (Guest Artist, LSU), Stages (Furman University), Harvey, Steel Magnolias (Virginia Theatre Festival).

Lauren has lit dozens of rock shows with musicians such as Billy Idol, Herbie Hancock, Nickel Creek, Robert Randolph, Christopher O’Riley, David Johansen (New York Dolls), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Magnetic Fields, and Keith Urban.

She has held design residencies at the late Bottom Line Cabaret (NYC), Etcetera Theatre (London), JENA Company (NYC), and PURE Theatre (Charleston, SC). She has worked extensively for Encore National Tours, Classical Theatre of Harlem, The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (NYC), New York City Fashion Week, CBGB, British MTV, VH1, CMT, Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and Kevin Bacon.