WMU Theatre Chair Emeritus, D. Terry Williams directs the show and Patricia Nichols (BA '01, Theatre- Design/Technical), Broadway designer, returned to campus to serve as lighting designer.
About Patricia Nichols
"Returning to WMU is always a great experience. WMU truly formed who I am as a Designer and the way I go through my design process. I have always wanted to give back to the students in anyway I can," Nichols said. "I always tell students that someone reached out to me when I was in there shoes and I want to do the same. Being able to share my experiences with students that have a passion for what they are learning is so inspiring to me, I can't wait to do it again and again."
After leaving WMU, Nichols went on to earn her MFA in Lighting Design from UC San DIego. While working on her degree she was involved in several large projects. "I worked with Ken Posner on Wicked and Howell Binkley on Sinatra at Radio CIty Music Hall. After moving to NYC I starting working on Broadway as an Assistant / Associate on Dracula, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays, The Pirate Queen, A Free Man of Color, and Jersey Boys, " Nichols said.
Jersey Boys has produced 10 companies, with 15 Technical rehearsal processes, over a period of 8 years, and has reached around the world including, various US citied, London, Australia, New Zealand, and soon to be in South Africa, Singapore, and an Asian Tour.
"Since leaving WMU I have followed an amazing path in my career, but I am most proud of making a career in theatre and a family WORK ! I have an amazing Husband and two children. As crazy as the industry is and the long lengths of travel for production periods, both my Husband and I work together to make both family and career work. It's not easy, but we do it with the support of each other and our children."
So what, exactly does a Lighting Designer do?
"It is best put in the words of my late mentor, Chris Perry; "We paint a picture with light! The individual lighting instruments are our paint brushes, each with a different texture, angle, and color. We have a vision of the picture we see in our head and with light we reveal the stage."
Come see the picture she's painted for The Three Musketeers at WMU. To learn more or get your tickets, please follow the link below:
WMU THEATRE — THE THREE MUSKETEERS
PHOTOGRAPH:
Western Michigan University senior Ben Andre as "Porthos," senior Sean Buckley as "D'Artagnan," senior Lochlan MacQaurrie as "Athos" and sophmore Trevor Morgan as "Aramis" pledge "All for one and one for all" in the Department of Theaters "The Three Musketeers." (Photograph by John A. Lacko)