One of the most popular speakers at the ninth annual Broadway Lighting Master Classes (BLMC), June 25-27 in New York City, is bound to be acclaimed LD Ken Billington, who is also a great storyteller. Billington has over 80 Broadway shows to his credit, from the 1972 hit Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope to this season's huge disaster, Dance of the Vampires. Ken also supervises the North American productions of the Irish dance sensation Riverdance, and, for the past 23 seasons, Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular. Other projects have included the figure skating show Stars on Ice, and Disneyland's nighttime extravaganza Fantasmic!. Billington is equally at home designing theatre, television, opera, concerts, and architectural lighting. He has been honored with six Tony award nominations and received the 1997 Tony Award for his work on Chicago. His Tony nominations include: End of the World (1984), Foxfire (1982), Sweeney Todd (1979), Working (1978), and The Visit (1973). Get him to talk about the reindeer antlers for the Rockettes or how to light famous ladies with Surprise Pink and you'll be in for a real treat. He has also been busy at work for a relight of Sea World in Orlando, so he may have a few tales about Shamu as well.
For additional information about the BLMC, as well as the inaugural Broadway Sound Master Classes (BSMC) June 28-29, and the 11th annual EDDY Awards' "Salute To New York Theatre" on June 27, check out the Entertainment Design website or the BLMC/BSMC website.