The Hemsley Lighting Programs is please to announce the 2024 recipients of the Howell Binkley Fellowship and the Hemsley Lighting Internship.
This year’s Howell Binkley Fellow is Jessica Ann Drayton, a born-and-raised Georgian freelance lighting designer. She holds a B.F.A. from Wright State University and M.F.A. from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. A true artist at heart, Jessica loves how every production has a life of its own. She’s ecstatic to be joining forces with Amanda Zieve and Ryan O’Gara to captivate audiences and gain additional experience in lighting design.
For over 40 years the Hemsley Lighting Programs have offered internships in honor of Gilbert Hemsley’s commitment to young designers entering the profession. This year we are thrilled to accept Madeleine Hebert and Stephen Smart into the program.
Madeleine Hebert is a lighting designer from Massachusetts, finishing her MFA at Ohio University and will be participating in the Hemsley Internship Program with experiences at San Francisco Opera, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, and New York City Ballet. She has always enjoyed any opportunity to work in the area of lighting and values the collaborative and people minded nature of the work. After her internship she plans to continue growing her artistic practice in New York.
Stephen Smart is a lighting designer specializing in theatre, opera, and dance. Involved in the arts and performing from a young age, he discovered lighting in high school and instantly fell in love. Stephen will be graduating from UNC School of the Arts in May, and he plans to relocate to New York in the fall. Stephen has a passion for crafting evocative lighting and telling collaborative stories. Stephen will be joining Paul Miller at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera for their summer season. When not in a theatre, Stephen can be found hiking, camping, or reading a good book.
The Gilbert Hemsley Lighting Programs and the Howell Binkley Fellowship share the mission of promoting the legacy of mentorship given by their namesakes during their lifetimes by providing extra momentum and assistance in fostering the next generation of theatrical lighting designers as they transition from their academic work to their professional careers. For more information or to donate please visit our website.