Birthdays

In a post a few days ago Josh Costello talks about Richard Burton'sHamlet. A production lit by Jean Rosenthal, whose Birthday we should all be grateful to celebrate today. Jean Rosenthal has been called everything from a "bloody electrician with notions" to the first Lighting Designer.

She was a pioneer in taking lighting out of the hands of electricians and scenic designers and bringing it into its own unique and separate discipline. Born in New York City on March 16th 1912. Educated at the Ethical Culture School and later, at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre. After that she went on to Yale University to study with Stanley McCandless and others.

Her career spanned Theatre, Dance and Opera as well as architectural consulting. She has influenced countless lighting designers directly or indirectly. Her book The Magic of Light is a wonderful read for anyone interested in Theatre, Lighting or just a well written biography.

My undergraduate training had a big focus on her style and approach. David Elliot who teaches lighting at Berkeley is a 'descendent' of hers through his work at ABT. In graduate school I reconstructed the lighting for Martha Graham's Celebration. Originally lit by Jean Rosenthal, the lighting had been reconstructed earlier by the lighting designer Beverly Emmons. Chains in time linking past and present.

A quote from her that has been my email signature for years and is a constant reminder to me of the power and indeed magic of light:
"Dancers live in light as fish live in water."