Trevor Kirschenheiter

Description:

Photona is an annual student-driven event that serves as a sort of thesis project for graduating lighting students at UNCSA. Photona 2023 was finally my time to shine after years of observing past Photonas. My piece, "Ignition" was partially inspired by the film Oppenheimer and delves into the intricacies of the music while adhering to a very strict color and beam palette.

Not only was I able to design a piece for this production, but I also served as one of the two production electricians on this colossal show. Alongside Evie Nootenboom, our amazing assistants, and crew, we went from an empty room to a rig demo in just a day and a half. This was no small feat, considering there were over 270 lights spread across 42 universes of control. The design of this rig involved lots of meticulous planning, including adding a pipe spine into dance towers to accommodate an array of moving lights. My personal favorite was the lineset waterfall, which filled the back wall with a pattern of linear and ellipsoidal fixtures.

In addition to all of this, Photona marked the first show I've worked on using the MA 3. From programming to building a system, the MA presented a variety of fun quirks to work around.While I still have a lot to learn, it was truly an incredible experience.

Lighting Team

Lighting Designer: Trevor Kirschenheiter 

Programmer: Rocco Turano

Assistant Lighting Designer: Sarai Powers & Alex Marshall

Production Team