CATS
Berkeley Playhouse
Julia Morgan Theater - Berkeley, CA
Director: Kimberly Dooley
Asst. Director/Dramaturgy: Clara Holland
Chorographer: Kevin Gruwell
Music Director: Michael Patrick Wiles
Lighting Designer: Sonya Wong
Scenic Designer: Sarah Phykitt
Costume Designer: Ashley Renee
Sound Designer/PM: Joshua Price
Props Designer: Peyton Whiteside
Hair & Makeup: Lyre Alston
Stage Manager: Lindsay Howard
Asst. Stage Managers: Nazja Yisrael-Gray & Natalia Kazimi
Magic Consultant: Brian Scott Magic
Based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats is a classic in the musical theatre world. This production of Cats took place in an abandoned theater once forgotten but but still containing a spark of magic, brought back to life by a troupe of wonder-filled cats.
The main role of lighting design for this show was to create a dreamy, magical, and beautiful world while still supporting the emotions and energy of the music and characters. Due to the fantastical elements of the show, the lighting did not shy away from flashy colors and effects or varying vastly from song to song to take the audience through numerous locations, both physically as well in memory. Despite this, the lighting also served as an anchor, using the moon in the night sky to keep the characters grounded in the night of the Jellicle Ball.