When Arcadia Stage’s Thoroughly Modern Millie opens at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center on March 17, the audience will be treated to an especially dazzling lighting design enhancing student performances. Stagecraft students received industry-standard training from accomplished professional lighting designer Michael Berger, thanks in part to a grant from the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts.
Michael Berger, a graduate from the School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University, has built a stellar reputation in the field of theater and live-event lighting production. Mike has served as Lighting Director for broadcast award shows including The Academy Awards, The GRAMMYS, The Tony Awards, The Kennedy Center Honors, and the American Music Awards. Mike can also be found behind tech tables and consoles in theme park endeavors such as Hersheypark in Pennsylvania.
Mike worked with Arcadia High School stagecraft students who have chosen lighting as their focus. He provided in-depth, hands-on training in the design process, including creating a lighting plan for the entire show, hanging and focusing lights, and programming the lighting for each scene using a computerized light board. The training will culminate in the students running the entire lighting for Thoroughly Modern Millie with Mike providing oversight and guidance during each of the three performances, March 17, 18 and 19.
Arcadia High School’s Stagecraft Program enriches students’ lives with an abundance of skills. The training they have received from professional lighting designer Michael Berger may serve to inspire them to consider the performing arts not only as a life enriching opportunity, but possibly as a career. This high level of lighting design will also dramatically enhance enjoyment by the community and families in the Arcadia area attending Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center.
