Kirsten Opstad, LC

Lighting Designer & Consultant

As a theatrical + lighting consultant and client representative, I've had the pleasure of helping create and reimagine spaces for the arts and exhibition. Notable projects include: • The First TV Image of Mars exhibition at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, CA) • Historic Robert Frost Auditorium Renovation (Culver City, CA) • LAUGH Boston at the Westin Waterfront (Boston, MA) As a theatrical lighting designer, I help shape stories on stage by creating detailed kinetic environments with brilliant collaborators. Notable places I've made theatre: • American Repertory Theatre Loeb Theatre (Cambridge, MA) • A.R.T. Institute at Zero Arrow Theatre [now Club Oberon] (Cambridge, MA) • Brown University / Trinity Rep Pell Chafee Performance Center (Providence, RI) • Pomona College Seaver Theatre & Bridges Auditorium (Claremont, CA) • UC Riverside Studio Theatre (Riverside, CA)

Songwriter & Recording Artist

• Write, produce & distribute original music as an independent artist • Design & manage website and coordinate touring • License music for use in films, television and on stage Latest studio recording, Stay Strangers was featured in Mix Magazine for my collaboration with Jason Dragon and Kraig Tyler at Skeleton Studios. I frequently sell music to raise money for charitable organizations like the ACLU and Transgender Law Center.

Gallery Lighting Designer

• Designed and managed implementation of all lighting for art • Stewarded, programmed and maintained lighting control system(s) • Established Lighting Design role & defined Gallery Assistant role • Consulted on lighting for new construction projects (Geffen Galleries)

Creative Director of Theatre & CTE Teacher

• Oversaw all theatre education and production at the high school level • Worked with community partners to bring in teaching artists for workshops and residencies • Created the production calendars & budgets, oversaw department fundraising efforts • Designed curriculum & curricular pathways • Oversaw student design teams & crews • Directed plays and musicals My focus as an educator at the high school level was to prepare my students for college and careers by creating authentic and engaging learning experiences. I helped students use theatre to tell their stories in order to make the world a more connected place.

Lecturer in Lighting Design

Courses taught: • TH332 Lighting Design • TH133 Technical Theatre III • TH375 Applied Technical Theatre My focus as an educator at the university level was to prepare my students to excel in future mentorships by strengthening their conceptual capabilities, increasing technical proficiencies and nurturing sustained creative curiosity.

Lighting Coordinator

Oversaw all theatrical lighting elements for the performing arts department, consulted on capital improvements projects and designed all lighting for performing arts events. Served as a mentor to student lighting designers and supported curricular programming as a teaching artist in lighting design at the high school level.

Teaching Artist - Front and Center Program

2015-16 Taught improv workshops to Culver City High School's AVPA Film students to help them develop concepts for short films that were screened at the 2017 Java Gala at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. 2017-2018 Taught improv-based performance workshops to nine sections of 9th grade English classes at Culver City High School. These workshops were designed to help students demystify Shakespearean language by creating modern adaptations of scenes from Romeo & Juliet while embracing the concept of creative risk-taking.

Mainstage Cast Member, Actor & Writer | Corporate Actor & Training Center Instructor

• Performed seven shows per weekend and collaborated on new revues three times a year. This including sketch writing, songwriting and concept development. • Performed in fully improvised shows for colleges, fundraisers and other corporate events. • Taught improvisation classes to adults at the Improv Asylum Training Center and led IA's youth programming in the Greater Boston Area.

NXT Cast Member

Program Director

• Developed and ran teen improv program for students ages 13-17 in collaboration with Music Director Adam Brooks. The program, Horsin' Around, doubled in size in the first three years. • Led in-school anti-bullying workshops in elementary schools with the Inside the Box program. • Helped develop Winter & Spring vacation week programs Beach Ball Bash and Cirque du Artbarn.

Technical Director

• Designed & built scenery and let afterschool programs giving all students the opportunty to contribute to the behind-the-scenes process for students in 1st-3rd grade.

Assistant Technical Director

• Assisted with afterschool programs giving all students the opportunty to contribute to the behind-the-scenes process for students in 4th-6th grade.

Lighting Assistant

• Assisted Lighting Designers by creating & editing documents used to communicate design ideas: drawings in Vectorworks, paperwork in Lightwright, and cue sheets in MS Office. • Managed crew during focus and notes calls. Ran lighting focus. • Restocked & organized lighting office supplies for LX Dept.

Design Assistant

• Assisted Senior Designers by creating & editing documents used to communicate design ideas: drawings in AutoCAD & Vectorworks, lighting renderings in Photoshop & Illustrator, paperwork in Lightwright & MS Office. • Assisted onsite lighting focus on larger projects, including: -- National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, GA -- Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Sant Ocean Hall, Washington D.C. -- Connecticut Science Center, Hartford, CT -- Illuminale Boston, Boston, MA • Helped develop marketing tools using video editing and web design skills