ABOUT
Founded more than 35 years ago, we have been involved in professional and academic theatre, stage lighting and theatrical design and specification as well as architectural and commercial application of theatrical methodologies.
As described below, we have decades of experience in the practical application of the spaces and equipment we recommend and specify through our work as educators and theatre practitioners in a wide array of institutions and venues.
We are active in professional organizations in the field and do our best to stay up to date with current technologies. Our work with architects, engineers and equipment manufacturers enables us to offer our clients a variety of points of view regarding solutions to space usage, system design and budgetary alternatives.
D. Andrew Gibbs, PhD
Founder and Principal Designer
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE:
Consultant for planning, design and theatrical equipment specification for theatres, commercial spaces and performing arts centers.
ACADEMIC POSITION:
Professor Emeritus, Department of Theatre, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Lighting Design, Scene Design, Theatre Management and Theatre Architecture.
(1978 - present); Department Chair, 1993-2013.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:
University of Illinois, PhD in Theatre, 1980.
Dissertation: The Architectural Programming of University Performing Arts Centers.
University of Washington, M.A. in Drama/Design, 1969.
University of Connecticut, B.F.A. in Theatre, 1968.
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT:
University of Illinois, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts: Technical Director, Dept. of Dance. (1976‑1978)
Crites & Associates, Okemos, Michigan: Theatre lighting specialist. (1975‑1976)
G. Emerson Diskey & Assoc., Dallas, Texas: Theatre design and lighting consultant.(1971-1975)
East Texas State University, Commerce, Texas: Instructor‑Designer/Technical Director, Dept. of Speech & Drama. (1969‑1975)
PRODUCTION DESIGN:
Scenery, lighting design and/or technical direction for over 300 productions.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
American Society of Theatre Consultants (ASTC)
Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)
U.S. Institute for Theatre Technology;
Association for Theatre in Higher Education;
Southwest Theatre Association;
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival:
National Design Chair, 2000 - 2003.
National Board Member at Large 1993-1997.
Chair, National Selection Team, 1998.
Chair, Southwest Region, 1990‑93.
Member, Southwest Regional Committee, 1983-93.
National Partners to American Theatre. National Board member, 2003 – present.
Shawn Irish, MFA
Designer
CURRENT POSITION:
Head of Lighting Design, Department of Theatre, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Lighting Design, Scene Design, Fundamentals of Design, Scene Painting, Projection,
Computer Aided Drafting, Theatrical Rendering, Scene Painting and Theatre History.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:
M.F.A. in Scenic Design, University of Arkansas
B.A. in Theatre, Missouri Southern State University
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE:
Associate designer in the planning, design and theatrical equipment specification for theatres, commercial spaces and performing arts centers. Responsible for drafting plans, rigging systems, lighting systems.
PRODUCTION DESIGN:
In addition to his work with DA Gibbs Associates, Shawn Irish serves as Head of Design and Technology and Head of Lighting Design in the MFA program at the University of Arkansas. He teaches Lighting Design, Fundamentals of Theatrical Design, Rendering for the Theatre, Portfolio Development and Theatre Appreciation for undergraduates and mentors and trains MFA candidates for a professional career in Lighting Design. Professor Irish has also co-led Theatre in London, the annual study abroad course for more than a decade.
Shawn Irish also maintains a freelance Scenic and Lighting Design career. He is a frequent collaborator with TheatreSquared and has designed numerous productions including Stones in his Pockets, Once, Fun Home, The Mountaintop, Hamlet, The 39 Steps, Boeing Boeing, The Mystery of Irma Vep and more. Other recent credits include Noises Off! at Arrowrock Lyceum Theatre, Mamma Mia at Skylight Music Theatre, Beehive, Bright Star and Distant Thunder at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, The Lion In Winter at freeFall Theatre Company, Meet Me in St. Louis, 1776 and Gypsy at Ocean State Theatre Company, A Streetcar Named Desire, Little Women, House and Garden, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, and Moonlight and Magnolias for Playhouse Tulsa, and The Price at Vermont’s Northern Stage. He also assistant designed Les Misérables, The Pajama Game and Hello, Dolly! at The Muny in St. Louis.
He has been awarded Outstanding Scenic Design three times by the Kennedy Center American Theatre Festival for his productions of Rabbit Hole, A Doll’s House and Iphigenia 2.0. His set design for Kin was recognized in USITT’s Design Expo 2017. His award-winning Lighting Design for Big Love was featured in Theatre Design and Technology and American Theatre magazines as well as the Prague Quadrennial Exhibition in the Czech Republic.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829
Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)
United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)
Association for Theatre in Higher Education
Texas Educational Theatre Association
PROFESSIONAL DESIGN WEBSITE: