David Hersey (born November 30, 1939) is a lighting designer who has designed the lighting for over 250 plays, musicals, operas, and ballets. His work has been seen in most corners of the globe and his awards include the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design for Evita, Cats, and Les Misérables, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design for Cats, Miss Saigon, and Equus, and the 1996 Laurence Olivier Award for Lighting Design.

David Hersey
BornNovember 30, 1939
EducationOberlin College
OccupationLighting designer
Years active1980–present
SpouseDemetra Maraslis
Children3

Early life and education

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David Hersey was born in Rochester, New York, and attended Oberlin College.

Career

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Hersey has been the lighting designer for National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and West End productions, as well as opera at the English National Opera (among others) and ballet at the Royal Ballet.[1] He has been the lighting designer for Broadway productions, starting with Evita in 1980 through Equus in 2008.[2]

Hersey has also been active in the world of theme parks in Florida and Italy, as well as lighting extravaganzas at The Mirage, Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, and Bellagio hotels in Las Vegas. He is the founder of DHA Designs, which concentrates on the design of specialist architectural lighting. For ten years he was lighting consultant to the Royal National Theatre and is a past chairman of the Association of Lighting Designers.

Most recently he has taken on the position of lighting designer for the play Fiddler on the roof done by CFT

Personal life

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In 1967 he moved to London, England. Married to Demetra Maraslis, his children are: a daughter Miranda Hersey, b. 1969 (from previous marriage); a son Demetri Alexander Hersey, b. 1978; and a daughter Ellen Katherine Hersey, born 1980.[1]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
1979 Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle Award Evita Nominated
1980 Tony Award Best Lighting Design Won
1982 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Nominated
1983 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lighting Design Cats Won
Tony Award Best Lighting Design Won
1984 Dora Mavor Moore Award Best Lighting Design Won
1987 Tony Award Best Lighting Design Starlight Express Nominated
Les Misérables Won
1988 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lighting Design Chess Nominated
Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle Award Les Misérables Won
1989 Dora Mavor Moore Award Best Lighting Design Won
1991 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lighting Design Miss Saigon Won
Tony Award Best Lighting Design Nominated
1996 Laurence Olivier Award Best Lighting Designer Won
2002 Tony Award Best Lighting Design Oklahoma! Nominated
2009 Best Lighting Design in a Musical Equus Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lighting Design Won

References

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  1. ^ a b Biography filmreference.com, accessed May 15, 2009
  2. ^ Internet Broadway Database listing ibdb.com, accessed May 15, 2009
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