LIGHT TALK EPISODE 479 - "Blue Light and Fog"
Light Talk with The Lumen Brothers
Release Date: 06/09/2026
Light Talk with The Lumen Brothers
In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview renowned lighting designer Tom Kenny. Join Tom, Ellen, Dennis, and Steve, as they discuss: Skipping classes to work for The Police; Early days designing for U2 in Ireland; Focusing 400 Par Cans for Eric Clapton; Tom's "Super-power"; What qualities Tom looks for in a programmer; How to get a gig with The Who; Getting jobs from Instagram; Banning cellphones from concerts; Working with Virtual Scenery and Lighting; A shout-out to Chris Kuroda; Transitioning into broadcast lighting; Leon Russell, Elton John, David Byrne, and...
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In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Starting a Career as an Educator to the "Margarita-To-Go Man". Join Ellen, Dennis, and Steve, as they discuss: How can you be assured that the CRI rating in LED's will produce an accurate color; Designing the "Perfect Light"; TM-30 vs. CRI; How to market yourself as a programmer; The skills that separate the great from the good programmers; "The Stagehand Flashlight"; How to start a career as an educator; and A Sophomore's Tale of Woe. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense. ...
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In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Pre-Viz, to The Temptation of Total Administrative Power. Join Ellen, David, and Steve, as they discuss: David's birthday discounts; Using Pre-visualization programs for productions; Vision, Capture, and Carbon; A (not so) tempting opportunity to become Chair of your department; Drunken Tattoo Nights; The qualities that lighting designers have that seem to make them good chairs; 10 rules for Speaking with your Set Designer for the first time; and Good classes to take in Community College to help prepare you...
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In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Leaving a Production to Suing Backstage Coffee. Join Ellen, Dennis, David, and Steve, as they discuss: Madness at MSG; Max Keller's new book; 4th of July shenanigans; Repurposing your light cues from production to production; Is it really possible to work with a lot of directors over your career?; What to do when a family emergency pulls you away from a production a few days before load-in; The Snoot Group; Emmy Award nominations; Dealing with a playwright in residence; and Dennis up on the roof. ...
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In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Meetings with the Director, to Cringe-Worthy Concert Light Cues. Join Ellen, Dennis, David, and Steve, as they discuss: Trump's "Great American Fair"; Advice on using followspots in operas; How to make inital meetings with Directors less stressful; Annoying, over-used concert lighting cues that we hate; Your first day as a rock n' roll stagehand; and Staying focused when the Director changes their mind. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense. @lighttalkpodcast
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In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Lighting Designer David Grill. Join David, Ellen, Dennis, and Steve, as they discuss: Finding your first job; Why it took 37 years to get to Broadway; Working at Radio City; Working with Ken; Getting into Dance; "My Son is a Lighting Designer!"; Choreographing with Light; Stories from Designing the Superbowl Halftime Show; Sleeping under a Tarp; Working with new lighting technology; Luring one into the visual picture; What David did during the Pandemic; The University of Klages; Becoming a Good Teacher; and Advice...
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In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Rowing your Boat, to Becoming a Visual Storyteller. Join Ellen, Steve, and Dennis, as they discuss: Visiting the Asolo Theater; Dinner with Brother Stan; The Coxwain; LDI moving to New Orleans; The Four "C's" of lighting; How to survive a Lighting MFA program; The most important skill to have to be a successful professional lighting designer; and How to design a plot for a multi-purpose space. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.
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In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Broadway Lighting Designer Isabella Byrd. Join Isabella, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David, as they discuss: Attending this year's Tony Awards Show; Jules Fischer's Lifetime Achievement Award; Historic Firsts; "No Boys Allowed"; Qween Jean; Lighting Theatre in the Round; Lighting "Caberet"; The story of DOTS; How union contracts are adapted for multiple designers working as a collective; Freelancers' rights; The difference between Europe and North America in the way theatre artists get paid; "The Most"; A...
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In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Wisconsin Shot Glasses, to "Breaking Up is Hard to Do". Join Ellen, Steve, David, and Guest co-host Drew Bielinski, as they discuss: What to do with crappy Light Talk swag; Slumming it in the ETC Lounge; Do you really need a degree to do this?; The Seven-Year Plan; John Haupt; Should you be in this business if you want to raise a family?; What to do when a Director "Ghosts" you after a long relationship; When hiring an Associate LD makes sense; "A Beginners Guide to Lighting Hamlet"; and Where to...
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In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister interview Lighting Designer Jen Schriever. Join Jen, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, Zac, and David, as they discuss: Everything you ever wanted to know about lighting "The Lost Boys"; Straight onto Broadway; Lighting flying Vampires; Longing for "Luma-Suck"; Co-designing with the Director; Tech table madness; The beauty of slow cues; Being a part of Broadway history: Being a member of the first all-women production team on Broadway; Teaching at SUNY Purchase; Living and designing in a LED world; Cutting noisy lighting fixtures;...
info_outlineIn this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Wisconsin Shot Glasses, to "Breaking Up is Hard to Do".
Join Ellen, Steve, David, and Guest co-host Drew Bielinski, as they discuss: What to do with crappy Light Talk swag; Slumming it in the ETC Lounge; Do you really need a degree to do this?; The Seven-Year Plan; John Haupt; Should you be in this business if you want to raise a family?; What to do when a Director "Ghosts" you after a long relationship; When hiring an Associate LD makes sense; "A Beginners Guide to Lighting Hamlet"; and Where to place your sidelight booms.
Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.