Senior’s passion for lighting design earns her national recognition
Senior Theatre Arts major Kim Parson participated in the United States Institute for Theatre Technology Gateway Program in mid-March and was chosen to represent region II in lighting design at the national Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival after competing at the regional level in January.
Theatre Arts major Kim Parson’s passion for lighting design has landed her in the national spotlight.
Kim Parson speaks at the USITT annual conference while Collier Woods widow, Anjali Austin-Woods, looks on.
A senior who plans to pursue lighting design for events or live theater after graduation in May, Parson of Pikesville, Maryland, had an all-expenses-paid opportunity to attend the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) annual conference in Seattle as one of only 12 students from around the country invited to participate in the USITT Gateway Program, which provides mentorship opportunities for underrepresented students.
During the weeklong conference in mid-March, she was able to shadow a professional lighting designer while being immersed in the technical theater world and networking with others in the industry.
Parson, who was also awarded a 2022 Collier Robert Woods, Jr. Scholarship from USITT, had the opportunity to meet the family of Collier Woods at the conference and speak at a ceremony about the importance of receiving the scholarship.
Additionally, Parson was one of only 11 finalists asked to present at the Region II Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in January.
There, she competed against undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and universities in eight states and Washington, D.C., who she beat out with her lighting design from McDaniel’s fall 2023 production of “Stop Kiss” to represent the region at the KCACTF national festival taking place the week of April 21.
“For me, being a Black woman working in theater, representation is important and making sure that everybody is seen,” said Parson. "That was a big thing that I wanted to focus on with lighting different skin tones [in 'Stop Kiss']."
Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Shana Joslyn, who has mentored Parson during her time at McDaniel, said, "My favorite part of teaching is watching students grow and I have been able to watch Kim grow from a board operator to a lighting designer. I’m so proud of her for her achievement in design at KCACTF and for being awarded mentee for the USITT Gateway Program. These are unique and life-changing experiences for young designers."
