Sam Terrell NYC - Lighting Designer and Stage Manager

ABOUT

Hi, I'm Sam! I am a Lighting Designer and Stage Manager based in New York City.

More than anything, I value kindness, mutual respect, and positive collaboration. I love to work as a team; with designers, with directors, and all creatives in between. I believe that theatre is about creating light—both literally and metaphorically—and sharing that light with audiences who are eager to seek light for themselves. I believe that if we as creators don't find light and joy in our process, it undermines the very essence of the work we do.

As a lighting designer, I value story telling through directionality, texture, and color. My choices are driven by supporting the content, intention, and tone of a given piece. I love to experiment with how lighting's directionality changes intent. Color, saturation and shade are obviously essential-- and I choose hues that compliment the story, the actors, the location, and the scene's purpose.

I think at length about how my work as a designer can assist in guiding the audience’s emotional journey. Lighting has the power to influence how people feel—whether joyful, sorrowful, unsettled, or otherwise. I ask myself: How will my choices impact how the audience interprets this? What do I want them to feel in this moment? How does this moment relate to others in the story? How does this impact my work?

When it comes to management, my priority is to keep organized while maintaining a positive environment for all cast, creative, and crew members. It is essential to me that all cast, crew, and creatives feel heard, valued, and respected throughout the entirety of a given process. I seek to create meaningful connections with all cast and creative team members, and make an intentional effort to lead rooms with kindness and respect.

Having done positions in just about every department in a theatre at some point in time, I manage from a point of knowing what every theatre maker is experiencing in their respective job. This has also aided my communication skills in the room, and greatly strengthened and rounded out my abilities as a problem solver. I am an excellent show caller and a natural leader. I also have a love affair with paperwork. It's not just a necessary evil; I genuinely enjoy the process of creating detailed, organized systems and making things look pretty. I pride myself on creating paperwork that is consistent, readable, and strong. I like to put my Excel certification to good use!

My likes include orange chicken, dressing far warmer than necessary, dogs of all kinds, fuzzy rugs, and the word “kabuki.” My dislikes include daylight light bulbs, coffee shops without enough tables, Ticketmaster fees, and food that is unexpectedly spicy. In my spare time, you can find me dog sitting, at a cafe, or spending time with my lovely friends!

A small collection of some of the incredible people I have had the privilege of working with over the years.