About

Kate is a New York City based Lighting Designer for dance, opera, and theatre who enjoys collaborating closely with artists of all kinds. She has worked in New York City, regionally, and internationally. 

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Kate graduated magna cum laude from the College of William and Mary with a BA in English and Theatre, and received her MFA from New York University Tisch School of the Arts’ Department of Design for Stage and Film. At NYU, Kate was the Resident Lighting Designer for the Dance Department.

She is the Resident Lighting Designer for Williams College Dance Department and Syren Modern Dance.  Kate’s work was selected for the 2011 Prague Quadrennial, and she was nominated for a 2011 Henry Hewes Award for Outstanding Lighting Design for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Kate has worked extensively for Theater Mitu and the Juilliard School.  She made her Public Theater debut in February 2015 with Josephine & I, directed by Phyllida Lloyd. In 2016, Kate lit director Edward Berkeley’s adaptation of Romeo & Juliet at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop. Other recent work includes Wozzeck at Des Moines Metro Opera, directed by Kristine McIntyre and Turn of the Screw at the Juilliard School, directed by John Giampietro.

In 2019, Kate became the Lighting Director of the Fall for Dance Festival at New York City Center, where she has also designed many pieces, including Christopher Wheeldon’s The Two of Us for Sara Mearns and David Hallberg. As an Associate Lighting Director, she has worked for the Fall for Dance Festival, Lincoln Center Festival, and the Park Avenue Armory. Kate also served as the Assistant Lighting Director for New York City Ballet for one season, and has also worked as the Assistant Lighting Director for American Ballet Theatre. She has assisted lighting designers including Clifton Taylor, Lap Chi Chu, Michael Chybowski, and Jane Cox.

PLACES

Please explore the google maps below to see the places Kate has worked.

Kate’s teaching experience includes a semester as a Visiting Professor of the Practice of Lighting Design at Indiana University Bloomington.

Kate lives in the New York City area with her husband (programmer and gaffer Evan Purcell) and her daughter Rosie, and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. She is represented by Summit Entertainment Group. In her spare time, Kate loves to read and knit.