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Anne Militello’s journey through the world of lighting design is a captivating testament to passion and perseverance. From her early volunteer days in a theater to becoming a renowned lighting designer, Anne has illuminated countless performances and concerts, each with its own unique story.
LEADING LADIES EPISODE 28
Anne Militello shares her incredible journey through the lighting industry, from underground clubs to Broadway and international projects. Discover her insights on the science of light, her creative process, and advice for aspiring designers.
This episode is sponsored by Lightwsitch
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Anne's early career in lighting
02:44 Starting in clubs and underground scenes
04:17 The metaphysical and emotional aspects of light
06:12 Transition from club to theater and Broadway
08:36 Meeting influential artists and breaking into the industry
12:00 Experiences in New York's underground theater scene
15:50 Moving from clubs to larger theater productions
19:30 Touring with Tom Waits and other artists
24:32 Challenges as a woman in the industry
30:00 Work at Disney and other architectural projects
37:27 The science and neuroscience of light
43:10 Current projects and future plans
01:04:36 Advice for young designers and industry insights
Starting out as a teen as one the first girl roadies for small touring companies in the San Francisco Bay area in the late 1970’s, she learned the ropes from some of the best - climbing trusses and coiling cable on tours for artists like Santana and Eddie Money. When she hit her head on the glass ceiling on her way to being an LD, she started lighting bands in clubs right as the punk scene was exploding – a scene that welcomed gender diversity.
She lit bands at San Francisco’s notorious Mabuhay Gardens before heading to New York where she cut her design teeth in the after-hours chaos of CBGB's, Danceteria, The Ritz, and The Mudd Club. By day, she worked as a shop electrician at Production Arts Lighting in Hell's Kitchen — sharpening the technical part of her craft.
While in New York, she also designed plays and earned an OBIE Award for lighting design for the Off Broadway Theater. By 28, she was designing on Broadway. The stage led her back to music after a meeting with Tom Waits reignited her love of concert design. Her work on his tours put her work in front of the industry and soon she was designing lighting for Pearl Jam, Lou Reed, Robert Plant, Leonard Cohen and more.
Through her passion for exploring all “angles” of lighting exploration and design, she also became a Walt Disney Imagineer, a professor at CalArts, and the founder of Vortex Lighting in Hollywood, where she now designs light for everything from concerts to architecture. Her latest project: a public, moving-light art spectacle in Santa Monica, CA.