Robert Christen

Robert Christen
Robert Christen

Robert Christen

(Bio as of October 2012)

Robert Christen has designed all of the Goodman’s 35 productions of A Christmas Carol since the original production at the Kenneth Sawyer Goodman Theatre in 1978. Mr. Christen, the resident lighting designer/lighting supervisor at the Goodman, will design the lighting for Chuck Smith’s upcoming production of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark in the spring of 2013. Other collaborations with Mr. Smith at the Goodman include Race, The Good Negro, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Proof, The Story (also at Milwaukee Repertory Theater) and The Amen Corner (also at the Huntington Theatre Company, Boston). He has designed over 70 productions at the Goodman, including Marvin’s Room, directed by David Petrarca (world premiere, also at The Kennedy Center, Playwrights Horizon, Minetta Lane Theatre and in London’s West End); Arcadia, Sunday in the Park With George and Another Midsummer Night, all directed by Michael Maggio; Curse of the Starving Class, directed by Robert Falls; Dandelion Wine, directed by William Woodman; Gertrude Stein: Each One As She May, directed by Frank Galati; Rabbit Hole, directed by Steve Scott; the world premieres of American Buffalo and A Life in the Theatre as well as Sizwe Banzi is Dead, all directed by Gregory Mosher; Talking Pictures, directed by Henry Wishcamper; Spinning Into Butter, directed by Les Waters and The Night of the Iguana, directed by George Keathley. New York credits include The Song of Jacob Zulu (on Broadway, at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and at the Perth International Arts Festival, Australia); Wings at The Public Theatre; Sin at Second Stage Theatre and Mill Fire at Women’s Project. His regional credits include designs at Hartford Stage, Geva Theatre Center, Missouri Repertory Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre. Locally, Mr. Christen has designed lighting for Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Northlight Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Court Theatre, Chicago Opera Theater and Ravinia Festival. Mr. Christen’s dance lighting credits include new works by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Margo Sappington, Lou Conte at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio, and the Joffrey Ballet. Mr. Christen’s work can also be seen at Symphony Center illuminating the annual holiday spectacular, Welcome Yule.

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Watch & Listen More

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