Robert Christen

(1950 – 2014)

Robert Christen designed all 36 Goodman productions of A Christmas Carol since the original production at the Kenneth Sawyer Goodman Theater in 1978 until his death in 2014.  Mr. Christen’s, the resident lighting designer/lighting supervisor of the Goodman, final Goodman credits included Chuck Smith’s production of Pullman Porter Blues. Other collaborations with Mr. Smith include By the Way, Meet Vera Stark; 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 designed over 70 productions for the Goodman including, Marvin’s Room, directed by David Petrarca (world premiere, also at the Kennedy Center, Playwright’s 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 They 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 included The Song of Jacob Zulu (on Broadway, at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and at the Perth International Arts Festival, Australia); Wings at The Public Theater; Sin at Second Stage Theatre and Mill Fire at the Women’s Project.  His regional credits included designs at Hartford Stage, GeVa Theatre Center, Missouri Repertory Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre.  Locally, Mr. Christen designed lighting for Steppenwolf Theater Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Court Theatre, Chicago Opera Theater and Ravinia Festival. Mr. Christen’s dance lighting credits included new works by Lynne Taylor Corbett; Margo Sappington; Lou Conte at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio, and lighting direction for the Joffrey Ballet.  Mr. Christen’s work was also seen at Symphony Center illuminating the annual holiday spectacular, Welcome Yule.

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