NYC Gazette

After a long and distinguished career, Allen Lee Hughes, a professor at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, has contributed his lighting design skills to the latest Broadway revival of "Our Town." This production, directed by Kenny Leon, opened on October 10 at the Barrymore Theatre and features a cast including Jim Parsons, Richard Thomas, Katie Holmes, and Ephraim Sykes.

The play is presented as “an Our Town for our time,” reflecting Leon’s updated vision that brings new insights into themes such as truth, love, and death. Hughes commented on the relevance of the play: “In this seemingly simple viewing of life in this town, we get insight into our own lives.”

Hughes' journey began in Washington, D.C., where he graduated from Catholic University before working at Arena Stage. In 1976, he moved to New York City to pursue an MFA at NYU. Over his career, Hughes has designed for major theaters across the country and worked on numerous Broadway productions.

His collaboration with director Kenny Leon started with August Wilson’s 20th Century Readings at the Kennedy Center in 2008. Since then, they have partnered on various projects. Discussing what sets this particular production apart, Hughes mentioned that it avoids some traditional elements like ladders and church window projections while featuring diverse casting.

Regarding his design approach for "Our Town," Hughes said: “Selective visibility is the first function of lighting. That means seeing what you want the audience to see and hiding what you don’t want them to see.” He emphasized balancing light among a diverse cast and establishing scenes through lighting.

In addition to his professional work, Hughes has been teaching since 1997 and joined Tisch’s full-time faculty in 2001. He values seeing his students succeed professionally: “For example, we have two designers making their Broadway debuts this year.”

Reflecting on technological advancements over five decades in theater lighting design, Hughes noted significant changes like computer light boards and LED technology used entirely for "Our Town." He also observed how regional theaters have shifted post-COVID-19 pandemic towards employing local talent more frequently due to economic constraints.

Hughes recognized improvements in diversity within theater but acknowledged there is still progress to be made compared to when he started: “When I started there were not many Black designers.” Shirley Prendergast was one of few notable figures during that time as she became the first Black woman lighting designer on Broadway in 1973.