Hi, I'm Mike. I've been working in theatre since beginning of high school; which is about 7 years now. I had an abrupt introduction to lighting when a student designer didn't show up to work on the show. I didn't design that show but I was programmer in training and board op. Being that it was a variety show, a good deal of acts were done live instead of in cues. In a larger view, I really didn't do much for that show, but what I did do, I liked. The following year, I worked in most departments, sound design for a one-act play titled "The Actor's Nightmare", and I had my very first lighting design for the spring musical my sophomore year titled, "Once upon a Mattress". I was very pleased with my work, and apparently a lot of other people did too. So I continued as the Student Lighting Designer. I designed somewhere around 9 shows in high school.

I was then introduced to Community Theater. As if the old equipment at my high school wasn’t enough, I’d entered the world of Community Theater with hardly any budget. I used what I had in the space, and well it was 8 6” 65Q Fresnels on 2 Lighting stands in front of the stage. This was for Vortex Theatre of LaGrange Park. I brought in some High End Trackspots for some special effects and had lots of fog too. The show was titled, “All Because Of Agatha”. It was a great success for what it was. From meeting the people in Vortex, I was brought in to design my first show for Downers Grove, Grove Players, titled, “School House Rock. Live!” it wasn’t a very big success on my part. No one told me anything bad about it but, you are your worst critic. But I redeemed myself on the next show I designed for them, titled, “Memory of Water”. That show turned out very well and I was pleased with my work on that show.  I became what some would be “Master Electrician” for the theater, I didn’t particularly like designing in that space so I just continued to help out with all the shows. I did however design the show, titled, “Over the Tavern” which was a few years later in my career, and while I was at College of Dupage. My designs had become much more advanced and a lot more thought out. Between High school and starting at COD, I was hired by the theatre company, “Petting Zoo Productions”. We did the musical “Fiddler on the Roof”, in the same theatre space that Grove Players used. But I went through my first design process that involved production meetings and with all students relatively my age, it was easier to discuss ideas and lighting effects to blocking than with the staff of Grove Players.

Starting out at College of Dupage I found job as a student aide working in the theatre scene shop. I worked on the construction, painting and lighting for all the shows that season, as well as starting to design lights for concerts that were booked through the McAninch Arts Center. Since then, I’ve designed for probably around 100 or so concerts, I’ve board op. for 15+ dance companies and touring plays. As well as designed some of the “school stage” shows that are a combination concert/play, but not quite a musical.

Between my first and second year, and since Petting Zoo Productions had dissolved, I was merged into the company, “Tree House High Summer Theatre”. My first show with them was “The Laramie Project” which we rented the COD Studio Theatre for. That was my first design in that space and wouldn’t be my last.
I then started to design for the student productions in the COD Studio Theatre. My first design was for the show, titled, “Disco Pigs” which was a major challenge of my designer ability and creativity. But it was great, and I continued to design the next show, titled, “Proof” which was a realistic play which challenged me because I hadn’t done an outdoor realistic play before. I am very proud of my design for that show as well.

After my second year at COD, Tree House High had another show in the studio. The show was titled, “Good ‘N’ Plenty”. This time, I was Technical Director, Set Designer, and Lighting Designer. Big shoe to fill, but I did it well, and the show was great.