Annie Wiegand Lighting Design

Meet the Designer

Annie Wiegand, the only Deaf professional Lighting Designer in the United States, brings a unique perspective to her craft, enhancing her designs with her heightened sense of sight and a visually-inspired storytelling approach. She firmly believes that lighting serves as the element that binds together a production's narrative.

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Annie's fascination with light and design for theatre and live entertainment began in her childhood home of Des Moines, Iowa. Her educational journey included earning a BA in theatre with a focus on design and technology from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, and achieving an MFA in lighting design at Boston University under the mentorship of the renowned Lighting Designer, Mark Stanley.

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Her extensive design portfolio encompasses off-Broadway and regional productions at notable venues such as Playwrights Horizons in NYC, Zach Theatre Company in Texas, Signature Theatre in Virginia, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre in Wisconsin, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and the Dallas Theatre Center. Notably, Annie was a part of the Tony Award-nominated lighting team of the 2015 revival of Spring Awakening. Annie's versatility extends to working with numerous smaller theatre companies, spanning various performing arts genres, including theatre, dance, and opera. Annie maintains a continued eagerness to learn new lighting design approaches and explore new opportunities, underscoring her commitment to innovation in the field. 

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In addition to her design work, Annie serves as an Associate Professor in the Theatre and Dance Program at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. She further contributes to the industry as a freelance producer, having previously dedicated over eight years as the Producing Director of New York Deaf Theatre.

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Annie, who resides in the NYC area with her wife Staci and their cat, Parsley, enjoys outdoor pursuits in her leisure time, including kayaking and hiking.