Introduction
Asaf Weinbroom is an acclaimed lighting designer known for his innovative work illuminating concerts, plays, and other live performances. Based in New York City, Weinbroom has designed lighting for a diverse range of high-profile clients and productions over his multi-decade career.
Regarded as one of the top lighting designers working today, Weinbroom brings a bold artistic vision and keen technical know-how to each new project. His lighting plots add drama, emotion, and visual excitement to every scene. Let’s take a closer look at Weinbroom’s background, design philosophy, notable productions, and impact on the lighting design field.
Background and Career
Born in Israel, Asaf Weinbroom first discovered his passion for lighting design as a teenager working in local theatre. He went on to study at Tel Aviv University’s Department of Lighting Design, honing his skills and aesthetic.
After graduating, Weinbroom moved to New York City in the 1980s. Early in his career, he focused primarily on off-Broadway plays and downtown dance performances. This immersion in experimental theatre helped him develop a talent for using light unconventionally to enhance mood and meaning.
Over the decades, Weinbroom has worked on productions small and large for clients ranging from concert tours to regional theatres. He has designed lighting for stars such as Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, and Yo-Yo Ma. Some of his prominent broadway credits include acclaimed revivals of musicals like Cabaret and Chicago.
Design Philosophy and Process
Weinbroom’s design philosophy emphasizes using light to uncover the deeper emotional essence and ideas within a piece. His plots don’t just illuminate the stage—they help convey hidden meanings and bring out new dimensions in the storytelling.
“I see light as a psychological tool,” he has said. “It creates an atmosphere that can intuitively convey ideas.”
To discover this inner light of a show, Weinbroom dives deep during his research and concept development phase. He closely studies the script, score, and choreography, mining them for insights into character and mood. Collaborating with directors and other designers is another key part of his process.
Once Weinbroom transitions to technical rehearsals, his focus shifts to refinement. He fine-tunes cues, angles, colors, and intensities to best accentuate each moment. This meticulous approach results in lighting plots of great sophistication and synergy with other elements.
Notable Productions
Over his long career, Weinbroom has designed lighting for numerous high-profile productions spanning theatre, dance, concerts, and other live events. Some highlights include:
- The Lion King – Weinbroom created the lighting for the original Broadway production of this massively successful musical. His rich colors and textures helped bring the show’s animal characters to life.
- Paul Simon’s Concert Tours – Weinbroom has designed concert lighting for several of Simon’s tours since the 1980s. His dynamic looks keep pace with the music’s shifting moods.
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre – Weinbroom has frequently collaborated with this renowned modern dance company, illuminating many of their signature works.
- Chicago Shakespeare Theatre – Weinbroom has lit numerous Shakespeare plays and other productions at this leading regional theatre in Chicago.
- New York City Ballet – Weinbroom has designed lighting for premieres of new ballets by acclaimed choreographers like Christopher Wheeldon.
Impact on Lighting Design
Over his prolific career, Asaf Weinbroom has made a significant impact on the field of lighting design. Some of his key contributions include:
- Pushing artistic boundaries – Weinbroom’s innovative designs have shown the medium’s potential for supporting storytelling and spectacle. His unconventional techniques have expanded the expressive possibilities of stage lighting.
- Excelling across disciplines – By working in theatre, concerts, dance, and more, Weinbroom has proven lighting design’s ability to morph across different live mediums.
- Mentoring future talents – As an educator, Weinbroom has shaped new generations of designers. Many top Broadway lighting artists got their start assisting him early in their careers.
- Hybridizing technology – Weinbroom combines cutting-edge LED, automated fixtures, and control systems with classic techniques like color gels. This fusion of old and new gives his designs their distinctive richness.
Conclusion
Asaf Weinbroom’s revolutionary lighting designs have made productions more moving, memorable and magical over his remarkable career. His layered, emotionally revealing lighting plots for plays, musicals, concerts, and dance have redefined what stage lighting can contribute to live performance. Weinbroom continues to innovate lighting design as he lends his talents to new high-profile productions year after year.
FAQs about Tastemaker: Asaf Weinbroom, Lighting Designer
What shows has Asaf Weinbroom designed lighting for on Broadway?
Some of Weinbroom’s major Broadway credits include acclaimed revivals of Cabaret, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, and A Streetcar Named Desire. He also designed lighting for the original productions of musical hits like The Lion King, Ragtime, and Shuffle Along.
What is Asaf Weinbroom’s process for developing a lighting design?
Weinbroom deeply studies the script, choreography, and score to unlock the inner light of a production during concept development. He collaborates closely with directors and designers, then refines through extensive tech rehearsals.
How has Weinbroom impacted lighting design?
Weinbroom has pushed boundaries in using light unconventionally for storytelling, excelled across disciplines like theater and concert tours, mentored younger designers, and blended cutting-edge technology with classic techniques.
What lighting technology does Weinbroom incorporate in his designs?
Weinbroom fuses new fixtures like LEDs and automated lighting with traditional elements like color gels and manual controls. This hybrid high-tech/low-tech approach gives his plots great richness and flexibility.
What is Weinbroom’s design philosophy?
Weinbroom sees lighting as a “psychological tool” that can intuitively convey emotion and meaning. His goal is to use light to uncover the deeper ideas and essence within each production.
How did Weinbroom get his start in lighting design?
Weinbroom first found a passion for lighting design working in local theater as a teenager in Israel. He went on to formally study the art at Tel Aviv University’s Department of Lighting Design.
What dance and ballet companies has Weinbroom designed lights for?
Weinbroom has frequently collaborated with acclaimed troupes like the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the New York City Ballet, lighting premieres of new works.
What concerts has Asaf Weinbroom designed lighting for?
Weinbroom has lit concert tours for many major music artists like Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Billy Joel and Yo-Yo Ma over his prolific career.
How does Weinbroom use light to enhance emotion in his designs?
Through angles, colors, intensities and cues, Weinbroom sculpts light to accentuate feelings and hidden meanings in each scene. His lighting acts as a “psychological tool” to convey mood.
What makes Weinbroom such an acclaimed lighting designer?
Weinbroom is renowned for his artistic vision, technical mastery, emotional use of light, unconventional techniques, excellence across disciplines, mentorship of others, and hybrid old/new approach.
