Paul Black

I have been making my living as a professional lighting designer for over 20 years.  Using light to help tell a story and move an audience has always been a labor of love. I find great joy in the collaborative process that is theater. I have worked with wonderful professionals all over the country including The Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, Theater Aspen, Music Theatre of Santa Barbara, American Stage and Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Florida, Carousel Dinner Theater in Ohio and the Maine State Music Theatre. Some of my most memorable shows have been at the Fulton Opera in Lancaster, PA including: Miss Saigon, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, The 39 Steps, and Oklahoma.  I am a full time resident of Phoenix AZ where I have been the resident Lighting Designer for Actors Theater of Phoenix for almost 20 years.  Actors Theater is the company I call home and where I have done the most work.  Also in Arizona I have designed for Arizona Theatre Company, Arizona Jewish Theatre Company, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Childsplay and the Phoenix Opera Co.  Recently I have been doing more set designs for Arizona Broadway Theatre.  I have always done some sets but usually more in the corporate arena.  I am enjoying expanding into this theatrical realm.   I have won 18 Zoni awards (Arizona's "Tony's") for lighting, 1 for set design and have been nominated for two Barrymore Awards and one Carbonell Award.

I spent 14 summer seasons with Music Theatre of Wichita working as both a designer and the Production Manager. I am the co-founder of P2 Design a corporate event design/production company.  I have guest lectured at Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Cornell College, Scottsdale Community College and Viterbo University.