The 21th YEar of Hemsley Lighting Programs Lighting Portfolio Review

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to this year’s Hemsley Portfolio Review to be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 28-30, 2025, in New York City. We are planning an exciting program of events that will include mini-seminars, manufacturer products, and of course, the review and display of your portfolios.

The transition of a student to the professional world is one of the most anticipated and intimidating moments of a young designer’s life. Despite the years of training and hard work, the leap into the unknown can be nerve-racking. The Hemsley Lighting Portfolio Review is designed to give the students a chance to meet first-hand with professional designers so that they can improve their portfolios and get answers and advice from those already working in the industry.

With over 30 years of experience in offering training opportunities to young designers, the Hemsley Lighting Programs honor the life and spirit of Gilbert V. Hemsley Jr., who was dedicated to helping students in lighting and life. The Hemsley Lighting Portfolio Review continues this mission of creating opportunities to assist students in their transition to the professional world.

The Portfolio Review Overview

Each student should prepare two different ways of presenting your work-interview/portfolio style and an exhibit/display style. During the day on Sunday, you will participate in 4 individual review sessions. These sessions will be at tables that are not part of your exhibit area. Each of these sessions will last approximately 30-40 minutes and will alternate with a free session in between. The order will vary, but will include:

A one-on-one session with a professional lighting designer
A panel of 1-2 professional lighting designers
A panel of 1-2 scenic and costume designers and directors
A one-on-one with a Production Electrician

During your free sessions in the morning you will join an informal Roundtable hosted this year by a diverse assortment of designers who will speak about a variety of subjects related to getting started on your careers. These Roundtable sessions will not require you to show your work, but will provide an opportunity to discuss with the designer topics about careers as Lighting Designers. The afternoon free sessions will provide time to set up your display for the evening exhibit and reception.

How to Apply

Participants are nominated by their academic advisors. Emails notifying us of the nomination can be sent to mstanley@nycballet.com and must be received before February 7, 2025 Students must be in the final year of their degree program. MFA nominations are given priority unless the student attends a university or college that doesn’t have a graduate program. Additional undergraduate nominations will be considered as space allows.

COVID requirements will comply with Federal and State requirements in place at that time. Additional requirements might be posted closer to the actual dates of the event.

2024 schedule (2025 schedule forthcoming)

Friday, April 5, 2024

6:30-7:00 pm Check-in at Lincoln Center David H. Koch Theater

7:00-10:00 pm Associates and Assistants Seminar

Hosted by Broadway Associate Designer, Craig Stelzenmuller

Saturday, April 6, 2024

9:00-9:30 am Check in and Coffee at David Rubenstein Atrium, Lincoln Center, 62nd Street and Columbus Ave.

9:30 am Bus departs to 4Wall Entertainment Lighting in Moonachie, New Jersey

10:00-1:00 pm Presentations by Fixture Manufacturers

1:00-1:30 pm Lunch provided by 4Wall

1:30-2:30 pm Presentations by Widget Manufacturers

2:30-3:30 pm Intro to Previz - Brendan Gray

3:30-4:30 pm Broadway Pre-Viz - David Arch & Ken Posner

4:30 pm Group Photos/4Wall tour

4:45 pm Bus departs to ETC New York

5:30-7:00 pm Designer Talkback at ETC - Jen Schriever

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Ballet Hispanico Studios, 167 W. 89th Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, NYC.

9:00-9:30am Check-in

9:30am-10:00am Welcome and Introduction

10:00am-5:00pm Review Sessions/Mini-Seminars/Exhibit Set-up/Box Lunch provided

Each student will be scheduled 4 different 40-minute review sessions over the course of the day (2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon). Each participant’s order will vary, but will include:
- A one-on-one session with a professional lighting designer
- A panel of 2-3 professional lighting designers
- A panel of scenic and costume designers and directors
- A one-on-one with a Production Electrician

Each artist will review your portfolio and discuss your preparation for the upcoming transition to professional life. These sessions will not be back-to-back. In the morning session you will alternately rotate through review times and Roundtable discussions.

Your review schedule will be one of these two tracks:

GROUP 1

10:00–10:40am - Session #1

10:45–11:25am - Roundtables

11:30am–12:10pm - Session #2

12:15–1:00pm - Roundtables

1:00–2:00pm - Lunch

2:00–2:40pm - Session #3

2:45–3:25pm - USA 829

3:30–4:10pm - Session #4

4:15–5:00pm - Exhibit set-up

GROUP 2

10:00–10:40am - Roundtables

10:45–11:25am - Session #1

11:30am–12:10pm - Roundtables

12:15–1:00pm - Session #2

1:00–2:00pm - Lunch

2:00–2:40pm - USA 829

2:45–3:25pm - Session #3

3:30–4:10pm - Exhibit set-up

4:15–5:00pm - Session #4

5:00 - 5:30pm - Dinner for Students

5:30-8:00pm Reception and Design Exhibit (only drinks provided)

The reception and exhibit are open to the public. Please invite friends and colleagues.

8:00-8:30pm Breakdown displays

Return foam core boards and display materials supplied by Hemsley Lighting Programs.

Portfolio Review Requirements:

Your portfolio may be in whatever format you choose (digital or printed), but must include at least one full scale printed light plot, with section, paperwork, and magic sheet. Photos may be digital or printed. An Internet connection is not available during the individual reviews or Design Exhibit. Please plan accordingly.

Please Note: The individual portfolio reviews do not take place in the Design Exhibit area. These are separate interviews and take place around tables in other rooms. Your portfolio should be portable, and independent from your display materials. You may choose to include your portfolio in your area at the exhibit/reception from 5:00-8:00 pm.

Design Exhibit Display Area:

Each student will receive a 4’ table and 1-30x40 black panel and 2-20x30 black foam core panels to arrange however you like. Some easels will be provided if you wish to use them in the arrangement of the panels. Electricity will be provided if requested in advance. You must provide your own table covering. Please follow the link to DropBox for photos of possible display options. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mhtiurwkkvs50z5/AAAaWF6Ce9jk2ABPHZ1va6ZSa?dl=0

You cannot use tape or other sticky adhesive to attach your materials to the foam core boards. Push-pins and T-pins are provided. Boards will stand on easels or be taped together on the back to facilitate standing on display tables.

Participants should bring 15-20 resumes and 50 or more business cards.

Please direct questions and applications to:

Mark Stanley
Resident Lighting Designer
New York City Ballet

20 Lincoln Center
NYC, NY 10023
212-870-4205
hemsleylighting@gmail.com

“I was brought in at the last moment to redo Lohengrin at the Metropolitan Opera and Rudy Kuntner, the lighting designer, got sick. I had just read it on the airplane. As soon as we landed I went out and I bought about 50 pounds of eight inch diameter chocolate chip cookies. Anybody who came to that desk and wanted to help me light, I’d give them an eight inch chocolate chip cookie. It would take them so long to eat it that I could get lighting done while everybody was busy eating chocolate chip cookies. ”

— Gilbert Hemsley