She explained and demonstrated through her work that the art of lighting means that she is the interpreter or illuminator creating rapport between the audience and the actors so that both understand the ideas and the emotions of the drama. Alexander Street is an imprint of ProQuest that promotes teaching, research, and learning across music, counseling, history, anthropology, drama, film, and more. Considered the dean of American lighting design and one of the first important female lighting designers in the Broadway theater, Tharon Musser (1925-2009) was born Kathleen Welland in Roanoke, Virginia, before being adopted and renamed in 1929. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. She has taken on the responsibility of lighting dramas ranging from ancient Greeks like Sophocles and Euripides, to Shakespeare, to the eighteenth century, to nineteenth century giants such as Isben and Chekhov, to finally the highly experimental plays of the twentieth century. At one time, she even used electric bulbs set into tomato juice can as foot lights. Written by Heather Dent, Edited by Sona Apbasova. When she returned to Yale in 1950 she received her M.F.A. Musser’s fame grew from a national to and international level. Tharon Musser was an American lighting designer who worked on more than 150 Broadway productions. The Lion King - Broadway, NYC (1997) Donald Holder. Print. Tharon Musser was born on January 8, 1925 in Roanoke, Virginia, USA as Tharon Myrene Musser. Latest News on Tharon Musser . I also remember a time where we had decided to discontinue a color at the bottom of the sales statistics. "Lighting design is learning how to see." When I finally worked up the courage to call, she politely told me that she was very busy but that she would get back to me. Musser’s philosophy was that theater lighting meant far more than a technical skill. After earning a Master’s degree from Yale Drama School, where she studied technical design and lighting, Musser moved to New York City in 1950 and helped … The eyes of the social herd, who always observe little things, and generally form from them their opinions of great affairs. When she returned to Yale in 1950 she received her M.F.A. She needed to make sure that her hit shows – the ones that were always in production, like A Chorus Line – had the same color consistency. In 1956, Musser designed the lights for Eugene O’Neill’s Long Days Journey into the Night. She was already ill but as opinionated and frank as ever. Digital portfolio of theatrical lighting design. Special Thanks to Marilyn Rennagel and Robin Wagner. There had been a titan or two before Tharon, such as Jean Rosenthal and Peggy Clark, and there were several successful contemporaries – but only Tharon was “the Dean.”. The phone rang almost immediately after the announcement. The Lighting Archive’s Theatrical Lighting Database. Tharon Musser, Lighting Designer. With Rosenthal and then Tharon Musser, lighting became a distinct discipline. Les Mis 1985 - Barbican Theatre (1985) David Hersey. Brooks Atkinson, dean of the American drama critics, praised her light design in the New York Times saying that it, “perfectly captures the…mood of the play.” Theoni Aldridge, Costume Designer. So practical. — Amy A. Bartol. At one time, she even used electric bulbs set into tomato juice can as foot lights. “A light plot is not a light plot until it has coffee stains and cigarette burns on it”. For those who share my … Her work on A Chorus Line , and then Dreamgirls Image of Musser’s A Chorus Line light plot courtesy of the NYPL & The Lighting Archive’s Theatrical Lighting Database. He said he would not copy Ms. Musser’s lighting scheme, but do something original. Tharon Musser was born in Roanoke on January 8, 1925.. On Popular Bio, She is one of the successful Lighting Designer. In 1948, she was admitted to Yale’s school of Drama in the technical area, where only two other women had ever been admitted. The rights had just released and there was even an accompanying letter from Tharon that explained some of the thinking behind her design, the influence of Mondrian and how it was imperative to keep the beam shapes clean which worried my friend since ellipsoidals were still a rarity in Italy and front light almost nonexistent. Tharon Musser was America's most distinguished lighting designer during the 1970s and 1980s. Numerous organizations called upon Musser for consulting advice. Legacy, Tharon Musser was not only one of the top lighting technicians of her time --she was also an innovator. “A light plot is not a light plot until it has coffee stains and cigarette burns on it” – Tharon Musser. Thank you, Margie. Her work took her overseas, when the Department of State sent her to Europe and Latin America with the American Repertory Theater. If the color doesn’t look right on stage, just change it.”. About This Project. Tharon’s words were so convincing that the designer did everything possible to make her lighting fulfill the role that Tharon had envisioned, probably spending more than the producers would have liked. The Tharon Musser lighting designs and papers contain materials collected and created by 20th-century American lighting designer Tharon Musser. She is survived by her life partner, lighting designer Marilyn Rennagel. Until now it has been exceedingly difficult to study due to … Her ability to make due with whatever resources were at hand during that time came in handy resources because in Alaska her means were limited. Now Available in the Archive. Perhaps the reasons given were "marketing spin" by the NYSF people, rather than fact? She received three Tony awards for her brilliant work which encompassed 117 Broadway productions including such greats as "Follies," "Dreamgirls," "A Little Night Music," and "A Chorus Line." Brooks Atkinson, dean of the American drama critics, praised her light design in the New York Times saying that it, “perfectly captures the…mood of the play.” Since then she lighted over 50 plays on Broadway, and an equal number of shows outside New York City. (master of fine arts) degree. She was termed the "Dean of American Lighting Designers" and is considered one of the pioneers in her field. Remembering Tharon Musser by Stan Miller. Captain Brassbound's Conversion (1972) William H. Batchelder. She has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on January 8, 1925.She is one of the Richest Lighting Designer who was born in United States.She also has a position among the list of Most popular Lighting Designer. Michael Bennett, Director. Tharon Musser was a in the field of lighting designer. At the Tech Table with Ken Billington (2018) Ken Billington . In 1956, Musser designed the lights for Eugene O’Neill’s Long Days Journey into the Night. Ahead, we will also know about Tharon Musser dating, affairs, marriage, birthday, body measurements, wiki, facts, and much more. Together we created several Roscolux colors, including: R56 Gypsy Lavender, a tribute to the dancers in “The Line,” R05 Rose Tint, a historic color from across the Atlantic, and R96 Lime, an almost dayglo Roscolene color that Tharon used in the Neal Simon trilogy that began with Brighton Beach Memoirs. James Kirwood, Playwright. Awards. Her best known work in this area has been her restoration of the Ford Theater in Washington D.C., where Abraham Lincoln had been murdered. Tharon Musser was the winner of two Tony Awards, one for the, https://libraryguides.berea.edu/tharonmusser, Guides by Subject, Writing & Citing, Library Catalog, Electronic Resources, Journals Available, Interlibrary Loan, Berea College Vertical File, Special Collections and Archives, RG 11 – Honorary Degrees II, Berea College Archives. Also, the British Government had her do the lighting for the ballet performances held to celebrate the silver jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The article ended with a quote from Tharon Musser, "Rest easy, Sam." Tharon was born on January 8th, 1925 in Roanoke, Virginia, U.S. She breathed her last breath on April 19th, 2009. Importance to the Lighting World "A pioneer in lighting control technology" Technology First computerized light board used for A Chorus Line, an LS8 memory light board Mentor Color Musser fostered a generation of lighting designers through her assistants. On the subject of color, about which we had many discussions, she wrote in a brochure that we prepared, “it has to look right – -it has to reflect your taste. Image of Musser’s A Chorus Line light plot courtesy of the NYPL & The Lighting Archive’s Theatrical Lighting Database. The veteran lighting designer Tharon Musser ... felt that she learned more from Aronson than from any other set designer in her long career. She introduced computerized lighting to Broadway with the help of being allowed the unprecedented privilege of redesigning the Shubert theater in New York City. Several years ago in Florence, a lighting designer friend asked me to take a look at the original light plot and paperwork for A Chorus Line that she was about to light for an Italian company. Musser’s fame grew from a national to and international level. Tharon said, “The important thing to remember is that there are no rules in lighting with color. Her best known work in this area has been her restoration of the Ford Theater in Washington D.C., where Abraham Lincoln had been murdered. She also worked as a consultant for the New York State Council on the Arts. overview Located just across from the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park has been at the center of the LGBT rights movement since the historic 1969 uprising. During her time at Berea she spent much time working with the old light board in the Berea Tabernacle and lighting the student productions. She graduated from Berea in 1946 with a degree in English-Drama. Other consulting work has taken her to Radcliffe College, the American Academy of Drama Arts, San Antonio, where she arranged the light design for. Tharon Musser was America's most distinguished lighting designer during the 1970s and 1980s. She died on April 19, 2009 in Newtown, Connecticut, USA. She often said that sometimes designers specified too much equipment and just made “mush” on stage, or what she called “supermarket lighting.” “You don’t see a point of view on stage, just mush.” She believed in solving the technical problems at her drafting board – not by adding a lot of equipment to cover mistakes. Power, Paul. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results. Tharon Musser was born on January 8, 1925 in Roanoke, Virginia, USA as Tharon Myrene Musser. She explained and demonstrated through her work that the art of lighting means that she is the interpreter or illuminator creating rapport between the audience and the actors so that both understand the ideas and the emotions of the drama. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. She was a star, and if you were able to give her something useful a little bit of that stardust fell on you. The park was included within the boundaries of Stonewall’s National Register of Historic Places listing in 1999 and its National Historic Landmark listing in 2000, and it is also located within Stonewall Musser was best known for her work on the musicals A Chorus Line and Dreamgirls. In 1949, the United States Military Forces asked Tharon Musser to go to Alaska to help bring drama to the military personnel there. Musser has 122 between 1956 and 2006, including A Chorus Line, The Wiz, and the original Follies. Modern theatrical lighting has been developing over the past 60 years, primarily in America. In 1948, she was admitted to Yale’s school of Drama in the technical area, where only two other women had ever been admitted. Biography: Tharon Musser was born on January 8, 1925 in Roanoke, Virginia. She is known for her work on Pacific Overtures (1976), The Wiz (1983) and The 27th Annual Tony Awards (1973). In 1949, the United States Military Forces asked Tharon Musser to go to Alaska to help bring drama to the military personnel there. “Letter to Dean Jones.” November 12, 1971. Tharon Musser, Camera Department: Pacific Overtures. It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. -Tharon Musser 'His design concepts were so strong that if someone went against them, the show would be ruined.' Tharon Musser was America's most distinguished lighting designer during the 1970s and 1980s. Find the perfect tharon musser stock photo. Lighting Designers then and now by: Jennifer Castillo Chorus Line Tharon Musser The Dean of Broadway Lighting Designers Her parents couldn't afford to pay for electricity so … Oceans of words have been written about Tharon Musser, her beginnings at Yale, her first success with José Quintero’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night, her work with the Michael Bennett-lead “dream team,” her three Tony awards, her introduction of the computerized console on Broadway, and the small army of Tharon Musser assistants that are now successful, professional lighting designers. We will also look at who is Tharon Musser, how she become famous, Tharon Musser’s boyfriend, who is Tharon Musser dating now, previous dating & relationships […] Tharon Musser (January 8, 1925 – April 19, 2009) was an American lighting designer who worked on more than 150 Broadway productions. Musser, Tharon (1925—) American lighting designer . Hay Margie ! Jul 24, 2020 Candidatos a las nominaciones de los Premios del Público BroadwayWorld Spain 2020. (master of fine arts) degree. She died on April 19, 2009 in Newtown, Connecticut, USA. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. She was termed the "Dean of American Lighting Designers" and is considered one of the pioneers in her field. Search streaming video, audio, and text content for academic, public, and K-12 institutions. In 1956, Musser designed the lights for Eugene O’Neill’s. Many of them went on to The evil you know is better than the evil you don't. The majority of this collection consists of lighting files that Musser designed for productions and companies. Other consulting work has taken her to Radcliffe College, the American Academy of Drama Arts, San Antonio, where she arranged the light design for Man and the Universe at the Hemisphere 1968 exhibit. Needless to say, the color was restored. Her ability to make due with whatever resources were at hand during that time came in handy resources because in Alaska her means were limited. Tharon Musser was not only one of the top lighting technicians of her time --she was also an innovator. For our 75th Episode we present a very special group of designers. She attended Berea College and Yale University. Her work took her overseas, when the Department of State sent her to Europe and Latin America with the American Repertory Theater. She is known for her work on Pacific Overtures (1976), The Wiz (1983) and The 27th Annual Tony Awards (1973). New York Shakespeare Festival, Producer. When it became my job to add her to the list of lighting designers with whom I discussed color I was petrified because of her fame, her insistence that people should know how to do their jobs and her candor. Dreamgirls Photo by Martha Swope ©The New York Public Library. By the way, before Tharon lit any stage at Yale, she designed lighting at her undergraduate alma mater in Kentucky, Berea College. I never assisted Tharon, and I only spoke to her a few times, but she was the magnet that drew me to New York in the 1980s to study at NYU. Early Life, Education, and Career Tharon Musser came to Berea College from Roanoke, Virginia. Hi guys, I wanted to see if we could create a list of all the gels named after lighting designers. The tradition of working with Tharon Musser to create new colors continued after I stopped calling on her – notably, R365 Tharon Delft Blue. Musser’s philosophy was that theater lighting meant far more than a technical skill. Other items include programs, posters, professional files, and personal files. She introduced computerized lighting to Broadway with the help of being allowed the unprecedented privilege of redesigning the Shubert theater in New York City. Three months later, however, I distinctly remember the Rosco receptionist telling me: “Margie – It’s Miss Musser for you.” It was a long phone call and the beginning of a fruitful relationship, at least for me. Like most theatre designers, TV lighting directors and DPs she knew Stan Miller and had used color correction blues on more than one of her Broadway shows. Tharon Musser. Tharon Musser was the winner of two Tony Awards, one for the Follies and the other for A Chorus Line. — Benjamin Disraeli. He added, “I’m going to do something that makes Tharon proud of me.” A Chorus Line Photo by Martha Swope ©The New York Public Library. Rosenthal has 85 Broadway lighting design credits between 1942 and her death in 1969, notably West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, and Cabaret. C This article has been rated as C-Class on the project's quality scale. Afterward, one turned to me and said, “Tharon really likes you!” That is a fond memory that I reflect upon as I think back on the Tharon Musser’s influence on stage lighting, on Rosco and on me. Film/TV Credits: Lighting designer for "The Wiz" (Video) and "Pacific Overtures" (TV Movie). Also, the British Government had her do the lighting for the ballet performances held to celebrate the silver jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. José Quintero’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Advancing The Skillsets Of Nollywood Filmmakers →, Re-creating Passageways Of The Past With Gobo Projections, Creating A Contemporary Sanctuary Design With RoscoLED. Numerous organizations called upon Musser for consulting advice. What a great reflection of Tharon Musser. Sharon was such a “down to earth” person. Everyone wanted to please Tharon – she inspired that in people because she was such a consummate professional. Robin Wagner, Scenic Designer. You should go forward…. She graduated from Berea in 1946 with a degree in English-Drama. Naturally, I thought that I had done something wrong and that I’d blown it. When she was designing the lights for the new Berea College theater, she told my husband the best experience in the theater she ever had was having to make lights from tin cans when she was a student. Tharon Musser came to Berea College from Roanoke, Virginia. In 1989, a panel was held at the Museum of the City of New York as part of their "Direct from Broadway" series featuring some of the most influential lighting designers of the 20th century: Tharon Musser, Peggy Clark, Abe Feder and J Do you recall, Mr. Terry, if the original dimmers were replaced at the same time? For example, when we had a formulation change in a color, I kept a supply of the old color filter under my desk just for her so that she never had an unpleasant surprise. Berea College awarded Tharon Musser with an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 1979 and in later years named their theater building after her. Tharon Musser Quotes. Discover Tharon Musser Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Wiki. “A light plot is not a light plot until it has coffee stains and cigarette burns on it” – Tharon Musser. One summer, two colleagues and I took Tharon to lunch after a chat in her house on Cornelia Street. This article is within the scope of WikiProject Connecticut, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Connecticut on Wikipedia. He's my drug that I gladly consume. April 27, 2009 at 8:42 AM ... Richard Pilbrow and others and opened with “Designers On Color”, a series of quotes. It was Tharon informing us that we had just axed what was to be a fundamental color in Dreamgirls. Tharon Musser explains, "Lighting design was a woman's field" and recounts how Jean Rosenthal invented it and Rosenthal and Peggy Clark, along with … She said from then on she learned to create. Born Tharon Myrene Musser on January 8, 1925, in Roanoke, Virginia; daughter of George C. Musser (a cleric) and Hazel (Riddle) Musser; graduated from Marion (Virginia) High School, in 1942; Berea College , Berea, Kentucky, B.A., 1945; Yale University , M.F.A., 1950; never married; no children. When I called on Tharon, stage lighting technology was changing – lamps were hotter and like most designers, she had her favorite Roscolene colors that needed reformulating into the more heat resistant base of Roscolux. During her time at Berea she spent much time working with the old light board in the Berea Tabernacle and lighting the student productions. Consultant: After working more years at Rosco than she can remember – first as a product manager and then as a Business Development Manager for Southeast Europe – Margie Heymann now works as a consultant for Rosco from her home office in New York. No need to register, buy now! I wanted to be Tharon. Margie’s Spectrum posts will often feature her years of experience with Rosco products – especially color filters – and her relationships with some of the biggest names in lighting design. So precious your memories. She received three Tony awards for her brilliant work which encompassed 117 Broadway productions including such greats as "Follies," "Dreamgirls," "A Little Night Music," and "A Chorus Line." Bit of that stardust fell on you States Military Forces asked Tharon Musser was American! Survived by her life partner, lighting became a distinct discipline consists of lighting files that designed. 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