Birth Place: White Plains, NY, USA
Ken Billington is a highly acclaimed lighting designer with over 50 years of experience in the theatre industry. Born in 1944 in Long Island, New York, Billington attended Hofstra University where he studied theatre and lighting design. After graduating, he began his career as a lighting designer in the Off-Broadway scene in the 1960s, eventually making his way to Broadway.
Billington has designed the lighting for over 100 Broadway productions, including the original productions of Sweeney Todd, Chicago, and The Drowsy Chaperone. He has been nominated for the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design 21 times, winning three times for his work on The Elephant Man, Sweeney Todd, and Chicago.
In addition to his work on Broadway, Billington has designed the lighting for numerous productions in regional theatres across the United States and internationally. He has also worked extensively in opera, designing the lighting for productions at the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Paris Opera.
Billington’s work has also been featured in film and television. He designed the lighting for the 1978 film version of The Wiz, starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, as well as the lighting for the 1982 television production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds.
Despite his extensive career, Billington remains humble and dedicated to his craft.
Billington’s impact on the theatre world extends beyond his own work as a designer. He has been an advocate for the use of energy-efficient lighting in the theatre industry and has worked to educate others on the importance of sustainability in theatrical design. He has also been a mentor to many young lighting designers, including Tony Award winner Natasha Katz.
In recognition of his contributions to the theatre industry, Billington was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2017. He joins an esteemed group of theatre professionals, including actors, directors, and designers, who have made significant contributions to the American theatre.
Billington’s legacy as a lighting designer continues to inspire generations of theatre artists. His dedication to his craft, his commitment to sustainability, and his willingness to mentor others have made him a beloved figure in the theatre community. As he stated in his Tony Award acceptance speech for Chicago, “I’m just a lighting designer, but I’m very proud to be part of this community.”
Ken Billington, New York, New York
Ken Billington, New York, New York
Ken Billington, New York, New York
Ken Billington, Chaplin: The Musical
Ken Billington, Chaplin: The Musical
Ken Billington, The Scottsboro Boys
Ken Billington , Sondheim on Sondheim
Ken Billington, Sunday in the Park with George
Ken Billington, Sunday in the Park With George
Ken Billington, Sunday in the Park with George
Ken Billington, The Drowsy Chaperone
Ken Billington, Chicago
Ken Billington, Chicago
Ken Billington, Chicago
Ken Billington, Grind
Ken Billington, End of the World
Ken Billington, Foxfire
Ken Billington, Foxfire
Ken Billington, Sweeney Todd
Ken Billington, Sweeney Todd
Ken Billington, Working
Ken Billington , The Visit
Ken Billington has been nominated for several awards throughout his career, including Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "New York, New York," Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "New York, New York," and Best Lighting Design of a Musical at the Tony Awards for "New York, New York." He has also received nominations for Outstanding Lighting Design at the Drama Desk Awards and the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Chaplin: The Musical," "The Scottsboro Boys," "Sondheim on Sondheim," "Sunday in the Park with George," "The Drowsy Chaperone," "Chicago," "Grind," "End of the World," "Foxfire," "Sweeney Todd," "Working," and "The Visit."
Ken Billington has won the following awards for his lighting design work: Outstanding Lighting Design from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Sunday in the Park With George, Outstanding Lighting Design from the Drama Desk Awards for Chicago, and Best Lighting Design from the Tony Awards for Chicago.
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