Encore: Mary Tarantino
Associate Professor
(Profile)

Current Research and Creative Activity

Mary remains busy overseeing the third year of the Ohio State / Vari-Lite pilot project. Recent department productions of Uncommon Clay, The Shoemaker’s Holiday, and St. Joan of the Stockyards have received moving lights support in creative ways. In the 2002-03 season, Mary is lighting designer for the media-rich production of Sleep Deprivation Chamber.

While on research leave in autumn quarter 2001, Mary visited several animation studios in California, including Industrial Light and Magic, Rhythm and Hues, and Dreamworks / PDI. She had an opportunity to visit with lighting directors for features such as Shrek and Harry Potter and get a sneak preview of art direction for upcoming films. In winter quarter Mary collaborated with Professor Maria Palazzi from ACCAD (website) in the instruction of a new course in digital and physical lighting.

In 2002 Mary contributed her lighting design to CACTO’s enormously successful production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, successfully learning the lyrics to each and every song. With the support of Academic Enrichment Funds, Mary brought Broadway lighting designer Jules Fisher to the university, where he gave a fantastic Master Class in Lighting Design to students, staff and faculty, as well as to area professionals from around Ohio.

---