|
Award-winning Theatrical Lighting Designer Dies
Barry Jagoda | January 22, 2007
Internationally acclaimed theatre and opera lighting designer Chris Parry has died at age 54 in San Diego, where he was a professor in the department of theatre and dance.
Trained in his native England, Parry designed lighting internationally for more than 30 years, earning the prestigious Tony Award, the British Olivier Award and 25 other major awards and nominations, including the New York Drama Desk Award and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award.
|
| Chris Parry |
|
His work included 160 British and U.S. regional theatre and opera designs, as well as several Broadway productions. Among his credits was The Who’s Tommy, directed by Des MacAnuff, which won the Tony Award for Parry. Other highlights of his long career in lighting design included 24 productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre in England, as well as work for the Los Angles Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Theatre of Lucca (Italy), La Jolla Playhouse and many others prestigious venues.
“Chris was a brilliant designer and a wonderful teacher,” said Charlie Oates, chair of the department of theatre and dance. “He will be greatly missed here and throughout the world of theatre.”
In addition to his teaching work with undergraduate and graduate students, Parry had credits in lighting design for television and motion pictures. He was also owner of Axiom Lighting, his own entertainment and architectural design company in San Diego.
The cause of death was not disclosed.
He is survived by a son, Richard, and former wife, Vivien Gregg, both of San Diego as well as his step-mother, Noelle Parry, of the United Kingdom. |
