Wisdom Designs
Lighting & Scenic Design
Lighting & Scenic Design
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I was born in England in 1973 and moved to the USA with my family at the age of 6. I have spent
almost all of my life living in the USA since, with the exception of two years spent in Belgium. I first
discovered my passion for all things technical as a child working with my father in his basement
workshop. We spent many hours together tinkering with all sorts of different electronic projects.
From the basement I carried my passion for all things electronic into the theater. I first discovered
the theater in high school when a friend suggested that I help out with the school play. Since that
first play I was hooked. I spent high school waiting for the school day to end so that I could work
backstage on the set and the lights. I learned basic lighting design, and I learned many lessons the
hard way about electricity. After graduating high school with the excellence in theater award I went
to the University of New Hampshire to study for a degree in English Teaching. I auditioned for the
musical on my second day at UNH and I was awarded with a part in the chorus. I was told "you are
not very good, but we desperately need more men in the show". That was good enough for me,
and I was rewarded by working with a fantastic cast of people. From there I quickly got involved
backstage once again. I spent my two years at UNH working on every project I could get my hands
on. I worked on all of the University plays, musicals, and dance pieces, as well as being exposed to
some touring shows that came through the college. I attended a play at Rhode Island College
during one of my breaks, and I was amazed at the technical level of the production. I knew I had to
transfer there. It was the best decision of my young career.
After transferring into Rhode Island College I was awarded a scholarship for technical theater
excellence. I quickly became a member of the backstage crew, and I met the man that would
become the ultimate mentor in my life. Russell Monaghan (Roberts Auditorium Technical Director)
guided me through the difficulties of attending school while working backstage, and instilled in me
a fantastic work ethic, and a lasting respect that still makes him my first phone call when faced with
difficult career decisions. Russell and the rest of the crew taught me everything I know today about
technical theater, lighting design, and working as a team. I spent my three years at RIC working on
every college production, and designing lights for as many student productions as I could get my
hands on. While at RIC I also took advantage of the active local theater community and designed
and worked at several other spaces in the area.
A friend at RIC suggested I talk with a local company called ATR/Treehouse about freelancing for
them during the summer. After an interview I had earned my first freelance gig in the production
and live event market. I was the lighting designer for a children's theater production of "Alice in
Wonderland". The facility was awful, and I spent a great deal of time fixing their lights in order to
make them work, but it was a great learning experience. At the end of the production I had learned
some lessons, but I was also paid handsomely for my time. I went on to freelance for
ATR/Treehouse a great deal, and I was ultimately offered a full time position there three days before
I graduated from RIC with a degree in Technical Theater.
I started at ATR/Treehouse as their warehouse manager. I was responsible for pulling and putting
away all orders coming in and out of the building. At this point Treehouse was still a fairly small
company. I was the fourth full time employee to be added to the roster. I quickly moved my way up
the ladder at Treehouse as the company continued to grow, and we continued to add new
employees. It was not long before I was taking orders on the phone, and assisting with the
logistics of running a production company. I learned all about the day to day operations, how to
quote jobs, and how important our dedication, work ethic, and reputation was. During my time at
Treehouse I continued to hone my design skills, and I learned a great deal about all aspects of the
production industry. Treehouse exposed me to all aspects of the industry including: audio visual,
sound, staging, and custom scenic construction. I learned about all of the equipment and systems
integration aspects of all of the disciplines. I became one of the full time production managers
responsible for booking rentals, meeting with clients, and designing systems to meet their event
needs.
It was at this point that a relationship led me to move to Orlando Florida. I spent two great years in
Orlando freelancing for Treehouse, Disney, IATSE, and Light & Power Productions. I also toured
the US with a dance show as their stage manager and moving light designer and operator. They
were a fantastic two years, but as the market in Orlando suffered in the wake of September 11th, I
found myself moving back to Rhode Island. Being such a diverse company, ATR/Treehouse was
thriving while others were struggling. I was once again welcomed back and I became one of two
production manager in the company. I was once again designing lighting for special events,
corporate events, and even the odd theater show every now and then. I spent the last three years
working with Treehouse and travelling all over the USA working on corporate events. I have done
everything from production stage managing large corporate events, production managing outdoor
festivals, and designing and running the lighting for large corporate events. I was an integral part
of Treehouse's adoption of the Hiretrack rental software, and I have helped assist Treehouse in
almost doubling its gross every year I worked there. I went from full time employee number four, to
one of twenty. I have assisted in purchasing decisions, hiring decisions, and marketing decisions.
My ten years at Treehouse were a fantastic experience, and one that I will be forever grateful for.
After working with Treehouse for ten years I decided it was time for a change. I believed that I had
achieved as much success at Treehouse as possible, and it was time for me to reach out for new
goals. I made the decision to go freelance to broaden my horizons and not be limited by the
lighting inventory of just one company. So I made the big leap and started out on my own as a
freelance lighting and scenic designer. A mix of dumb luck, being in the right place at the right
time, a solid work ethic, and perhaps even some talent landed me some great gigs, and some great
experiences. These experiences led to me being able to start my own business "Wisdom Designs"
and I am happy to say that it has been a very successful endeavour. I now spend my time criss
crossing the world designing lighting and scenery for corporate events, tradeshows, and televised
events. The past three years have been a great experience where I have really been allowed to
come into my own as a designer and push the limits of my capabilities. I'm very much looking
forward to what the future holds.
See you out on the road....
Nick
almost all of my life living in the USA since, with the exception of two years spent in Belgium. I first
discovered my passion for all things technical as a child working with my father in his basement
workshop. We spent many hours together tinkering with all sorts of different electronic projects.
From the basement I carried my passion for all things electronic into the theater. I first discovered
the theater in high school when a friend suggested that I help out with the school play. Since that
first play I was hooked. I spent high school waiting for the school day to end so that I could work
backstage on the set and the lights. I learned basic lighting design, and I learned many lessons the
hard way about electricity. After graduating high school with the excellence in theater award I went
to the University of New Hampshire to study for a degree in English Teaching. I auditioned for the
musical on my second day at UNH and I was awarded with a part in the chorus. I was told "you are
not very good, but we desperately need more men in the show". That was good enough for me,
and I was rewarded by working with a fantastic cast of people. From there I quickly got involved
backstage once again. I spent my two years at UNH working on every project I could get my hands
on. I worked on all of the University plays, musicals, and dance pieces, as well as being exposed to
some touring shows that came through the college. I attended a play at Rhode Island College
during one of my breaks, and I was amazed at the technical level of the production. I knew I had to
transfer there. It was the best decision of my young career.
After transferring into Rhode Island College I was awarded a scholarship for technical theater
excellence. I quickly became a member of the backstage crew, and I met the man that would
become the ultimate mentor in my life. Russell Monaghan (Roberts Auditorium Technical Director)
guided me through the difficulties of attending school while working backstage, and instilled in me
a fantastic work ethic, and a lasting respect that still makes him my first phone call when faced with
difficult career decisions. Russell and the rest of the crew taught me everything I know today about
technical theater, lighting design, and working as a team. I spent my three years at RIC working on
every college production, and designing lights for as many student productions as I could get my
hands on. While at RIC I also took advantage of the active local theater community and designed
and worked at several other spaces in the area.
A friend at RIC suggested I talk with a local company called ATR/Treehouse about freelancing for
them during the summer. After an interview I had earned my first freelance gig in the production
and live event market. I was the lighting designer for a children's theater production of "Alice in
Wonderland". The facility was awful, and I spent a great deal of time fixing their lights in order to
make them work, but it was a great learning experience. At the end of the production I had learned
some lessons, but I was also paid handsomely for my time. I went on to freelance for
ATR/Treehouse a great deal, and I was ultimately offered a full time position there three days before
I graduated from RIC with a degree in Technical Theater.
I started at ATR/Treehouse as their warehouse manager. I was responsible for pulling and putting
away all orders coming in and out of the building. At this point Treehouse was still a fairly small
company. I was the fourth full time employee to be added to the roster. I quickly moved my way up
the ladder at Treehouse as the company continued to grow, and we continued to add new
employees. It was not long before I was taking orders on the phone, and assisting with the
logistics of running a production company. I learned all about the day to day operations, how to
quote jobs, and how important our dedication, work ethic, and reputation was. During my time at
Treehouse I continued to hone my design skills, and I learned a great deal about all aspects of the
production industry. Treehouse exposed me to all aspects of the industry including: audio visual,
sound, staging, and custom scenic construction. I learned about all of the equipment and systems
integration aspects of all of the disciplines. I became one of the full time production managers
responsible for booking rentals, meeting with clients, and designing systems to meet their event
needs.
It was at this point that a relationship led me to move to Orlando Florida. I spent two great years in
Orlando freelancing for Treehouse, Disney, IATSE, and Light & Power Productions. I also toured
the US with a dance show as their stage manager and moving light designer and operator. They
were a fantastic two years, but as the market in Orlando suffered in the wake of September 11th, I
found myself moving back to Rhode Island. Being such a diverse company, ATR/Treehouse was
thriving while others were struggling. I was once again welcomed back and I became one of two
production manager in the company. I was once again designing lighting for special events,
corporate events, and even the odd theater show every now and then. I spent the last three years
working with Treehouse and travelling all over the USA working on corporate events. I have done
everything from production stage managing large corporate events, production managing outdoor
festivals, and designing and running the lighting for large corporate events. I was an integral part
of Treehouse's adoption of the Hiretrack rental software, and I have helped assist Treehouse in
almost doubling its gross every year I worked there. I went from full time employee number four, to
one of twenty. I have assisted in purchasing decisions, hiring decisions, and marketing decisions.
My ten years at Treehouse were a fantastic experience, and one that I will be forever grateful for.
After working with Treehouse for ten years I decided it was time for a change. I believed that I had
achieved as much success at Treehouse as possible, and it was time for me to reach out for new
goals. I made the decision to go freelance to broaden my horizons and not be limited by the
lighting inventory of just one company. So I made the big leap and started out on my own as a
freelance lighting and scenic designer. A mix of dumb luck, being in the right place at the right
time, a solid work ethic, and perhaps even some talent landed me some great gigs, and some great
experiences. These experiences led to me being able to start my own business "Wisdom Designs"
and I am happy to say that it has been a very successful endeavour. I now spend my time criss
crossing the world designing lighting and scenery for corporate events, tradeshows, and televised
events. The past three years have been a great experience where I have really been allowed to
come into my own as a designer and push the limits of my capabilities. I'm very much looking
forward to what the future holds.
See you out on the road....
Nick
