Kaia L. Merrell (she/her & they/them) is a New York based Lighting Designer for theatre, opera, and dance. They are excited by telling stories that push the envelope, and lead audiences to a catharsis through rich, compelling text or music, and striking visual composition.

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When not in tech they can be found at Joffrey's open ballet classes or trying out new recipes. They are a perpetual student, always interested in a deep dive in whatever topic catches their interest.

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They received their BA in Theatre from DeSales University, and their MFA from NYU Tisch.

 

Philosophy:

​All theater is a kind of ghost story – and that the things which haunt us aren't necessarily scary, but are those that we carry with us.

 

We don't come of age once, but we are in a constant process of becoming. Any story can be a coming of age story.

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Theatre is deeply political, and should be.​​​