The hidden role of a lighting designer… @pablosdesign talks about his strategy to keep the mood during tech. Episode out now with more discussions about process, collaboration, and lessons as a lighting designer.
LISTEN / WATCH “Good Doesn’t Always Mean Better with Lighting Designer Pablo Santiago”
on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Youtube
(Comment below or check @scene.shift profile for link)
Excerpts from the overture, in ACT 1, from
“The Long Walk Home: A Mayan Family’s Journey In Search of Refuge”
by David R. Molina
It was presented at Brava Theater, 2023.
For that version we had:
Pablo Santiago: light design
Michael Daddona: video design
Darren Johnston: trumpet
Sunday, October 26 2025, 7PM, we will present a stripped down, Work In Progress presentation of ACT 2, at Brava Theater Center’s Cabaret Theater, in San Francisco, CA. TICKETS at
Conceived, composed, designed, written & produced by David Molina, “The Long Walk Home” is an audio documentary-concert which shares the epic true story of a Guatemalan Mayan family who fled violence in their homeland, survived a dangerous journey to the USA, narco predators, kidnapping, family separation in U.S. detention centers, their miraculous reunification, and their joy as a professional clown troupe. Act 1 premiered in December 2023, and focused on the father‘s and eldest son’s journey north. Act 2 will share the mother’s and two younger children’s migration north. A quartet of amazing Bay Area musicians will perform a live soundtrack which blends minimalism, jazz, ambient, electronic, and Guatemalan folk music.
“The Long Walk Home” reflects over two years of interviews with La Familia Rodriguez, activists, and lawyers conducted and recorded by Molina and co-edited with social justice theater artist Roberto G. Varea. Together they created an audio script in which the recorded voices provide an impactful, first person, narration to “The Long Walk Home”.
Additional Credits:
Roberto G. Varea: Dramaturgy, Script, Transcriptions, and Translation.
Jennifer Gonzalez: Subtitle Design
Luis Cali: Pre Hispanic Mayan Instruments Design
Musicians:
Jaimeo Brown, Tim DeCillis, Liliana Herrera, Natalie John, & Molina
Funded by InterMusic SF MGP grant, and this year an SFAC Arts Impact Endowment
#music #livescore #composer #sounddesign #indigenous #immigrantstories #interdisciplinary
Dracula at KCRep. A HUGE thanks to Nicole Jaja for stepping in and delivering an amazing design at a moments notice. This way I was able to go home and be with family at a difficult time.
Murder On The Links at Two Rivers Theater. Adapter and Directed by Darko Trensjak. Scenic design by Alexander Dodge. Costume design by Jess Goldstein. Wig, Hair and Make Up by Jared Jonas. Music by Oran Eldor. And many more wonderful colaborators ALD Jennifer Gonzalez, Lighting Supervisor Sue Patino, programmer Paula Ciko.
Inebriame at NY Performance Space. By San+Cha. Director Darian Thomas. We see Phong Tran playing music, San+Cha as Dolores and the shadow of Salvador. Set by Anthony Robles. Costumes by Fren Cerezo. Production Gerardo Gonzalez, Roya Amirsoleymani. Programmer Alex Vasquez. Drafting Benedict Conran.
Inebriame at Performace Space New York. San+Cha rehearsing a performace of her opera that may shake all the high risers in the city. Photo taken by Maestro Darian Thomas leading the group to greatness.
