Center for the Arts

A Night with Janis Joplin

Designing for Broadway’s Theatrical Productions

This conversation about Broadway production features Theatre Department visiting artist Justin Townsend and alumna Olivia Sebesky. Both are lighting, video and scenic designers for the new Broadway production “A Night with Janis.”

Justin Townsend

Justin Townsend is an international lighting and set designer for performance. Broadway designs include: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, The Other Place, Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike, and A Night With Janis Joplin. Mr. Townsend is a member of the Obie-winning Theatre of a Two Headed Calf. New York work includes: Caucasian Chalk Circle, Galileo, and Unnatural Acts, Classic Stage Company; Mr. Burns and Milk Like Sugar, Playwrights Horizons; Luck of the Irish and On The Levee, Lincoln Center Theatre’s LCT3; Opus, Primary Stages; Speech and Debate, Roundabout; Beauty on the Vine and Palace of the End, Epic Theatre Ensemble. His work has been seen throughout the country regionally at theatre’s including: Arden, Arena, Alliance, A.R.T, Bard’s Summerscape, Boston Court, Centerstage, Cincinnati Play House, Cleveland Playhouse, Folger Shakespeare, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre, Kirk Douglas, The Intiman, La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Playmakers Repertory Company, and Portland Center Stage. Mr. Townsend’s awards include: Drama Desk for Here Lies Love, The 2006 USIT Rising Star Award, IRNE award for The Blue Flower and two Elliot Norton award for The Blue Flower and the Onion Cellar and he has been nominated for many others including: Audelco Award, Lucille Lorel, Ovation, Henry Hewes, Helen Hayes, and an Outer Critics Circle. His work can be seen at: www.justintownsend.com

Olivia Sebesky

Olivia Sebesky works as a freelance video/projection designer and illustrator. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Art from Northeastern University. Projection design for Boston area productions include The Winter's Tale (Emerson Stage), The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Company One), Yesterday Happened, Remembering H.M. (Central Square Theater) and Radium Girls (Northeastern University Theater). Theatre credits as Associate Projection Designer include The Rite of Spring, Martha Graham Dance Company (Touring), and Ingenious Nature (Soho Playhouse, NY). Credits as Assistant Projection Designer include Breakfast At Tiffany's (Lulamae Productions), Old Hats (Signature Theater), Bunty Berman Presents (The New Group), American Idiot (National Tour) and Stop The Virgens (St. Ann's Warehouse, NY). Additional credits - Assistant Set Designer for ART (New Repertory Theatre) and One Night With Janis Joplin (Portland Center Stage). She received the 2013 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Design for The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. www.oliviasebesky.com