LIGHTING DESIGN REVIEWS

 “[The] Set Designers… use a few surrealistic components to suggest homes and offices.  Add to that the dynamic lighting designs by Larry Brechner, and the so-called static environment becomes an active participant in the performance.”

Genesius Guild – Damn Yankees (February 24, 2001)
           
Kevin Murphy, The Times  March 2, 2001

 

"Larry Brechner's lights cleverly keep one set of performers in black and white, maintaining the illusion of watching a 1940s movie.

Genesius Guild - City of Angels
           
Al Boswell, Post-Tribune (Gary)  April 18, 1999

 

"The technical genius of the show was the lighting design by Larry A Brechner, who some consider to be the best."

            Genesius Guild - City of Angels
           
Gregory J Ladd, Post-Tribune (Gary)  April 16, 1999

 

"For Example, lighting designer Larry A Brechner and I probably put in something like five to 10 hours going through each scene about what lights were going to be where," Long said.  "And it's more me telling him in vague terms what my ideas are and him telling me in real terms how we might do that. Ideally, I want people with various kinds of expertise to be able to do that."

            Genesius Guild - City of Angels
           
Kevin Murphy, The Times  April 9, 1999 
            (preview interview with director David Long)

 

"Subtle changes from sunny daylight to rainy evening by Lighting Designer Larry A. Brechner creates the illusion of reality in the cottage."

Theatre at the Center - On Golden Pond   starring Nanette Fabray
Kevin Murphy, The Times  August 1, 1998 (unpublished)

 

"[The] set designer...and Lighting Designer Larry A. Brechner create a home that is warm and cozy, a ball park that works, and a satanic headquarters that truly smolders with opulent flame-saturated ambience that simultaneously attracts and repels, a lush and scary place."

            Theatre at the Center - Damn Yankees
           
Kevin Murphy, The Times July 31, 1998 (unpublished)

 

Lighting Designer Larry A. Brechner does a fine job with suggestions of lingering twilight and too-constant dawn, underscoring the capricious moods of a skittish populace, driven slightly mad by the lengthened days and foreshortened nights experienced near the Arctic Circle.

Theatre at the Center - A Little Night Music
            Kevin Murphy, The Times  May 1998 (unpublished)

 

Theatre at the Center's "West Side Story" could, if it had to, stand on the strength of its choreography alone.  Happily, it has even more than that to offer audiences, including good singing and acting.  "What more is there?" you may ask.  And the answer includes an ageless story, excellent set design, lighting design, and bright costuming. Lighting Designer Larry A. Brechner's contributions range from subtle imposition of a church upon a bridal shop, to the hot multi-colored spotlight support of choreography in "Cool," in which the lights, themselves, become part of the dance.

Theatre at the Center - West Side Story
            Kevin Murphy, The Times  December 1997 (unpublished)

 

"While the setting in much of the story is narrowly focused on dim to dark interiors...Lighting Designer Larry A. Brechner provides a Padua that is large, bright and multi-dimensional."

Theatre at the Center - Kiss Me Kate
            Kevin Murphy, The Times  August 29, 1997

 

"[The] set designer...and lighting designer Larry A. Brechner have outdone themselves with the New York City-scape they offer for this production.  Massive skyscrapers ring the set, with an abundance of lighted windows stretching toward the clouds, and the shadows of lesser buildings sculpting their lower regions.  During the second act, the magicians [Tang and Brechner] permit the audience occasional insights into the power of illusion when sore of the construction material is readily revealed.  It's remarkable!

Theatre at the Center - Bell Are Ringing
            Kevin Murphy, The Times  August 14, 1997

 

"Set Designer Liming Tang and lighting designer Larry A. Brechner, have combined their talents once again to create a truly magical glade where fairies and social miracles can co-exist comfortably..."

Theatre at the Center - Finian's Rainbow
            Kevin Murphy, The Times  July 4, 1997

 

"...a fanciful, richly detail setting...costumes with appealing lines, textures and colors; and Larry Brechner's atmospheric lighting also fit together very nicely."

Theatre at the Center - Finian's Rainbow
            Welter Skiba, The Hearld News Group  July 1997

 

"The play is a lot to look at.  Scenic artist Liming Tang and lighting designer Larry A. Brechner conjure up a 16th century Spanish prison room, oppressive in its mass and murkiness. They magically change that same space into a country inn (or "castle"), stable, hacienda, and [a] plain of windmills..."

Theatre at the Center - Man of LaMancha
            Kevin Murphy, The Times May 20, 1997

 

"Larry Brechner's lighting...changes to and from the prison [are] both instantaneous and flawless.  Brechner knows how to get the most from The Center's abundant resources."

Theatre at the Center - Man of LaMancha
            Welter Skiba, The Hearld News Group May 1997

 

"The most memorable song is ''Heather on the Hill,' which begins with 'the mist of May is in the gloaming...".  This image gives rise to a most enchanting lighting effect from Larry Brechner bathing the hilly backdrop in an irresistible glow."

The Genesius Guild - Brigadoon
            Welter Skiba, The Hearld News Group March 1997

 

"Scenic Designer Liming Tang continues to work magic on the sets at The Center...with subtle touches by lighting designer Larry A Brechner."

Theatre at the Center - Carousel
            Kevin Murphy, The Times December 13, 1996

 

"The set, designed by Liming Tang, and the lighting, designed by Larry A. Brechner, combine beautifully, evoking a strong sense of the hotel's interior setting as part of a much larger NY metropolitan context, including Central Park. The room arrangement is solid, with fireplace, bay windows -- including window seat in the bedroom bay -looking out on Central Park and surrounding buildings."

Theatre at the Center - Plaza Suite
            Kevin Murphy, The Times  September 20, 1996

 

"Larry Brechner's bright, even lighting intensifies the comedy"

Theatre at the Center - Plaza Suite
            Welter Skiba, The Hearld News Group  September 1996

 

"Set designer Liming Tang continues to work magic on the stage of the Center for Visual and Performing Arts.  Coupled with lighting designer Larry A. Brechner's work, the sets live."

Theatre at the Center - Annie
            Kevin Murphy, The Times  July 26, l996

 

"Set designer Lining Tang and lighting designer Larry Brechner produce a variety of exotic locales with minimalist strokes."

Theatre at the Center - Sweet Charity
 Kevin Murphy, The Times  June 28, 1996

 

"Larry Brechner's lighting has many special touches, including fascinating silhouettes of dancers."

Theatre at the Center - Sweet Charity
            Welter Skiba, The Herald News Group, June 26, 1996

 

"Set designer Liming Tang and lighting designer Larry Brechner, with minimalist inclinations, convincingly created everything from a Henry Street saloon to major Ziegfeld sets."

Theatre at the Center - Funny Girl
            Kevin Murphy, The Times May 31, 1996

 

"The lyrical quality of the play is enhanced by music, lighting and choreography.  Demonstrating forcefully that less can be more, Lighting Designer Larry Brechner raises subdued lighting to the level of an art form in presenting the dream and ghost sequences that explain existing relationships and guide the current behavior of the living. That, coupled with fluid movement...creates an atmosphere that powerfully communicates a sense of continuity beyond death, of love more powerful than life."

The Genesius Guild - The Secret Garden
            Kevin Murphy, The Times  April 5, 1998

 

 

"Larry Brechner's soft and subtle lighting enhanced the aura of misty memories...[in conjunction with] outstanding costume designs gave the production a striking visual impact."

The Genesius Guild - The Secret Garden
            Welter Skiba, The Herald News Group, April 5, 1996

 

"Lighting Designer Larry A. Brechner adds touches that subtly place the intimate little village in a much larger universe"

Theatre at the Center- Fiddler on the Roof
            Kevin Murphy, The Times, December 15, 1995

 

"Larry Brechner's lighting captures many moods, such as the devotional fervor of 'Sabbath Prayer' and the isolation of Tevye and the fiddler as they leave the shaky stability of the village for an uncertain future.

Theatre at the Center- Fiddler on the Roof
            Welter Skiba, The Herald News Group, December 20, 1995

 

"Larry Brechner's lighting sharply defines the acting areas and enhances the shifting goods in many subtle ways."

Theatre at the Center- Driving Miss Daisy
            Welter Skiba, The Herald News Group, September 27, 1995

 

"Lighting Designer Larry A. Brechner [hasl put a variety of Atlanta locales on the stage...relying partly on solid components, and partly on judicious use of lighting."

Theatre at the Center- Driving Miss Daisy
            Kevin Murphy, The Times, December 15, 1995

 

"Larry Brechner's lighting captured the hard glitter of Broadway"

Theatre at the Center- Guys and Dolls
            Walter Skiba, The Herald News Group, June 21, 1995

 

"The sets...lighted by Larry A. Brechner, contrast a bright and intimate Broadway Neighborhood with a regal nighttime Manhattan Skyline, the combination working well to create a solid sense of place..."

Theatre at the Center- Guys and Dolls
            Kevin Murphy, The Tires, June 15, 1995

 

"Larry Brechner's lighting also enhances the changing the moods. Warm soft moonlight, sometimes casting forest shadows, in the first act gives way to harsh bright sunlight in much the second act."

Theatre at the Center- The Fantasticks
            Welter Skiba, The Herald News Group, February 8, 1995

 

"Lighting Designer Larry Brechner paints the atmosphere with a subtle brush that evokes strong feelings in the audience if our reaction is any indicator."

Theatre at the Center- The Fantasticks
            Kevin Murphy, The Times, February 17, 1995

 

"The cast [is] ably backed by the subtle lighting artistry of Larry Brechner."

Theatre at the Center- Holiday Follies
            Kevin Murphy, The Times, December 2, 1994

 

"As to the relatively simple set, and the lighting, hear the reactions of a group of second or third graders as they came into the theatre: first a collective 'Ooooooo!' followed by, 'It's Pretty!'  Yes."

Theatre for Young Audiences- Winnie The Pooh - A Christmas Tail
             Kevin Murphy, The Times, December 2, 1994

 

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