Jordan Z Hall
I approach lighting design as a spatial and temporal form of painting. Through composition, color layering, and contrast, I use light to model the human form, influence perception, and construct a visual narrative. My work treats the stage as a dynamic canvas, where illumination serves as a generative force rather than a mere supporting element.
Central to my practice is an investigation of how light defines and transforms the body, particularly regarding skin tone, color, and perception. I am interested in advancing lighting design beyond generalized systems toward a more intentional and responsive methodology that recognizes the specificity of the bodies it illuminates. By engaging both artistic and scientific frameworks, my work aims to expand the vocabulary of lighting design and challenge established assumptions about visibility and representation.
As both an artist and researcher, I aim to contribute to a more precise, expressive, and equitable application of light in performance. My practice is grounded in the belief that the lighting of the body is not a neutral act; it is a design choice with significant aesthetic, cultural, and perceptual implications.
BIOGRAPHY
Originally from Fairview Heights, Illinois, Jordan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Business Administration from Illinois College and a Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design from the University of Nevada. His work has received national recognition and reflects a rich, interdisciplinary background in performance, musical theatre, dance, concerts, and immersive experiences. Awards include from the Mabel P. Robinson Emerging Artist Award from the National Black Theatre Festival, the Inaugural Recipient of the Collier Woods Scholarship from the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, and the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas Award For Excellence in Technology and Design - The Tempest) from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. His recent design credits include How I Got Over and Five Guys Named Moe at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, HomoDramaticus at Pangea World Theatre and Teatro del Pueblo, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder at Super Summer Theatre, and Mud, The Beaux' Stratagem, and Crumbs from the Table of Joy at the Nevada Conservatory Theatre.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
NationalBlackTheatreFestival-2022
Mabel P. Robinson Emerging Artist Award
United States Institute for Theatre Technology - 2021
Inaugural Recipient of the CollierWoodsScholarship
Region 3 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival - 2020
Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas Award For Excellence in Technology and Design - The Tempest
Recipient of the Aspire Leadership Fellow at the National Convention.
"Second Place" for the KCACTF Award for Theatrical Design Excellence in Lighting Design - The Tempest
Illinois College
Diana Dawdy Chesley Award in Technical Theatre - 2021
The Carole Ann Ryan Fine Arts Prize - 2021
Gerald and Dorothy Staley Senior Award in Theatre - 2021
Diana Dawdy Chesley Award in Technical Theatre - 2020
NAACP - 2017
ActSO Playwright Award - Man in the Night