CMU School of Drama


Friday, November 03, 2023

Emily Bornt Lights Brandi Carlile's Echoes Through The Canyon

Live Design Online: Live Design's Plot Of The Week focuses on LD Emily Bornt's lighting for Brandi Carlile's "Echoes Through The Canyon" at The Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, Washington, on June 9-11, 2023.

1 comment:

Delaney Price said...

Designing lights at an outdoor venue for Brandi Carlile and Joni Mitchell is quite literally my dream job! I am a huge fan of them as musical artists, but also in how they approach their concerts as an intimate experience. I am so intrigued by how Carlile’s concerts are less focused on the spectacle and more on the emotion and connection with the audience. I see this reflected in Bornt’s lighting. One quote from her I loved was, “Being honest, I get a little bit of flack for not busking the show. Coming from a theatrical background, I love telling stories with lighting, and lighting with intention." In high school, I designed for a lot of the musical cabarets and poetry slams. It was through designing these less dramatic pieces that I realized just how much intentional angles and colors can change a piece. I thoroughly agree with Bornt’s assessment that lighting with intention tells stories. Outdoor venues are such a magical experience, and while I’m sure adding new looks for the Joni Mitchell addition was difficult, I so wish I would have been able to see these designs live.