Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 24, 2026

Heather Gilbert

Heather Gilbert is an American theatrical lighting designer. She is best known for her close collaboration with director David Cromer.

Last revised
Jun 24, 2026
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Heather Gilbert
Born
Michigan, U.S.
WebsiteOfficial website

Heather Gilbert is an American theatrical lighting designer. She is best known for her close collaboration with director David Cromer.1

Early life and Education

Heather was born in Michigan and raised in Houston, Texas.2 She received her BA from Trinity University in San Antonio and her MFA in Lighting Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago.

Career

Heather worked in Chicago for many years34 before relocating to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 2025. In her early career, she was an assistant lighting designer to Scott Zielinski. Additionally, she worked closely with Kevin Rigdon and Brian MacDevitt. Heather soon became established in Chicago, calling Steppenwolf Theatre her artistic home.5

Heather was a member of The Hypocrites (theatre company),3 where David Cromer's staging of Thorton Wilder's Our Town originated, for which Heather designed the lights.67

On Broadway, Heather has designed Bug, The Fear of 13, Little Bear Ridge Road, Good Night and Good Luck, Dead Outlaw, Parade, The Sound Inside, and Cult of Love.8910

Heather is a professor of lighting design at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.11 Previously, she was a professor at Columbia College Chicago1 for 19 years and an assistant professor at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Recent Work (selected)

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2026 Midnight at the Never Get Lighting Designer Menier Chocolate Factory 5
2026 Girl, Interrupted (play) The Public Theater
2026 The Fear of 13 James Earl Jones Theatre
2026 Hedda Gabler Old Globe Theatre
2026 Bug (play) Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
2025 Little Bear Ridge Road Booth Theatre
2025 Good Night, and Good Luck (play) Winter Garden Theatre
2025 Dead Outlaw Longacre Theatre
2025 Lowcountry Atlantic Theater Company
2024 Cult of Love Second Stage Theater
2024 Waitress (musical) The Muny
2024 Leroy and Lucy Steppenwolf Theatre Company
2024 Primary Trust Goodman Theatre
2023 Parade (musical) Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
2023 Another Marriage Steppenwolf Theatre
2023 Rent (musical) The Muny
2023 POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive Steppenwolf Theatre
2022 Wife of a Salesman Writers Theatre
2022 The Color Purple (musical) The Muny
2022 Layalina New Stages Festival
2021 Bug (play) Steppenwolf Theatre Company
2019 The Sound Inside (play) Studio 54
2019 Ms Blakk for President Steppenwolf Theatre Company
2019 Dance Nation (play) Steppenwolf Theatre Company
2018 The Pirates of Penzance Olney Theatre Center
2018 The Better Half Lucky Plush at Steppenwolf
2009 Our Town Barrow Street Theatre

And many more.

Awards and Nominations

Year Production Award Category Outcome
2026 Bug Tony Award Best Lighting Design of a Play Pending12
2026 The Fear of 13 Tony Award Best Lighting Design of a Play Pending12
2025 Good Night and Good Luck Tony Award Best Lighting Design of a Play Nominated
2025 Dead Outlaw Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lighting Design Nominated
2023 Parade Tony Award Best Lighting Design of a Musical Nominated
2023 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lighting Design Nominated
2021 The Sound Inside Tony Award Best Lighting Design of a Play Nominated
2020 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lighting Design Won
References

References

  1. "Heather Gilbert". www.colum.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  2. "Heather Gilbert - I Survived Theatre School (podcast)". Listen Notes. 7 December 2021.
  3. "3Arts | Heather Gilbert". 3Arts. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  4. "Review: 'Paris' is Steep Theatre's can-do reopening work, a master class in putting on a play in a raw space". Chicago Tribune. 2022-06-21. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  5. "Heather Gilbert Lighting Design". Heather Gilbert Lighting Design. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  6. Isherwood, Charles (2009-02-26). "21st-Century Grover's Corners, With the Audience as Neighbors". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  7. Napoleon, Davi (2008-09-01). "NAKED CITY". Live design : Envision. Build. Tech. Go. 42 (9): 62–64.
  8. BWW, Team. "Heather Gilbert (Lighting Designer, Lighting Design): Credits, Bio, News & More | Broadway World". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  9. Napoleon, Davi (2020-09-11). "When The Lights Went Out: Lighting Designer Heather Gilbert | Live Design Online". www.livedesignonline.com. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  10. "Heather Gilbert". Playbill.com.
  11. "Heather Gilbert". University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  12. Vogue (2026-05-05). "The 2026 Tony Nominations Have Been Announced! See Them All Here". Vogue. Retrieved 2026-05-09.