Heather Gilbert

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.

Early life and education

Heather Gilbert was born in Michigan and raised in Houston, Texas. 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

Gilbert worked in Chicago for many years 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. Gilbert soon became established in Chicago, calling Steppenwolf Theatre her artistic home.

Gilbert was a member of The Hypocrites, where David Cromer's staging of Thorton Wilder's Our Town originated, for which Gilbert designed the lights.

On Broadway, Gilbert 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.

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

Selected works

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

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Production Result Ref.
2020 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play The Sound Inside Won
2021 Tony Award Best Lighting Design of a Play Nominated
2023 Tony Award Best Lighting Design of a Musical Parade Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical Nominated
2025 Tony Award Best Lighting Design of a Play Good Night, and Good Luck Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lighting Design Dead Outlaw Nominated
2026 Tony Award Best Lighting Design of a Play Bug Nominated
The Fear of 13 Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 "Heather Gilbert". www.colum.edu. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  2. ↑ "Heather Gilbert - I Survived Theatre School (podcast)". Listen Notes. 7 December 2021.
  3. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. ↑ "2020 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  13. ↑ Dan Meyer (June 13, 2020). "A Strange Loop, The Inheritance, Moulin Rouge! Win Big at 2020 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  14. ↑ Garvey, Marianne (September 26, 2021). "See who won at the Tony Awards". CNN. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  15. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly (2023-06-11). "Tony Awards: Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  16. ↑ "2023 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  17. ↑ Logan Culwell-Block (May 31, 2023). "Some Like It Hot Dominates 2023 Drama Desk Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  18. ↑ "2025 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  19. ↑ Logan Culwell-Block (June 1, 2025). "Drama Desk Award Winners 2025: The Full List". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  20. 1 2 Vogue (2026-05-05). "The 2026 Tony Nominations Have Been Announced! See Them All Here". Vogue. Retrieved 2026-05-09.