Ania Washington is a New York-based Lighting Designer who has been working in the music and theater industry for 20 years. Her love of lighting was born from a love of music. With a background as a jazz trumpet player, she stumbled into lighting when her college work-study assignment led her backstage during an opera production at Manhattan School of Music. Quickly falling in love with the magic of theater and its ability to transport audiences to different worlds, she changed career paths and decided to pursue technical theater with a concentration in Lighting Design.

Ania has always been fascinated by the deep ties between lighting and mood and how the most delicate design shift can alter the emotional landscape of an environment. Her design aesthetic ranges from subtle lighting changes that build the atmosphere inhabited by actors and audiences alike, to vibrant, high contrast shows, where the pulse of the lighting not only supports the story but becomes integral to the full theatrical experience.

Currently the Director of Production at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater, Ania coordinates the technical needs and logistics for 700+ shows annually, in addition to overseeing production staff and venue safety and compliance. She is also the Resident Lighting Designer for Random Farms Kids’ Theater, the preeminent children’s theater company in Westchester, NY, where she has designed all of their season musicals since 2009. She is a freelance Lighting Designer in the New York City area. Ania holds a BFA in Lighting Design from SUNY Purchase College, Conservatory of Theater, Design and Technology.