Shining Stars

Bobbie Bryant

Bobbie Bryant lights up the room, literally. As a talented lighting designer and operator, Bobbie helps the productions at Theatre Ancaster come to life and really shine (pun intended). Effective lighting design for the stage sets the mood, supports the story, and directs the audience’s attention. Bobbie has helmed the lighting for numerous Theatre Ancaster productions, using his skills to deliver a show that dazzles our creative teams and patrons alike.

Bobbie has been an important member of the Theatre Ancaster production team since 2018 when he started volunteering with ArtSMART, our program in partnership with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. “I’ve always had a love for theatre tech,” explains Bobbie. At first, Bobbie was put to work spotlighting and operating lights. Then in 2022, he graduated from Sheridan College’s Technical Production for the Performing Arts Industry program. “This opened up the opportunity to expand my role at Theatre Ancaster to design lighting for shows,” he says.

The first musical in which Bobbie executed his own lighting design was Theatre Ancaster’s The Full Monty. He still ranks this show as one of his proudest accomplishments: “I felt so lucky just to be a part of it.” Most recently, Bobbie designed the lighting for ArtSMART’s High School Musical and our GLEE: Pop Rock Concert.

This summer Bobbie also helped create the vibrant underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef in Finding Nemo JR. The show’s director, Sam Heath, has high praise for Bobbie: “So much of the audience talked about how visually appealing this show was and I think a huge part of that was the lighting that Bobbie did. Bobbie is such a delight to work with and I get so happy every time I have the opportunity to work with him. His lighting is incredible and Nemo would not have been the same without him.”

Beyond his valuable skillset, Bobbie also brings a warm spirit and collaborative approach to Theatre Ancaster that makes him an asset on any team. “One of the things I appreciate about Bobbie is his willingness to step into a project at any time to help make it a success. He has saved numerous shows by jumping in whole-heartedly to help out another lighting designer or technician,” says Director of Programming, Sam Frisk. “Bobbie is an easy collaborator who puts a lot of time into getting things just right for a production, which means that the process of putting on a show is that much easier for a production team and the final product looks that much better for our audience.”

 Up next, Bobbie is designing the lighting for Theatre Ancaster’s production of the Tony Award winning musical, Spring Awakening. He’ll also light the beloved classic The Sound of Music this fall. “Spring Awakening and The Sound of Music are much more serious and emotional shows than most of what I’ve worked on at Theatre Ancaster,” says Bobbie. “I’m excited to branch out and push myself to try new things. Spring Awakening is tough, because you have to ride the line between making the lighting match the intensity of the show, without it distracting from the beautiful acting going on onstage. I’ve tried to make the show both striking and soft at different moments. For The Sound of Music, I think a lot of the same ideas apply. I intend to make the lighting simple and effective where it needs to be, and bold and intense where it’s called for.”

 As for what keeps Bobbie coming back to work at Theatre Ancaster season after season: “I really enjoy the team here. There’s not a better organization of people to work with. I never enjoy theatre more than when I’m at Theatre Ancaster. In general, I am just so happy to be here, and that people like my work enough to keep asking me to come back!”