Ken Wills is a freelance lighting designer and a associate lighting designer based in New York City & Houston, TX. He works across the country and internationally in theatre, opera, dance, music, events, Madison Avenue fashion windows, and in other arts environments. Originally from the Washington, DC area, Ken holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Lighting Design from North Carolina School of the Arts.
Member: United Scenic Artists 829
SELECTED CURRENT PROJECTS:
Associate Lighting Design, My Son’s a Queer, New York City Center. LD: Jai Morjaria
U.S. Associate Lighting Design, Phantom of the Opera, North American Tour 2025-26, Presented by Cameron Mackintosh & Networks, LD: Andrew Bridge
Associate Lighting Design, Shucked, First National Tour. LD: Japhy Weideman
Lighting Design, Ralph Lauren Window Displays, Madison Avenue Flagship Stores, New York, NY.
PRESS:
"... the immersive staging, set against Josh Smith’s multi-level, towering steel set and Ken Wills’ lighting design, was riveting."
- Lauren Van Hemert, Broadway World, Review: The Rocky Horror Show
"... while the lighting design by Ken Wills greatly enhances the overall fantasy feeling of the piece."
- Judith Jarosz, NY Theatre Now, Review: Marvellous
"The intricacy of Sondheim's score drips through and over the artifacts thanks to the mood setting lighting of Ken Wills."
- David Siegel, ShowBizRadio Washington DC, Review: Marry Me a Little
"...artful performances and ingenious design..."
- Celia Wren, Washington Post, Review: A Man, His Wife, and His Hat
"Given the time- and place-jumping components of the story, Lighting Designer Ken Wills' choices are very effective in creating specific moods while ensuring the audience knows when and where we are in the story."
- Kim Moeller, DCMetroTheatreArts, Review: A Man, His Wife, and His Hat
"Lighting (Ken Wills) was effective in portraying various locales on the fly."
- Brian Bochicchio, MDTheatre, Review: A Man, His Wife, and His Hat
"...lighting designer Ken Wills leaves anundeniable mark of intention with a continuously engaged stage."
- Adam Burnett, nytheatre.com, Review: Victor Frange Presents Gas
"...and lighting effects (Kenneth Wills) make for stunning and intriguing spectacle."
- Ken Keuffel, Winston-Salem Journal, Review: The Merry Wives of Windsor
"Kenneth Wills' lighting design culminated in the dark, eerie forest with flowing fog rolling into the pit and flashes of light suggesting a storm. "
- William Thomas Walker, CVNC, Review: The Merry Wives of Windsor
"Valentina Felce's scene design and Kenneth Wills' lighting work effectively. The action jumps about smoothly among different settings."
- Ken Keuffel, Winston-Salem Journal, Review: A Soldier's Play
AWARDS, HONORS, & FELLOWSHIPS:
William R. Kenan Jr., John F. Kennedy Center Lighting Fellowship, 2012
Nominated: Best Lighting Design, Faith, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, 2012
USITT's Young Designer's Forum, Long Beach CA, 2012
Hemsley Lighting Portfolio Review, Lincoln Center NYC, 2012
National Design Portfolio Review, NYC, 2012