Elizabeth Crifasi

ecrifasi@csufresno.edu
www.lizcrifasi.com

Education

Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Master of Fine Arts, Theatre: Lighting Design
May 2010

The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Master of Arts, Theatre Education
December 2005, with honors

Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor of Arts, Drama
May 2000

Teaching Experience

California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), Fresno, CA
Associate Professor- Lighting and Sound Design, Stage Management
August 2019-Present
Assistant Professor- Lighting and Sound Design, Stage Management
August 2013- July 2019
Courses: Stage and Television Lighting , Stage and Production Management, Stage and Television Lighting II, Theatre Sound

Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Lecturer/ Resident Lighting and Sound Designer
August 2011- May 2012
Courses: Sound Design, Principles of Design, Lighting Design, Introduction to Theatre

Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
Visiting Professor of Lighting and Sound Design
January 2010
Course: Lighting and Sound Design

The Menaul School, Albuquerque, NM
Theatre Instructor and Program Director
August 2004- May 2005

Publication

Garcia, Betty, Elizabeth Crifasi and Adrienne B. Dessel.  “Oppression Pedagogy: Intergroup Dialogue and Theatre of the Oppressed in Creating a Safe Enough Classroom.”  Journal of Social Work Education, 2019, Vol. 55, No. 4, 669-683.

 

Professional Design Credits

Fresno State University Theatre.  Fresno, CA
Lighting Designer:
American Son.  (dir. Thomas Ellis), September 2023
Not What it Seems. (chor. Kenneth Balint), February 2022
All in the Timing. (dir. J. Daniel Herring), May 2021
Directions. (chor. Kenneth Balint, Jose Ruiz), February 2021
Darkside. (dir. Kathleen McKinley), September 2020
Covenants.  (chor. Kenneth Balint), February 2020
Fat Pig. (dir. Brad Myers), October 2019
Anon(ymous). (dir. Gina Sandi-Diaz), September 2019
Carmen Jones. (dir. Thomas Ellis), April 2019
Moving Through the Static. (chor. Kenneth Balint), February 2019
The Wolves.  (dir. Kathleen McKinley), September 2018
Epistome.  (chor. Kenneth Balint, Anandha Ray, and Janelle Paris), February 2018
Native Son. (dir. Thomas Ellis), October 2017
Heathers, the Musical. (dir. Brad Myers), May 2017
Resilience.  (chor. Kenneth Balint, Janelle Paris and Anandha Ray), February 2017
Passion Play, Parts 1 & 2. (dir. Ruth Griffin), December 2016
Tar Beach. (dir. J. Daniel Herring), November 2016
This is Not the Tony Bennet Concert.  (chor. Kenneth Balint, Ruth Griffin and Anandha Ray), February 2016
Really, Really (dir. Brad Myers), December 2015
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (dir. Kathleen McKinley), November 2015
Energy, Passion, Imagination (chor. Kenneth Balint and Mickey Emmanuel), February 2015
Othello. (dir. Brad Myers).  May 2014
Absurdist Masterworks. (dir. Ruth Griffin), March 2014
Syntheses.  (chor. Kenneth Balint), February 2014
The First Breeze of Summer (dir. Thomas Ellis). September 2013

Sound Designer:
Comedy of Errors.  (dir. Brad Myers), December 2022
Misery. (dir. Thomas Ellis), October 2022
Rent.  (dir. J. Daniel Herring), May 2022
Electricidad.  (dir. Gina Sandi-Diaz), March 2022
Man of God.  (dir. Thomas Ellis), September 2021
To Thine Own Self Be True.  (dir. Brad Myers), January 2021
Detroit ’67.  (dir. Thomas Ellis), December 2020
As You Like It. (dir. Kathleen McKinley), December 2019
Lydia.  (dir. Gina Sandi-Diaz), March 2018
Two Gentlemen of Verona.  (dir. Brad Myers), December 2017
A Particle of Dread. (dir. J. Daniel Herring), September 2017
The Great God Pan. (dir. Kathleen McKinley), March 2017
Hands Up. (dir. Thomas Ellis). September 2016
Malpractice. (dir. Ruth Griffin).  March 2016
Yellowman. (dir. Thomas Ellis). September 2015
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (dir. Kathleen McKinley), November 2015
Yellowman (dir. Thomas Ellis), September 2015
Water by the Spoonful (dir. Kathleen McKinley), March 2015
Cabaret (dir. J. Daniel Herring), December 2014
Clybourne Park.  (dir. Kathleen McKinley).  December 2013
The Bald Soprano (dir. Ruth Griffin), March 2014

Projection Design:
Wilderness.  (dir. Kathleen McKinley), December 2021
Agony of Ecstasy- greenscreen backgrounds (dir. Gina Sandi-Diaz), March 2021
Blue Willow (dir. J. Daniel Herring), May 2016
Water by the Spoonful (dir. Kathleen McKinley), March 2015

Original Music Compositon:
Quad. (dir. Ruth Griffin), March 2014

 

USITT (United States Institute for Technical Theatre)

Lighting Designer: Conference Events Mainstage
Baltimore, MD, March 2022
Lighting Designer: Conference Events Main Stage
Louisville, KY, March 2018
Assistant Lighting Designer: Conference Events Main Stage
St. Louis, MO, March 2017

StageWorks Fresno. Fresno, CA
Sound Designer:  Tommy (dir. Joel Abels), July 2016

Live Theatre Company.  Fresno, CA
Lighting and Sound Designer:  Venus in Fur (dir. J. Daniel Herring), October 2015

Room to Move Dance.  Atlanta, GA
Lighting Designer and Stage Manager:
Visitation (Chor. Amy Gately and Smruti Patel Jani), June 2015
Lighting Designer:
Southern Grace (Chor. Amy Gately), June 2014
Four Unexpected Dances (chor. Amy Gately), May 2013
AMALGAM (chor. Amy Gately), May 2012

Fabrefaction Theatre Company.  Atlanta, GA
Lighting Designer:
The Aristocats (dir. Christina Hoff), July 2013
Little Women, the Musical (dir. Christina Hoff), November 2012

Theater Emory.  Atlanta, GA
Sound Designer:
Night of the Iguana (dir. Jan Akers), April 2012
The Leiutenant of Inishmore (dir. Donald McManus), October 2011
Lighting Designer:
6×6 (dir. John Ammerman), February 2012
Persuasion (dir. John Ammerman), November 2011

Zoetic Dance Ensemble.  Atlanta, GA
Lighting Designer:  Undone (chor.  Amanda Thompson & Christina Noel Reaves), October 2011

Southern Repertory Theatre.  New Orleans, LA
Lighting Designer:
Intringulis (dir. David Anzuelo), March 2011
Speech and Debate (dir. Aimee Hayes), August 2008,

The Shakespeare Festival at Tulane.  New Orleans, LA
Lighting and Sound Designer:
Everlasting Bonfire (dir. Jim Fitzmorris),  June 2010
Sound Designer:
King Lear (dir. Jim Fitzmorris), June 2009
The Comedy of Errors (dir. Lorenzo Gonzales), July 2009

NOLA Project, New Orleans, LA 
Lighting and Sound Designer:  What Has This Thing Appeared Again, Tonight? (dir. Jim Fitzmorris), July 2008

Acco Theatre Center, Acco, Israel
Lighting Designer:  Abraham and Ishmael (dir. Moni Yosef), May 2005-August 2005

Rough Theatre Company, Albuquerque, NM
Sound Designer:  Africa and The Cockroach Entrapment (dir. Jessica Barkl),  July 2006

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Center Valley, PA
Assistant Festival Sound Designer, May 2003- August 2003

 

Professional Lighting Design for the Music Industry

House of Blues, New Orleans, LA
Lighting Director, June 2008-August 2011
Concert design credits at venue include Lady Gaga, Ludacris, Stephen Marley, Derek Trucks, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Iron and Wine, Gavin DeGraw, Cage the Elephant, David Allen Coe, Talib Kwali,  Citizen Cope, Young Jeezy, Saul Williams, Aeiral Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, and many more.

The Republic, New Orleans, LA
Lighting Director.  April 2010- July 2011
Concert design credits at venue include Peter Murphy, Concrete Blonde, Julian Casablancas, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Coco Rosie, Beats Antique, Rusko, and many more.

Honda Civic Tour, United States
Lighting Director for New Found Glory, July- September 2010

Essence Festival, New Orleans, LA
Lighting Director for the Lincoln Stage, July 2009
Artists include Raphael Saadiq, Ryan Leslie, Solange and more.

Quickbeam Systems, Inc.  Albuquerque, NM
Lighting Director, April 2004-August 2007
Concert design credits at multiple venues include The New Mexico State Fair, Cyndi Lauper, Steppenwolf, The Temptations, Wynona, Dwight Yokam, The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Dave Mason, 38 Special, Morris Day and the Time, The Four Tops, Ben Vereen, Sparx and many more.

 

Educational and Community Theatre Design

Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
LIGHTING DESIGN:  Betty’s Summer Vacation (dir. Ron Gural), To Watch and be Watched: An Original Piece for Dancers and Actors (dir. Gary Gordon), Dog Sees God (dir. Gary Rucker), Cloud Nine (dir. Carl Walker), Thriller/Smells Like Teen Spirit (Dance Piece, chor. Jeffery Gunshol), Young Performers Dance Concert, Environmental Dance Performance (chor. Barbara Hayley)
SOUND DESIGN:  Soul of the City (dir. Buzz Podewell), Tartuffe (dir. Antony Sandoval)

The Vortex Theatre, Albuquerque, NM
SOUND DESIGN: I Am My Own Wife (dir. Lou Clark)

 The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
LIGHTING DESIGN: Pale Idiot (dir. Claranne Despain)
SOUND DESIGN: I Sea (dir. Claranne Despain), Pale Idiot (dir. Claranne Despain), Metamorphoses(dir. Denise Schulz)
STAGE MANAGER: Mimi’s Ghost (dir. Reiko Yazzie)
DIRECTOR: Raindrops Keep Falling

Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO:
LIGHTING, SOUND AND SCENIC DESIGN, STAGE MANAGER: Waking Illusions (Thesis Production)
LIGHTING DESIGN: Rats Live on No Evil Star (dir. Megan Milner)
SOUND DESIGN: Roshomon (dir. Clinton Turner Davis), The Brecht Show     (dir. Tom Lindblade), Under Milkwood (dir. Tom Lindblade)
STAGE MANAGER: Little, Different…Better, Dance Workshop 1998 & 1999, Suburbia (dir. Clinton Turner Davis)
DIRECTOR: Last Chance Texaco

Other Professional Production Experience

21 Jump Street (Film), New Orleans, LA
Dimmer Board Operator/ Moving Light Programmer, July 2011

Imagination and Technology, Atlanta, GA
Freelance Ligthing Technician, February 2011- August 2011

The Shakespeare Festival at Tulane.  New Orleans, LA
Master Electrician, December 2007-August 2008

Premier Global Productions.  Nashville, TN
Lighting Technician and Repairs, 2010
Acted as lighting technician for major tours and events including Voodoo Festival (October 2010), Paramore Honda Civic Tour (July- September 2010), and Essence Festival (July 2010)

RZI Lighting, New Orleans, LA
Freelance Lighting Technician, June 2009- July 2011

Tulane University Theatre Department, New Orleans, LA
Master Electrician, August 2007- December 2009

Southern Repertory Theatre, New Orleans, LA
Master Electrician, February 2008-February 2009

PSAV, New Orleans, LA
Freelance Lighting Programmer, April 2008-June 2009.

Summer Lyric Theatre, New Orleans, LA
Electrics Crew, July 2008

National Performance Network, New Orleans, LA
Freelance Lighting Technician for Guillermo Gomez-Pena, December 2007

Wildfire (Television Series), Albuquerque, NM
Rigging Electrics Crew, January 2007-March 2007

Rough Theatre Company, Albuquerque, NM
Technical Liason for Global Dance performances, February 2006

University of New Mexico Theatre and Dance Department, Albuquerque, NM
Venue Rentals Coordinator, August 2004-May 2005

P.L.A.C.E. Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Downtown Window on the Arts Project Assistant, May 2004-December 2004

The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, Palm Springs, CA
Assistant Stage Manager for Wardrobe, September 2002- April 2003

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Center Valley, PA
Assistant Festival Sound Designer, May 2003- August 2003
Wardrobe Supervisor, May 2002- August 2002

Conference Presentations

“Toolkit for the Aspiring Master Electrician”
Session Chair, United States Institute of Technical Theatre National Conference.
St. Louis, MO, March 2017

“Collaborating to Coexist: Theatre in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”
Presentation, Performing the World Conference
Terrytown, NY, October 2005

 

Professional Development

United States Institue of Technical Theatre
Co-Vice Commissioner and Designer for Mainstage Events, Lighting Commission, 2016-2017, 2021-2022
Assistant Lighting Designer and Assistant Master Electrician for Conference Events Mainstage,  2015-2016

Professional Affiliations

United States Institute of Technical Theatre
Theatre Communications Group

Grants

California State University Entertainment Alliance, Grant Recipient, 2016

 

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