Amara McNeil Receives 2023 Howard Binkley Fellowship

The Howell Binkley Fellowship Program has announced its 2023 Fellow, Amara McNeil. Amara is a New York-based, Hartford-raised, theatrical lighting designer and filmmaker. She holds a B.A. in Theater from Fordham University and is a 2019 ALW American Theater Wing Scholar.

As a visual storyteller, she aims to create an immersive experience for the audience, using vibrant colors and dynamic angles to bring texture to the stage. As she continues to learn and grow, Amara hopes to create work that breaks down society's perception of who gets to tell stories and what stories deserve to be told.

Amara is extremely excited to learn from Amanda and Ryan for the next four months, gaining technical experience and a wonderful network of mentors and collaborators.

Learn more here.

The mission of Hemsley Lighting Programs is to help bridge the gap for young designers between their educational environment and the beginnings of their professional careers. Like Gilbert Hemsley, Howell Binkley embodied the same passion for helping young designers as well as the same joyous personaity. For this reason, Hemsley Lighting Programs is proud to be teaming up with The Howell Binkley Fellowship as we work together to help bring more young designers into our design community.

Howell Binkley was a masterful "painter of light". He was well known for his use of saturated color, accompanied by white or slightly cool highlights. He frequently used smoke or haze to draw attention to his use of angle. His designs are partly based upon Craig Miller and Tom Skelton's use of cross focussing to make diamond effects. Highlights of his 52 Broadway credits include: Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations (2019 Tony nomination), Hamilton (2016 Tony winner, 2018 Olivier winner), Come From Away (2017 Tony nomination), Allegiance, After Midnight (2014 Tony nomination), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011 Tony nomination), West Side Story (2009 Tony nomination). In the Heights, (2008 Tony nomination), Jersey Boys (2008 Tony winner), Avenue Q, The Full Monty, Parade, Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993 Tony nomination/Olivier and Dora winner). He was the proud co-founder/resident lighting designer of Parsons Dance. He lived in New York City and North Carolina.

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