Recent graduate nationally recognized for theatre lighting design

Jillian Martin ’26 is finally in the spotlight. The graduating lighting designer in Eastern’s Department of Communication, Film, and Theatre recently received national recognition for her work on an Eastern mainstage production, a rewarding end to her undergraduate career.

Martin’s lighting design work on David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Wonder of the World” in 2025 was recognized in January, at the Region 1 American College Theater Festival (ACTF) conference in Albany, NY. She presented several of her designs, with “Wonder of the World” among them, at the conference’s Design, Technology, and Management (DTM) expo.

“During this expo, I had 15 minutes for each project to explain my design and then answer questions from professional respondents and get feedback on my work,” wrote Martin.

“The respondents then chose one person from each DTM category to move on to the national conference, and I was lucky to be chosen and receive the Region 1 National Award for Excellence in Lighting Design, specifically for my work on ‘Wonder of the World.’”

From there, Martin advanced to a presentation stage at the National ACTF in April, where she was named national runner-up among eight finalists. Among her winnings, she was named an alternate for the O’Neill Lighting Design Fellowship at the Eugene O’Neill Theater in Waterford.

Additionally, she received free registration for the University Resident Theatre Association (URTA), which provides networking opportunities with professionals and graduate schools, during the 2026-27 academic year.

“These are incredible honors and I am lucky and happy to have my work recognized on a national level, especially as a graduating senior hoping to work in this field,” wrote Martin.

Martin reflected on how her coursework and hands-on design experience with on-campus productions have prepared her for a career in the lighting design industry. “Through the theatre program, I have been able to take classes in all fields of theatre design like lighting design, sound design, scenic design, and more,” she wrote.

Martin continued: “I have been lucky enough to work on 19 shows at Eastern in various positions, (such as) light board operator, assistant stage manager, stage manager, properties designer, and now lighting designer. I firmly believe that the strongest theatre technicians and designers have experience in each and every design and tech field, which makes for more collaborative and harmonious workplaces.”

Despite focusing on design rather than acting or a front-stage role, Martin feels she was as supported as any student in the program. “To me, the greatest strength of Eastern's theatre program is the wide range of opportunities for students,” she wrote.

“The theatre department here is small but great for maintaining and creating professional relationships with your professors since they are more than just your educators; when they direct shows that you are in or working on, they are also your colleagues and want to see their students succeed.”