Kathy A. Perkins is an internationally renowned lighting designer, theater historian, and educator, whose work has illuminated both the stage and the archives of theater history. With over 300 lighting design credits spanning regional theaters, universities, and international festivals—including in the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbean—her artistry has helped shape the visual language of modern theater.

A Professor Emerita of Theater at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Professor Perkins is also a trailblazing scholar whose research focuses on African American and African diaspora theater, with a special emphasis on the contributions of Black women playwrights and designers. Her influential books include Black Female Playwrights: An Anthology of Plays before 1950, Telling Our Stories, and Women in African Theatre, which have become foundational texts in theater studies programs worldwide.

Its an honor to have her as a guest on Curtains Up. Professor Perkins shares her journey through the worlds of design and academia, offers insight into the cultural significance of light and space in storytelling, and reflects on the responsibility of preserving and amplifying marginalized voices in theater.

(Image credit: Amos Adams).