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Rachael N. Page-Blackwell

@therealbnrlight_

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Artist/Creative 🎭
@_nikkilorraine’s 💍💛
#myASU 🐝🖤💛 & CCM alum 🦊
Lighting Designer💡

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July isn’t quite over yet but as I gear up to head into tech next week (and for the next 10 months), wanted to take a moment to reflect on how beautiful this summer has been.

Got the chance to hang out with old family and new and I’m so thankful. Here are the highlights 😊:

• Nikki and I cruised to Bimini in June to celebrate 5 years of marriage on June 26. We had a wonderful weekend with lots of food, drinks, sun and sleep!! Happy anniversary, boo and here’s to many more 😘🥂

• got to hug Meek’s neck out in Houston! Was there for work but had a couple nights free to go kick it with my good sis. Houston NEVER disappoints! 😜🤘🏾(Meek, I’m still thinking bout that burrito from that food truck!!)

• My sister and I took my mama up to the Smoky Mountains for her 65th birthday on July 15. We went to a bird sanctuary, enjoyed nature and the pools at our resort, and even held some birbs! (They are HEAVY lol)

• Went back home to VA for my grandfather’s funeral last weekend. Extremely bittersweet but it was so nice to see all my family again. The Blackwells wore royal blue to honor my Papa. First photo here is all of my father’s kids (we’re still missing one!), second was taken at one of my aunt’s house (I’m an aunt, yall! That’s one of my nieces standing beside my dad), and the big ole group photo (that I had to split between 2 images lol) is all the cousins after the repass while we were tryna game plan what the evening would entail before everyone headed back home the following morning. Please believe this ain’t the whole family lol (we’re still missing a few cousins here) but it was wonderful to see everyone all grown up, engaged/married, healthy and working in successful careers. Thankful for the warm welcome they gave Nikki (her first time meeting a lot of them!) So cheers to the Blackwell family- old & new!! 💛🤞🏾✨

• last couple photos are the fur children trying to come with me to Houston 🤣 (no, but seriously- just cats being cats lol)

#summervibes☀️ #family #oldandnew #blessed by @therealbnrlight_

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7 hours ago

Black History.
Black Women.
New Works.

At the core of what I do and who I am as an artist, these are the stories I enjoy telling the most.

How blessed I am to have began this year (my first as a full-time freelancer in 3 years) working on 2 pieces that embody all 3 themes above.

I have learned so much about you, Ms. Sally Hemings- and I hope the world continues to hear your story. Thank you to Sandra Seaton (Playwright) and Hannah Ryan (Director) for bringing me on to such an amazing team of artists!

A special thanks to Kathy Perkins for continuing to support my journey and helping make lasting connections throughout the industry.

Happy opening to the team of SALLY - A Solo Play! 🎉

Playwright - @sandraseatonwords
Director - @scout3304
Scenic Design - @kirk.domer
Costume Design - @king_of_haute
Projection Design - Alison Dobbins
Lighting Design - ✨ Yours Truly ✨
Stage Manager - @courtney_mulford

Sally Hemings, Patsy Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson, James, and a whole host of other characters (!!) - @sabrinasloannyc

Executive Director of Wharton Center - @ericolmscheid
Sing Out Louise Productions (SALLY Producers) - @happy_kamper @joeymondanyc

📸 Jacob Giampa courtesy of Wharton Center taken in Wharton Center for Performing Arts by @therealbnrlight_

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5 months ago

Life with you is filled with so much color. 🥰
My forever valentine 💘 @_nikkilorraine by @therealbnrlight_

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5 months ago

So I’ve been in Minneapolis/St. Paul for the past 2 1/2 weeks working on a world premiere of an original opera entitled “My Name Is Florence.”

Florence B. Price was the first African-American woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer and have her work performed by a major orchestra (Chicago Symphony Orchestra.)

She is truly a trailblazer and I’m honored and humbled to have been apart of the team to tell her story and reintroduce her to the world. A huge thank you to the Minnesota Opera and the Ordway Performing Arts Center for keeping us all safe and comfortable during this time. Despite the political turmoil in the Twin Cities and the US at large, this process has been so fulfilling.

So happy opening to the cast and crew of “My Name is Florence!” We did it!

Director: Eboni Adams
Composer: @_klavia
Libretto: @harrisondavidrivers
Set Design: @elisherlockdesign
Costume Design: @trvrbowen
Lighting Design: ✨Yours Truly✨
Conductor: Mario Antonio Marta

Assistant Stage Director: Margaret Jumonville
Tech Lighting Assistant: Kurt Jung
Stage Manager: Luci Burdick
ASMs: Abbey Murray-Stark & Patty Garvey

@mnopera taken in Ordway Center for the Performing Arts by @therealbnrlight_

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6 months ago

Summer 2025 - Play.

Will add more context later. Just making these posts is taking a lot of energy. 😂 by @therealbnrlight_

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a year ago

Finally made it out to the beach 🏖️ taken in Virginia Beach, Virginia by @therealbnrlight_

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a year ago

We opened a show last night! Really proud of this one and what a great team to collaborate with. No egos, just art. My fav kind of room to be in.

Go see the show for more fun looks, great music and a knockout cast! Runs through June 15!

Directed by: @wansaham
SM: @katieivey_
Scenic: @srobertwcc & @brandonroak_designs
Lighting: Yours Truly 💡
ALD: @jazlightdotcom @jay_elevate
Lighting Supervisor: @gnomeisaac
Sound: @anna_lee_lanna
Costumes: @wardrobetreasureshop
Props: @ktdancer97
Music Director & Artistic Director: @acpence
Choreography: Kari Twyman

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#waitressthemusical #waitress #lightingdesign #lawrenceville #auroratheatre #openingnight taken in Aurora Theatre by @therealbnrlight_

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a year ago

Today we’re celebrating Rachael N. Blackwell, who received this year’s Suzi Bass Award for
Outstanding Lighting Design (play) for WAIT UNTIL DARK. It’s hard to convey in photographs how
remarkable her achievement was. The script calls for scenes that are lit only by light from a window,
scenes with full overhead & lamp light, scenes in COMPLETE darkness (that still allow the audience
to know what’s happening), and even one scene where the only light comes from the open
refrigerator. Rachael embraced the thriller style that directors Candy McClellan & Jeremiah Davison
asked for and made it all happen. Just as impressive, photographer Casey Ford found a way to
capture images of these scenes in near-total darkness and produced these gorgeous visuals.
Please join us in congratulating Rachael and all of the 2024 Suzi Bass Award winners! (You can find
a list at thesuzis.org or @suzibassawards social media.)
WAIT UNTIL DARK by Frederick Knott, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, was produced Oct. 27-Nov. 5,
2023, by Georgia Ensemble Theatre at the Jennie T Anderson Theatre, Marietta, GA, with the artists
listed below.
Featuring – Sully Brown, Caleb Clark, Aminah Vuyelwa Golden, Greg Hunter, Michelle Pokopac,
Michael Joshua Williams
Directors - Candy McLellan & Jeremiah Davison
Stage Manager - Victoria Nation
Assistant Stage Manager - Montana Ludlow
Fight/Intimacy Choreographer - Montgomery Davis
Scenic Designer - Alexander Whittenburg
Technical Director - Alexander Ray
Scenic Artist - Stefnie Cerny
Props Designer - Tierney Breedlove
Costume Designer - Jarrod Barnes
Lighting Designer – Rachael N. Blackwell
Sound Designer - Johnathan Taylor
Production Manager – Akeria Gant
Front of House - Troy Parker
Photos - Casey Ford by @therealbnrlight_

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2 years ago

✨Alabama State Homecoming 2024✨
A time was had. I missed these faces. 🖤💛🐝
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#HBCUpride #HBCUgrad #myASU #LeilaBarlow #DGPhiPhamily #AlphaPsiOmega #theatre #bands #football #blackjoy #oneofmyhappyplaces taken in Alabama State University by @therealbnrlight_

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2 years ago

THE COLOR PURPLE • SCENIC DESIGN

What a gift it was to be invited to join the creative team for this beautiful production of The Color Purple at @aurora.theatre under the visionary direction of Candy McLellan ( @candymcloveme ). From the first concept meeting, it was clear we were on the same page. We were both inspired by early American quilts and the stories that are weaved together through this vibrant art form with roots in the rich history of African textiles. As we enter the second act, you’ll see the direct intersection of these two worlds. A visual metaphor for our shared humanity.

The idea of “home” is another prevalent idea that inspired the visual storytelling. A floating roof piece raises and lowers throughout the piece to spatially echo the emotional energy of the moment.

Here’s a collection of moments from the process of bringing this piece from the page to the stage. There’s a lot more to see than what’s pictured here so I guess you’ll just have to buy a ticket and see for yourself (link in bio).

All my love to a remarkable team of collaborators:

Directed by: Candy Nicole Davison @candymcloveme
Choreography: Pytron Parker @payparker
Music Director: Ann-Carol Pence @acpence & Assoc. Chanel Bailey Ross
Scenic Design: Alexander Whittenberg 👋
Sound Design: Chris Lane @thalaneway
Lighting Design: Rachael Blackwell @therealbnrlight_
Costume Design: Dr. Nyrobi Ross @goddesscomplexcostumes & Jarrod Shug Barnes @jarrods1977
Props Designer: Kristin Talley
Production Stage Manager: Marshall Lee Smith Jr. @psm_marshall
ASMs: LaMarr White Jr. & Davan Glynn

Associate Scenic Designer: Gavin Mosier @g.mosier1952
Technical Director: Ashley Hogan
Asst. Technical Director: Jack Blackstock
Scenic Charge: Caro Kok @kok.a.cola

Artistic Director: Ann-Carol Pence @acpence
Production Manager: Katie Chambers @katherine_erin
Director of Production: Daniel Pope @wiseguy113

#art #design #theatre #setdesign #scenography #thecolorpurple taken in Aurora Theatre by @therealbnrlight_

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2 years ago

Here’s some #BTS photos so you know it’s the real me.

1. Date night out with @_nikkilorraine 💛✨
2. Tales from the glacier #Iceland 🥶
3. Impromptu trip to the gump, got to hug @pammixo’s neck 🐝
4. All ladies lighting team at the Cincinnati Ballet for the 60th Playlist Celebration ftw 💪🏾
5. Played way too much air hockey (and won) against my good sis @cherell_elle (she’ll say it happened differently 🤣)
6. Flashback to opening night of my first full length opera design, Romeo et Juliette with my brother @donaldleeiii 💛

In conclusion,
- still black asf
- still married asf
- still queer asf
- still creative asf
- still grinding
- still thriving
- still LIVING! 🙌🏾✨
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#yesitsreallyme #youcantellbytheridiculoushashtags #letstrythisagain #thishasbeensoinconvenient #idonotownanyluxuryvehicles #norhaveIenteredanycontestslately by @therealbnrlight_

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2 years ago