Michael Whitfield

Michael Whitfield is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Theatre at the University of Victoria with over four decades of professional experience as one of Canada's most versatile lighting designers. He created lighting for over 100 productions at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and designed for major opera and ballet companies internationally including the Canadian Opera Company, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Welsh National Opera.

His educational background includes:

• BA from the University of Victoria
• MA from Villanova University
• PhD from the University of Illinois

Whitfield's research focuses on lighting design for theatre/opera/ballet, repertory lighting systems, historical evolution of stage lighting technology, and architectural integration of lighting in performance spaces. His work bridges technical innovation with historical scholarship, particularly in adapting lighting rigs for heritage theatres like Stratford's Festival and Avon stages.

He has mentored generations of designers through apprentice programs during his professional career and taught at institutions including University of Windsor, University of Illinois, York University, Carnegie Mellon, and National Theatre School of Canada. His UVic course THEA 348/349 trains students in theatrical lighting techniques.