MFA Theatrical Design and Production, University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, 2001.

BA Drama, Flagler College, 1991.

Deanna Fitzgerald (Vice Dean, College of Fine Arts; Professor, School of Theatre, Film and Television) is a Lighting Designer and member of United Scenic Artists. Her lighting design credits include theatre, dance, opera, circus-themed, puppets, architectural lighting and more. She is a yoga and meditation teacher and conducts classes and workshops focused on using these and other "quietive" practices to aid in the creative process. Deanna is the author of The Heart of Light, a primer for a life and career in lighting, published by Routledge in January 2022.

At the University of Arizona, she is the Vice Dean of the College of Fine Arts, responsible for Academic and Student Affairs, and a Professor. Previous leadership roles include serving as the Interim Director of the School of Dance; the Acting, then Interim Associate Director of the School of Music; and the Interim co-Director of the School of Theatre, Film, and Television (with the Film & TV Associate Director). She was an Associate Director and the Director of Graduate Studies of the School of Theatre, Film and Television, where she led the MFA/BFA Lighting Design and Technology areas, and was the resident LD of Arizona Repertory Theatre from 2008-2020. Deanna serves on the Western Region Exam Committee of United Scenic Artist Local 829, and the Boards of Directors for URTA (University Resident Theatre Association) and USITT (United States Institute of Theatre Technology), and as a general editor for the Theatre Design and Technology magazine. 

Deanna’s national and international design highlights include the world premiere STOMP OUT LOUD, the Las Vegas incarnation of the internationally acclaimed STOMP; Cirque Mechanics: Boom Town, which toured for 2 years with an off-Broadway appearance at The New Victory Theatre; and the North American tour of Australian  children's show Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo which had an extended run in Toronto. Locally, she designs regularly for the nationally acclaimed Rogue Theatre.

Other design credits include the San Francisco Opera's Merola and Coconut Grove Playhouse's Young Artist programs, as well as numerous original dance designs for choreographers such as Deborah Hay, Ben Levy and Andy Vaca. Other production credits include 6 years as the Lighting Director on the International Tour of STOMP; Production Director of the Opera Theater Music Festival in Lucca, Italy; Lighting Supervisor/Assistant Lighting Designer at the Santa Fe Opera; Lighting and Tour Consultant for the Original Broadway Cast tours of the Greater Tuna trilogy and Assistant Lighting Designer at the Cincinnati Ballet.

More:

• Design Gallery: http://www.deannafitzgerald.com
• Writing:

  • FITZGERALD, DEANNA. Heart of Light a Holistic Primer to a Life and Career in Lighting Design and Production. ROUTLEDGE, 2022.

  • Fitzgerald, Deanna. “An Introduction to Neurodiversity for the Lighting Designer and Educator.” Routledge.com, Routledge, A Taylor and Francis Group, 12 Jan. 2022, https://www.routledge.com/blog/article/an-introduction-to-neurodiversity-for-the-lighting-designer-and-educator.

  • “Meditate on This: Contemplative Practices for Designers and Technicians”; TDT (Theatre Design and Technology) 2017.

  • "The Lighting Design Process Project"; Practical Projects for Teaching Lighting Design: A Compendium, Volume 2.  2016.

  • "The Lighting Self-Portrait"; Practical Projects for Teaching Lighting Design: A Compendium, Volume 2.  2016.

  • “Leaving West Virginia (W=V x A); Responsible Stage Electrics for Educators and Early Career Technicians”; TDT (Theatre Design and Technology) 2013.