CHARCOALBLUE - Key Persons
Abigail supports the humans working on the eXi Service Line. This includes, but is not limited to, scheduling and maintaining meetings, coordinating team events, supporting initiatives that help streamline our internal processes, and serving as a central conduit of information and communication across the team.
Alex joined Charcoalblue after 10 years' experience in the theatre and events industries, having held positions across the full spectrum of AV systems design and engineering.
Most recently, he worked as an Installations Project Manager for Masque Sound & Recording where he engineered and managed integrations of state-of-the-art AV systems for clients including New York University, Manhattan School of Music, Central Synagogue, among many others.
Alex has also worked for many other theatre companies and festivals both in New York City and regionally as a freelance sound designer and engineer, including roles at Signature Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theatre Club, Williamstown Theatre Festival and with the Pigpen Theatre Company.
Job Titles:
- Digital Design Consultant
Alex has over 8 years experience in the construction industry. While studying Architectural Technology at Brighton University, Alex worked as a Utility Infrastructure Consultant delivering the design and project management of underground utilities for large scale infrastructure projects. Later, moving into the digital aspects of the role, such as automation and visualization.
Upon Graduating in 2019, Alex began working as an Architectural Technologist, delivering RIBA stage 4-5 projects, specifically with office fit outs, industrial units and and student accommodation buildings. He also aided in developing the company XR strategy.
Along side this, Alex has also spent 4 years developing XR applications for research projects, specifically within Infrastructure, Educational and Urban Agriculture industries.
Since joining Charcoalblue Experience in 2022, Alex has worked with the Digital Design team, assisting in the development of applications such as VR Sightline Studies and Sightline Heatmaps.
Alex provides digital design solutions such as VR sightline studies, as well as contributing towards the company research & development initiatives.
Alex provides theatre planning, consultancy on all aspects of theatre design, specialising in the design of stage lighting and technical access systems.
In his over 15 years of theatre consultancy, including a 6 year stint at ARUP, Alex has worked on a number of high profile projects including the award-winning Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre, the new Sadler's Wells Theatre at London's Olympic Park and the first new London West End theatre since 1973, at Soho Place.
In addition, he has 25 years' experience as a theatre practitioner in the roles of lighting designer, production manager and technical stage manager; including five years as production manager for Kneehigh Theatre.
Alex has taught at Rose Bruford College and contributed to a number of high profile industry publications including ABTT's ‘Theatre Buildings: A Design Guide'.
Alex's consultancy work at Charcoalblue includes the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Chichester Festival Theatre, Perth Theatre, the Darlington Hippodrome and neighbouring Hullabaloo Theatre, Eton School Hall and St John's Church, Waterloo.
Allie has worked in nearly all aspects of the entertainment industry. After earning her B.A. in Theatre, she spent the next decade in various roles including stage management, ticketing, spotlighting, costuming, props designing, voice acting and performing on stage, in film and animation in Atlanta.
In 2021, Allie moved to Chicago for its rich theatre history and architectural significance. Looking to marry her passions for theatre and administration, she joined Charcoalblue in 2022 as the Chicago Studio Administrator, bringing with her 6 years of corporate Administrative and Knowledge Management experience in addition to her skilled background in theatre.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- in 2017 As an Architect
Amanda joined Charcoalblue in 2017 as an architect with experience managing and coordinating performance related construction projects. She is a graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art and developed a passion for theatre whilst working with Capital Theatres, Edinburgh.
Before joining Charcoalblue, she worked with Foster Wilson Architects on a number of performance related projects for clients such as the Barbican Concert Hall, Apollo Hammersmith and the Ambassadors Theatre Group.
In her spare time, Amanda is a volunteer with the Camden Roundhouse Trust. She completed her Part III Advanced Diploma in Architectural Professional Practice with RIBA North West.
Amanda's consultancy work with Charcoalblue includes the Esplanade Waterfront Theatre in Singapore, Cultural Center Education City in Doha, and The Lighthouse Centre in London.
Amanda provides consultancy in all aspects of theatre design, specialising in auditorium design and planning, foyer planning, seating, sightlines and accessibility.
Tina, Kathryn, Gary, Elina, Lee, Amanda and Gavin from our theatre design team huddle in for a photo.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director - Design Management
Andrea is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Theatrical Production. For the past 15 years, she has been working in and around the design and creative worlds, supporting the design and build process from the initial concepts, through budgeting and bidding, all the way to production, installation, buildout and turnover.
For 10+ years, Andrea wore many hats at I. Weiss, a theatrical rigging drapery contractor in the NYC area. Her most recent role was as the Head of the Installation department and project manager, overseeing hundreds of projects centered around new construction and renovation of theatrical spaces across the country and here in New York.
More recently, Andrea has worked in a freelance capacity as an Associate Director of Project Management with Digitas on a new retail concept store, as a Senior Project Manager for SET Creative, an Experiential Design and Marketing Firm, and as an Account Manager with Creative Realities, focused on bringing technology into the retail shopping experience.
Andrea works with major digital clients of Charcoalblue helping them to conceptualize, design, and deliver world-class events spaces.
Andrew has worked in the audiovisual industry for over fifteen years, working his way through sales, installation, operation, commissioning and design in corporate, residential, education and marine settings. This experience has led to a thorough understanding of each step in the project lifecycle and an acute attention to detail.
His experience has seen him work as an AV consultant for a large engineering consultancy, looking after bespoke AV design requests for a large tech client; and a considerable stretch at a large systems integrator quoting for, designing, commissioning corporate and education AV designs.
Andrew joined Charcoalblue having spent two years embedded in a large major client's AV design team. His responsibilities there were to consult on, design and prototype meeting space audiovisual systems with global alignment in operation and experience. He looks forward to continuing the work with this client, making sure their ‘video first' and collaboration focused meeting culture is enabled through the provision of reliable, intuitive, accessible, equitable and user experience informed designs.
Outside work, Andrew is an avid music enthusiast. If he is not listening to something and drumming on the table; he is likely to be playing, editing, mixing or just dreaming about music. His unconscious brain's favourite pastime is mixing ‘ear-worms' with odd numbered time signatures. He finds it very annoying.
Andrew works with major digital clients of Charcoalblue helping them to conceptualize, design, and deliver inclusive, collaborative meeting spaces
Following a number of leading technical roles at major theatres including three years as Chief Electrician/Lighting Designer at the Theatre Royal in Richmond and a Directorship at Theatre Projects, Andy co-founded Charcoalblue in 2004.
Andy has lectured at Yale, Cambridge. LIPA and Canterbury Universities and has written extensively on the subject of performance space design for ABTT and ITEAC. He was the first (and only) theatre consultant to date to be featured in The Stage's ‘Power 100' and received the LIPA Companionship from Sir Paul McCartney.
Andy's consultancy work includes ART in Cambridge, MA; The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Orange Tree Theatre in London and Royal Shakespeare Theatre redevelopment in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
"Andy Hayles, who I have worked with continuously for over ten years, is an invaluable colleague and one of the best team players in the business."
Angelica is a graduate from Stony Brook University and is looking to continue and develop her education by working towards her MS in Human Resources Management. Along with educational experience, Angelica has worked in both the Finance and HR field. She hopes that her experience in both areas and her passion for improving policies and processes will allow for Charcoalblue to cultivate a supportive environment for all employees.
Angelica works alongside the HR Team and is responsible for providing support to the Americas.
Job Titles:
- Training & Development Assistant
Ayesha works in the learning and development team at Charcoalblue. Ayesha supports the Group Training and Development Manager with the smooth running of the global training and development work across the UK, North America and Australia.
Job Titles:
- Bay Area Studio Administrator
Breanna implements and communicates financial, travel, administrative and HR policies across company, and strategizes with Business Support Team to improve process and policy efficiency and business continuity. Breanna Volunteers on EDI team to improve inclusiveness within company and provide awareness of cultural and racial disparities and celebrations.
Becca comes to Charcoalblue from a background in production management and technical theater. Her knowledge base stretches from theatrical sound design, projection systems and immersive theatrical design. She has toured nationally and internationally with dance competitions, and as a sound designer has designed the world premieres of fifteen new works in the Colorado region. She has degrees in Theater Arts and Film Studies, as well as a certificate in Digital Media Production.
Becca is responsible for managing design firms and fabricator partners through the successful delivery of experiential activation installations, with a focus on technology integration.
Becky has spent 15 years working in professional theatres, opera houses, concert halls and performance spaces around the world, taking her to interesting, diverse places, interacting with different cultures and peoples that Becky continues to draw from in her work.
Prior to joining Charcoalblue Becky worked as a Technical Solutions Manager and Primary Install Consultant with Enlightened Lighting, managing projects, systems programming, design and specification for theatrical, events and performance spaces.
As Lead Electrician for Dragone at "The House of Dancing Water" show in Macau, she led the lighting maintenance team and operation of theatre lighting with the added twist of thousands of litres of water! Prior to this, Becky also worked at Melbourne Theatre Company as Deputy Head of Lighting on such shows as the revival of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" directed by Simon Phillips in his last MTC production as Artistic Director.
To assist and consult on all aspects of theatre design with an emphasis on stagelighting system design.
Ben provides consultancy in all aspects of theatre design, specialising in auditorium design and planning, seating, sightlines and accessibility. As Design Principal, he champions and mentors on theatre design and code across the practice.
Ben has ten years' experience as sound designer, associate sound designer, and production sound engineer for theatre and live music. He has worked extensively on and off Broadway, in regional theatres and touring venues throughout the United States, and internationally. He was a visiting lecturer in sound design at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and consulted on the renovation of UT Austin's B. Iden Payne Theatre.
Ben has worked on a motley assortment of projects in a wide array of venues and brings that broad perspective to his consulting work. He is a graduate of Ithaca College, a member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association, and a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.
Bernardo joined Charcoalblue in 2016 as our in-house Bookkeeper and has since become our Finance Coordinator and then Finance Manager overseeing our finance for UK, US, and Australia, and managing the finance teams in London and New York.
Bernardo manages the finance department at Charcoalblue, overseeing the finance functions in the UK, US, and Australia including payroll, invoicing, department budgeting and management accounts..
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- Member and Director of the American Institute of Architects
Bradley began his career in theatre consulting when he took his first piano lesson at the age of four. Some years later, he found a home on stage, in the orchestra pit, and as a set designer with his local community theatre company. Eventually he combined his passion for music and theatre with his education in architecture and began specializing in performing arts design. After nine years as an architect, dedicating himself to the performing arts world through consulting was a natural progression - first in acoustics and then as a theatre designer. Collectively, his experience affords him keen insight into every aspect of the theatre design process and a wealth of first-hand knowledge on creative, technical, and administrative operations once a project is open.
Bradley's recently completed project work includes Klarman Hall, the main convening hall at Harvard Business School; The Momentary experimental visual, performing, and culinary arts venue operated by Crystal Bridges Museum, and the new theatre and dance building at Macalester College in St. Paul. He has over 50 performing arts projects completed or under construction, as well as several studies and unrealized projects.
Bradley is a Member and Director of the American Institute of Architects. He is a Member of the United States Institute of Theatre Technology, Vice Commissioner USITT's Architecture Commission, as well as a Committee Member of USITT's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. He is also a member of the United States Green Building Council.
Bradley provides consultancy in all aspects of theater design, specializing in auditorium design and planning, seating, sightlines and accessibility.
Job Titles:
- Bay Area Studio Administrator
Breanna implements and communicates financial, travel, administrative and HR policies across company, and strategizes with Business Support Team to improve process and policy efficiency and business continuity. Breanna Volunteers on EDI team to improve inclusiveness within company and provide awareness of cultural and racial disparities and celebrations.
Brian is a Project Manager who specializes in complex projects with a strong attention to detail, who communicates clearly and effectively, and who emphasizes creative and collaborative problem solving.
Brian worked as a Project Manager for the Northeast Office of Texas Scenic Company, Inc. for six years where he managed the design, fabrication, and installation of theatrical rigging systems and stage machinery in both new construction and renovation from contract signing to project closeout.
In addition to my experience with Texas Scenic, he has worked as a Technical Director for various festivals and productions, a Flying Director for a performer flying company, and a Project Engineer for a construction management firm. Brian has an MFA in Technical Production from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from California State University, Sacramento.
Brian is responsible for coordinating and delivering Audio Visual systems for our clients from Concept through Delivery to the end user.
A graduate of the Architectural Sciences programme at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, and previously a consultant at Cerami Associates, Bruno's previous work as an acoustician includes room acoustic design, mechanical noise control, environmental noise mitigation, acoustic isolation, and acoustic modelling.
Since joining Charcoalblue Bruno has focused on the acoustic design of Charcoalblue's North American projects.
Bruno's consultancy work includes sound separation performance and detailing for Southern Repertory Theatre in New Orleans Louisiana, room acoustic design for the 2016 Luminato Festival at the Hearn Generating Station in Toronto, Canada, full acoustic services for TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, Arkansas and Stages Repertory Theatre, Houston Texas. His most recently completed project is the Thaden Performing Arts Building in Bentonville Arkansas.
Bruno provides consultancy on all aspects of room acoustic design and planning, sound separation, noise and vibration design for the performing arts.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Partner
- Managing Director / Partner - Acoustics
Byron began his career in Chicago before joining Charcoalblue in London to found the acoustics practice in 2010. His work on notable projects such as St Ann's Warehouse and Theatre Royal in York set the course for expanding our acoustics offering across our studios and establishing an industry-leading integration of theatre and acoustic design. Byron joined the Charcoalblue partnership in 2017.
Having worked on a number of complex performing arts schemes, he is a specialist in the technical coordination of disciplines required to achieve critical sound separation and noise control requirements. As an experienced listener in concert and opera halls all over the world and as an orchestral trombonist himself, he is sensitive to the requirements of musicians and the expectations of audiences.
With Charcoalblue, Byron's consultancy work includes the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's The Yard, Film / Video Department at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute, the refurbishment of Sydney Theatre Company, Energy Hall at Expo 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan, and the Elizabethan Theatre at Chateau d'Hardelot in France. He is the Acoustics Advisor to St Paul's Cathedral, London.
"Byron Harrison is brilliant! We couldn't be more pleased with his work and the manner in which he interacts with all of the players…."
Byron is the leader of our global acoustics practice, incorporating room acoustics, sound separation, and noise and vibration design.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director - Project Management
Carol delivers a high level of audiovisual industry expertise, supported by almost 20 years of construction experience in the New York metro area. Her background includes a specialized knowledge of advanced technology systems, including data centers, large multi-million dollar projects and mechanical installations for various types of clients in residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, entertainment venues and special events.
From small to large projects, Carol has been well-regarded for her positive and effective interactions with internal and external customers, as well as coordination efforts with other trade workers, both on-site and off-site. She also delivers excellent job site leadership, coordinating field testing and training, troubleshooting and control system programming as needed.
Carol provides Project Management leadership for our growing Experience team, overseeing a large team of Project Managers in the New York area.
Caroline has over 15 years of experience in theatre and live events, specializing in lighting design and controls, in addition to 5 years of lighting design for themed entertainment. Caroline obtained their MFA in Theatre Design and Technology from San Diego University in 2018. During their studies, they also worked for the local leading manufacturers representative as a specifier and theatrical systems designer. Upon graduating, Caroline went to work for Walt Disney Imagineering in Burbank, CA, specializing in lighting design, controls, and parkwide systems, until going freelance in 2019.
Outside of permanent installation work, Caroline has worked a lighting and projections designer and associate designer throughout the United States and internationally. They have worked in theatre, live events, dance, and opera at a multitude of venues, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Princess Cruise Lines, BlizzCon, Comic-Con, The Old Globe, Cygnet Theatre, Hawai'i Education of the Arts, and numerous others.
A Royal Albert Hall alum, Caroline began as Assistant Technical Show Manager and was promoted to Technical Show Manager within a year. She soon progressed to the role of resident Rigging Manager. She joined Charcoalblue in 2013, bringing with her considerable experience in stage engineering.
Caroline has also been a freelance rigger and lighting technician and has lent her services to establishments such as PRG Europe, TSL Lighting, SFL Group, KRS Rigging and PTG Productions Ltd. She is currently Director and Trustee of the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT), a charity and membership organisation which ‘provide technical advice, consultations, training and are a vital resource to those working in the technical theatre industry.'
Her consultancy work with Charcoalblue includes The Rotondes, Luxembourg; The Peter Hall PAC, Perse School, Cambridge; Alexandra Palace, London; Chateau d'Hardelot, France; Storyhouse, Chester; Royal Albert Hall, London; The Boulevard Theatre, London; Massey Hall, Toronto; Eton College School Hall, Berkshire.
Caroline consults on all elements of theatre design, with a specialism in the design of stage engineering and other technical systems.
Cassie supports the Event Space Design Management team on process development, assists with development and maintenance of internal ESDM tools and assets and works within the larger coordinator team to share knowledge and information across service lines.
Aerospace Engineering graduate Chris worked at Arup for seven years prior to joining Charcoalblue with extensive experience in theatre consultancy, specialising in the design of production lighting, seating and stage engineering systems.
Before joining Charcoalblue, Chris worked as a technical systems designer and acted as the main point of contact with architects and contractors as project manager on a number of performing arts projects, primarily in Singapore.
Chris' consultancy work with Charcoalblue includes the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Linbury Theatre at the Royal Opera House.
Chris consults on all elements of theatre design and is a specialist in the design of stage engineering and other technical systems.
Job Titles:
- Business Unit Coordinator
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- Event Space Design Manager
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- Event Space Design Manager
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- New York Studio Administrator
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- Associate Director - Americas West
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- Training & Development Assistant
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- London Studio Administrator
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- Associate Director - Design Management
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- Partner
- Managing Director / Partner - Theatre Consultancy Australasia
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- Senior Event Space Design Manager
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- Partner
- Managing Director / Partner - Theatre Consultancy EMEA
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- Partner
- Senior Partner - Design New Work
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- Theatre Consultant Assistant
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- Event Space Design Manager
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- Associate Director - Americas East
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- Partner
- Managing Director / Partner - Charcoalblue Experience
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- Associate Director - People
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- Senior Experience Consultant
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- Senior Technical Producer
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- Personal Assistant
- Senior Partner
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- Partner
- Managing Director / Partner - Theatre Consultancy Americas
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- Partner
- Senior Partner - Contracts Finance
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- Director of Project Management
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- Marketing & Business Development Coordinator
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- Partner
- Senior Partner - People
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- Arts and Humanities Research Council Secondee
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- Marketing & Business Development Manager - Theatre & Acoustics
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- Marketing & Business Development Coordinator
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- Associate Director - Project Management
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- Melbourne Studio Administrator
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- Associate Director - Account
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- Consultant
- Senior Consultant
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- Director of Account Management and Finance
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- Event Space Design Manager
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- Senior Event Space Design Manager
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- Bristol Studio Administrator
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- Melbourne Studio Administrator
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- Senior Creative Consultant