Lighting Design
The Seagull | Anton Chekhov | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson ( Tacoma, WA) [announced]
Tartuffe | Moliére | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
Falling Awake | Maria Glanz | UMO | Dir. Elizabeth Klobb (Burien, WA)
Hay Fever | Noel Coward | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Rick Horner (Tacoma, WA)
'ART' | Yazmina Reza | Tacoma Arts Live | Dir. Brett Carr (Tacoma, WA)
Laura | Vera Caspary and George Sklar | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Randy Clark (Tacoma, WA)
A Little Night Music | Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. John Munn (Tacoma, WA)
Agnes of God | John Pielmeier | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Nyree Martinez (Tacoma, WA)
A Doll's House | Henrik Ibsen | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Marilyn Bennet (Tacoma, WA)
Hamlet | William Shakespeare | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
Scrooge | Leslie Bricusse | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Micheal O'Hara (Tacoma, WA)
Mamma Mia | Ulvaeus, Andersson, Johnson | Curtis High School | Dir. Briony Schroeder (University Place, WA)
A Perfect Analysis Given by a Parrot | Tennessee Williams | Civic Rep Theatre | Dir. Elizabeth Klob (Vashon, WA)
Something Unspoken | Tennessee Williams | Civic Rep Theatre | Dir. Charlotte Tienkin (Vashon, WA)
The Lady of Larkspur Lotion | Tennessee Williams | Civic Rep Theatre | Dir. Michael Barker (Vashon, WA)
I Can't Imagine Tomorrow | Tennessee Williams | Civic Rep Theatre | Dir. Zane Jones (Vashon, WA)
Bell, Book, and Candle | John Van Druten | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Brett Carr (Tacoma, WA)
The Foreigner | Larry Shue | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Casi Wilkerson (Tacoma, WA)
Lysistrata | Aristophanes | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
Macbeth | William Shakespeare | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Pug Bujeaud (Tacoma, WA)
Clybourne Park | Bruce Norris | Broadway Center for the Performing Arts/Toy Boat/UWT | Dir. Marilyn Bennet (Tacoma, WA)
The Pillowman | Martin McDonagh | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Blake York (Tacoma, WA)
Jesus Christ Superstar | Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Lexi Barnett (Tacoma, WA)
Children of a Lesser God | Mark Medoff | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Rick Horner (Tacoma, WA)
A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens | Annie Wright Schools | Dir. Scott Campbell (Tacoma, WA)
Seussical | Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Jennifer York (Tacoma, WA)
365 Plays/365 Days | Suzan-Lori Parks | UWT / Toy Boat Theatre | Dir. Marilyn Bennett (Tacoma, WA)
Les Miserables | Alain Boubil and Claude-Michel Schonberg | Curtis High School | Dir. Briony Schraeder (University Place, WA)
James and the Giant Peach | Roald Dahl | Annie Wright Schools | Dir. Scott Campbell (Tacoma, WA)
Blithe Spirit | Noel Coward | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Chris Serface (Tacoma, WA)
Rumors | Neil Simon | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Erin Chanfreau (Tacoma, WA)
Frankenstein | Mary Shelley | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
A Servant of Two Masters | Carlo Goldoni | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance | Jethro Compton | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. David Domkowsi (Tacoma, WA)
Water by the Spoonful | Quiera Alegria Hudes | Toy Boat Theatre and UW Tacoma | Dir. Marilyn Bennett (Tacoma, WA)
Peer Gynt: Revenant | Henrik Ibsen | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
Peer Gynt: Youth | Henrik Ibsen | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
Exit Laughing | Paul Elliot | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Rick Horner (Tacoma, WA)
The Waltz of the Toreadors | Jean Anouilh | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Randy Clark (Tacoma, WA)
Gypsy | Styne, Sondheim, Laurents | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Chris Serface (Tacoma, WA)
Second Samuel | Pamela Parker | Tacoma Little Theatre / WSCTA | Dir. Chris Serface (Tacoma, WA)
Chicago | Kander, Ebb, Fosse | Annie Wright School | Dir. Elizabeth Gettel (Tacoma, WA)
Of Mice and Men | John Steinbeck | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
Miracle on 34th Street | Valentine Davies | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Maria Valenzuela (Tacoma, WA)
Schoolhouse Rock Live! | Ferguson, Keating, Hall, Ahrens, etc. | Curtis High School | Dir. Briony Schroeder (Tacoma, WA)
Peter Pan | J.M. Barrie | Annie Wright School | Dir. Scott Campbell (Tacoma, WA)
Dracula | Steven Dietz | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Pug Bujeaud (Tacoma, WA)
The Underpants | Steve Martin and Carl Sternheim | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Jennifer York (Tacoma, Wa)
Six Characters in Search of an Author | Luigi Pirandello | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
High School Musical | Simpatico, Gerrard, Nevill, Cham, etc. | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Josh Johnson (Tacoma, WA)
Spring Awakening | Duncan Sheik | Vashon Youth Theater | Dir. Elizabeth Ripley (Vashon Island, WA)
Aladdin Jr. | Menken, Ashman, Rice, Luigs | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Nena Curley (Tacoma, WA)
Into the Woods | Sondheim and Lapine | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
Ghosts | Henrik Ibsen | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
A Doll's House | Henrik Ibsen | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike | Christopher Durang | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Frank Kohel (Tacoma, WA)
A Piece of My Heart | Shirley Lauro | Curtis High School | Dir. Briony Schroeder (University Place, WA)
The Last Night of Ballyhoo | Alfred Uhry | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Jeff Kingsbury (Tacoma, WA)
Danceblast | Various | Curtis High School | Dir. Lauren Molinaro (University Place, WA)
Company | Stephen Sondheim | Vashon Youth Theater | Dir. Elizabeth Ripley (Vashon Island, WA)
Romeo and Juliet | William Shakespeare | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
The Wizard of Oz | Baum, Kane, Arlen, Harburg | Vashon Youth Theater | Dir. Elizabeth Ripley (Vashon Island, WA)
A Christmas Story | Phillip Grecian | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Jennifer York (Tacoma, WA)
Grease | Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey | Curtis High School | Dir. Briony Schroeder (University Place, WA)
Night of The Iguana | Tennessee Williams | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Randy Clark (Tacoma, WA)
Rabbit Hole | David Lindsey-Abaire | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Suzy Wilhoft (Tacoma, WA)
Boeing Boeing | Marc Camoletti | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Curt Hetherington (Tacoma, WA)
The Music Man Jr. | Meredith Wilson | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Jennifer Rivers (Tacoma, WA)
Beauty and the Beast Jr. | Menken, Ashman, Rice, Woolverton | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Maria Valenzuela (Tacoma, WA)
Miss Julie | August Strindberg | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
Cabaret | Kander, Ebb, Masteroff | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. John Munn (Tacoma, WA)
Angels in America: Perestroika | Tony Kushner | Olympia Little Theater | Dir. Niclas Olson (Olympia, WA)
Angels in America: Millennium Approaches | Tony Kushner | Olympia Little Theater | Dir. Niclas Olson (Olympia, WA)
A Year with Frog and Toad | Reale, Reale, Lobel | Lakewood Institute of Theater | Dir. Jeremy Thompson (Lakewood, WA)
Chicago | Kander, Ebb, Fosse | Curtis High School | Dir. Briony Schroeder (University Place, WA)
Little Women | Louisa May Alcott | Lakewood Playhouse | Dir. Suzy Wilhoft (Lakewood, WA)
Tea | Velina Hasu Houston | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Randy Clark (Tacoma, WA)
A Midsummer Night's Dream | William Shakespeare | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Suzy Wilhoft (Tacoma, WA)
Doctor Faustus | Christopher Marlowe | New Muses Theatre Company | Dirs. Katherine Mahoney and Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen | Lakewood Playhouse | Dir. Casi Wilkerson (Tacoma, WA)
The Shape of Things | Neil Labute | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
The Laramie Project | Moises Kaufman | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Brie Yost (Tacoma, WA)
Little Shop of Horrors | Alan Menken and Howard Ashman | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Maria Valenzuela (Tacoma, WA)
The Rainmaker | Richard Nash | Lakewood Playhouse | Dir. Casi Wilkerson (Tacoma, WA)
The Joy Luck Club | Amy Tan and David Hseih | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. David Hseih (Tacoma, WA)
The Woman in Black | Stephen Malatratt | Lakewood Playhouse | Dir. Beau Pritchard (Tacoma, WA)
The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Abridged | Long, Singer, and Wingfield | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Suzy Wilhoft (Tacoma, WA)
Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks | Richard Alfieri | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Frank Kohel (Tacoma, WA)
Dreamgirls | H. Krieger and T. Eyen | DASH Center for the Performing Arts | Dir. Jimmy Shields (Tacoma, WA)
Miracle on 34th St. | V. Davies | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Casi Wilkerson (Tacoma, WA)
Nightwatch | Lucille Fletcher | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Randy Clark (Tacoma, WA)
Sylvia | A.R. Gurney | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Elliot Weiner (Tacoma, WA)
Someone Who'll Watch Over Me | Frank McGuiness | Tacoma Little Theater | Dir. Doug Kerr (Tacoma, WA)
The Fever | Wallace Shawn | New Muses Theater Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Seattle, WA)
Oliver! | Lionel Bart | Lakewood Playhouse | Dir. Casi Wilkerson (Tacoma, WA)
Annie | Strouse, Meehan, and Charnin | OnStage Children's Theater | Dir. Marci Ericksen (Morton, WA)
Peter Pan | J. Barrie | OnStage Children's Theater | Dir. Marci Ericksen (Morton, WA)
Blithe Spirit | Noel Coward | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Morton, WA)
Hamlet | William Shakespeare | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Morton, WA)
The Importance of Being Earnest | Oscar Wilde | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Morton, WA)
To Be Frank | Alexander Peterson | CatBox Productions / Roxy Theater | Dir. Alexander Peterson (Morton, WA)
Anthem: A Musical Theatre Cabaret | Various Composers | Roxy Theater | Dir. Niclas Olson (Morton, WA)
Other Designs
Calligraphy | Velina Hasu Houston | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Maria Valenzuala (Tacoma, WA) [Sound and Promo Design]
The Waltz of the Toreadors | Jean Anouilh | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Randy Clark (Tacoma, WA) [Lighting, Sound, and Promo Design]
A Piece of My Heart | Shirley Lauro | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Randy Clark (Tacoma, WA) [Sound and Promo Design]
Java Tacoma: Can't Buy Me Latte | Aya Hashiguchi | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Micheal O'Hara (Tacoma, WA) [Sound Design]
Night of the Iguana | Tennessee Williams | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Randy Clark (Tacoma, WA) [Lighting, Sound, and Promo Design]
Miss Julie | August Strindberg | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA) [Set, Lighting, & Costume Design]
Angels in America | Tony Kushner | Olympia Little Theatre | Dir. Niclas Olson (Olympia, WA) [Set Design]
Tea | Valina Hasu Houston | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Randy Clark (Tacoma, WA) [Sound, Promo, & Lighting Design]
Doctor Faustus | Christopher Marlowe | New Muses | Dirs. Mahoney and Olson (Tacoma, WA) [Set, Lighting, & Projection Design]
Driving Miss Daisy | Alfred Uhry | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Julie Halpin (Tacoma, WA) [Sound Design]
The Shape of Things | Neil Labute | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA) [Set, Lighting, & Projection Design]
The Emperor's New Clothes | Prince Street Players | Tacoma Musical Playhouse - YSAS | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA) [Set Design]
The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley | McDonald | Tacoma Children's Musical Theater | Dir. H. Turpin (Tacoma, WA) ['Flat Suit' Design]
The Fever | Wallace Shawn | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Seattle, WA) [Set Design]
Blithe Spirit | Noel Coward | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Morton, WA) [Set Design]
Hamlet | William Shakespeare | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Morton, WA) [Set, Lighting, & Sound Design]
The Importance of Being Earnest | Oscar Wilde | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Morton, WA) [Set Design]
The Glass Menagerie | Tennessee Williams | Pacific Lutheran University | Dir. Brian Desmond (Tacoma, WA) [Projection Design]
Awards and Nominations
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Jesus Christ Superstar" (Winner)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Frankenstein" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Of Mice and Men" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Dracula" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "The Night of the Iguana" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Cabaret" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Pride & Prejudice" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Sound Design for "Driving Miss Daisy" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Little Shop of Horrors" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "The Woman in Black" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "The Joy Luck Club" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Nightwatch" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Frankenstein" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Of Mice and Men" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Dracula" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "The Night of the Iguana" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Cabaret" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Pride & Prejudice" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Sound Design for "Driving Miss Daisy" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Little Shop of Horrors" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "The Woman in Black" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "The Joy Luck Club" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Nightwatch" (Nominee)
Theater Design and Consulting
The Dukesbay Theater: In 2013, Olson designed the lighting systems for the new Dukesbay Theater located in the Merlino Arts Center complex in Tacoma, WA. The new black box theater was equipped with a full lighting grid, including specially designed diagonal hanging positions for arena theatre setups, a full complement of standard lighting instruments as well as LED and moving lights to maximize flexibility while conserving electricity, and a state-of-the-art PC based lighting control system.
Puyallup Children's Theater and Music Academy: In 2012, Olson consulted on the redesign of Puyallup Children's Theater. The retrofit of the existing storefront theater space included an expanded stage, optimized for safety and flexibility, and a movable grid system with separate hanging positions for soft goods and lighting instruments as well as a PC based lighting control system.
Education
Graduate of Pacific Lutheran University's BFA Theatre Program. Cum Laude. Formal training in lighting, make-up, and costume design.