Niclas Olson is an actor, playwright, director, and designer based in Tacoma. Recent regional designs include HAMLET (New Muses), DRAGON COUNTRY (Civic Rep), EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Tacoma Little Theatre, BroadwayWorld Award), and OLEANNA (Tacoma Arts Live). He is the managing artistic director of New Muses Theatre Company, resident lighting designer at Tacoma Little Theatre, and technical director for Open Space for Arts & Community.
Lighting Design
Spring's Awakening | Frank Wedekind | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA) [announced]
Untitled 19th Amendment Play | Niclas Olson | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA) [announced]
Camelot | Lerner & Loewe | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA) [postponed]
A Chorus Line | Bennet, Kirkwood, Dante, Hamlisch, Kleban | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Eric Clausell (Tacoma, WA)
Oleanna | David Mamet | Tacoma Arts Live | Dir. Joshua Knudson (Tacoma, WA)
Shattering | Pat Montley | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Chris Serface (Tacoma, WA)
The Games Afoot, or Holmes for the Holidays | Ken Ludwig | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Jennifer York (Tacoma, WA)
Proof | David Auburn | Dukesbay Productions | Dir. Randy Clark (Tacoma, WA)
Evil Dead: The Musical | Bond, Cipolla, Morris, Reinblatt | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Niclas Olson (Tacoma, WA)
Calendar Girls | Tim Firth | Tacoma Little Theatre | Dir. Vicki Webb (Tacoma, WA)
The Seagull | Anton Chekhov | New Muses Theatre Company | Dir. Niclas Olson ( Tacoma, WA)
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 "Agnes of God" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "Bell, Book, and Candle" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "The Seagull" (Nominee)
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 "Bell, Book, and Candle" (Nominee)
BroadwayWorld Seattle: Best Lighting Design for "The Seagull" (Nominee)
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)
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.