Gilbert Vaughn Hemsley Jr.

He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Hemsley studied history at Yale, earned an MFA at Yale Drama School in 1960, and worked as assistant to lighting designer Jean Rosenthal.

He was production manager for the inaugurations of U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter, and for large stage events like Einstein on the Beach.[1] But he is best known for his work as a lighting designer on Broadway,[2][3] at numerous regional theatres, dance companies,[4][5] opera companies,[6][7] and as the lighting director at the New York City Opera. Hemsley taught lighting design at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was celebrated there for his generosity with students, many of whom served as assistants at New York City Opera and elsewhere.

He died[8] in 1983.

A 150-seat black box theatre on the UW campus is named for him. A notable attendee of his memorial service in New York City was Beverly Sills, who announced the establishment in Hemsley's name of apprenticeship funds at New York City Opera and at Wisconsin. A not-for-profit was set up to continue his legacy of training and career opportunities for early-career lighting designers. [9]

• Gilbert V. Hemsley, Jr. at the Internet Broadway Database
• Gilbert Helmsley Papers at the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research
• The Gilbert V. Hemsley, Jr. Internship in Lighting
• Larry Wild, Northern State University, A Brief Outline of the History of Stage Lighting
• Love of Lighting Design, second list item
• American Ballet Theatre Repertory Archive
• NYCO Archives, Columbia University