When: Dec. 12, 2026, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Barbizon Lighting Company, 6437G General Green Way, Alexandria, VA 22312
Cost: Free
Does the lighting lingo confuse you? Do you just want to light your space without having to do a ton of research? Are you struggling to understand why there are SO many different types of lights? Then this event is for you! Join us for this 5-hour PDW where we will discuss lighting in a way that will be easy to remember later. There will be sessions pertaining to entertainment lighting and lighting for camera (broadcast, house of worship, etc.). This will include hands-on time with various types of fixtures and consoles.
Schedule:
10:00 - 10:05 a.m. Introduction
10:05 - 10:35 a.m. "What is Lighting Anyway?" (Short discussion about lighting)
10:40 - 11:40 a.m. "I Just Want To Light My Space" (Discussion of how to light a space without having a ton of knowledge, with Q/A)
11:40 - 11:50 a.m. Break (Snacks/Water will be available)
11:50 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "Why Does My Video Look Strange?" (Discussion of how to light for camera, with Q&A)
12:30 - 12:40 p.m. Break (Snacks/Water Will be available)
12:40 - 2:00 p.m. Ways to Learn Lighting On Your Own (Discussion of materials/tools available for independent learning, with Q/A)
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Closing/Hands On Time (After closing remarks, participants will be able to have hands-on time with the fixtures and consoles available in the space)
Instructors:
Kearston Dillard-Scott prides herself on not only having a true passion for lighting but also having an incredible enthusiasm for theatrical education. Her 20+ years of experience in lighting include Assistant Lighting Designer at the Virginia Opera in Norfolk, VA, the Atlanta Ballet in Atlanta, GA and most recently, the lighting designer for the pilot MTI production of “The Prince of Egypt” at Rock Ridge High School. She is a master lighting programmer with in-depth experience on various consoles. She has even worked on several film productions, as Art Director and even Assistant Stunt Coordinator. Her deep understanding of lighting, rigging, projections, sound, and video shines through in her Barbizon role of the past 7 years as Outside Sales Associate, dedicating herself not only to helping venues enhance their lighting but also educating individuals to better utilize lighting to help tell a story. She was recently promoted to Senior Sales Associate, a role that signifies not only her years of service with Barbizon but also her dedication to her role in being a mentor to her coworkers. Besides being a wife and a mother, she enjoys video games, singing, and doing art with her collection of art stationery, which includes over 500 Sharpie markers.
Gretta Daughtrey (Lighting Systems Integrator-Designer-Educator) (she/her) has designed with several Virginia theatre companies, area schools, and universities. Gretta has also been a Lighting Controls Systems Integrator for over 20 years and currently works at Barbizon Capitol to specify production lighting and control systems. In addition to theatre, she is active in the RVA Dance community and teaches the Dance Production Workshop as an Adjunct Professor at VCU in the Dept. of Theatre and Dance. She also volunteers for IES.org and safemakers.org to help educate people about lighting and venue safety.