Holly Burnell
Associate Director
Holly is an Associate Director overseeing and supporting Charcoalblue Experience's East Coast project management team.
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Holly has been with Charcoalblue since 2016, and she is applying her various project insights and history with the company into this Associate Director role with Charcoalblue Experience. Leveraging project management, theatre consultancy, systems design, and event production experience allows her to continue to be adaptable and creative in identifying critical next steps and optimal results for our clients.
After graduating from the University of Arizona in 2008, Holly started her professional career working for two years in the Stage Management department at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater followed by a summer as a Stage Management intern with Glimmerglass Opera.
Based in New York since 2010, Holly started doing work as a freelance electrician and light board programmer, working with The Lighting Syndicate, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Playwrights Horizons, and The Public Theater. At The Public Theater her roles included Assistant Master Electrician, Master Electrician, and finally joining the theatre’s full-time staff as an Assistant Lighting Supervisor. After four years with The Public Theater, she joined the Metropolitan Opera as the Production Office Assistant.
Her consultancy
work with Charcoalblue includes the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center, a major Broadway theatre renovation,
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, and Powerhouse Workshop in New York as well
as Massey Hall in Toronto.
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learnt as a Theatre Consultant?
Just like putting on a show, assembling a top-notch team who can efficiently collaborate on a construction project is essential.
What first sparked your love of theatre or performing arts?
My love of theatre started with a high school crush during my freshman year! He was helping build sets, so I figured I would join as well. One thing led to another and needless to say, my relationship with theatre has lasted longer.
One of my favourite career memories would be watching tech rehearsal for Hamilton at The Public Theater. They kept working on the transition from “Helpless” to “Satisfied”. It featured some elaborate electrical props that I worked on, but they were overshadowed by the magic happening on stage. It was a revelation.
What qualities should a 'great performance space' have?
It should provide a canvas to aid in showcasing a variety of work, allowing the audience to become absorbed by what they’re seeing.
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