Shirley Prendergast

Shirley Prendergast
BornJune 15, 1929
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedFebruary 26, 2019
Other namesMerris Shirley Prendergast
Occupationlighting designer

Merris Shirley Prendergast (June 15, 1929 – February 26, 2019) was a theater lighting designer notable for being the first African-American woman admitted to the United Scenic Artists’ lighting division in 1969. She was also the first African-American woman lighting designer on Broadway in 1973.[1][2] Prendergast designed lighting for Broadway shows such as Waltz of the Stork, Amen Corner, and the Paul Robeson one-man show.[3] She designed lighting for fifty years, well into her mid-80s. One of her last productions was Zora Neale Hurston: a Theatrical Biography in 2016.[4]

  1. ^ Perkins, Kathy A. (Summer 2014). "The Remarkable Career of ShIrley Prendergast". Theater Design & Technology. 50 (3): 30–39. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  2. ^ Perkins, Kathy A. (2019-04-04). "Trailblazing lighting designer Shirley Prendergast passes". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  3. ^ "Shirley Prendergast Honored for Lighting". USITT. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  4. ^ Perkins, Kathy A. (2019-04-09). "In Memoriam: Shirley Prendergast". USITT News. Retrieved 2020-02-04.