STAGES Episode 621: KEN BILLINGTON

About this episode

Ken Billington, an acclaimed international lighting designer, discusses his extensive work in theatre, television, and architecture.

Ken Billington is an international lighting designer working in theatre, television and architecture. Over 100 Broadway designs include the original production of Sweeney Todd and the current Chicago , which is the longest running American musical in history. Chicago has been seen in over 20 countries all with the original lighting. Other Broadway productions include Waitress, Act One, Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway, Chaplin, The Scottsboro Boys, White Christmas, Title of Show, Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs…, Footloose plus revivals of My Fair Lady (1981), Hello Dolly! (1995), Sunday in the Park with George (2008, 2017), Annie (1997, 2006), Fiddler on the Roof (1976, 1981, 1990), West End productions include such shows as Sleepless, Waitress, Chicago, Sweeney Todd, The Drowsy Chaperone, What the Butler Saw, White Christmas, The Scottsboro Boys, Disney’s High School Musical and High School Musical 2. Spectaculars include The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show for 27 years as well as the Las Vegas production show Jubliee! Many nightclub and concert acts for such stars as Shirley MacLaine, Ann-Margret, Liberace, Chita Rivera, The McGuire Sisters. Also over one hundred opera…

People in this episode

Host: Peter Eyers

Guest: Ken Billington

Topics covered

• lighting design
• theatre
• Broadway
• international productions
• opera
• theme parks

Keywords

• lighting design
• Broadway
• theatre
• Ken Billington
• Chicago
• Sweeney Todd
• opera
• theme parks

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Radio City Music Hall, Disneyland California, Seaworld Parks, Busch Gardens, La Scala, Madrid’s Theatro Real, Opera Bastille

Books & works: Sweeney Todd, Chicago, Waitress, Act One, Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway, Chaplin, The Scottsboro Boys, White Christmas, Title of Show, Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs…

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• STAGES Episode 628: FAITH MARTIN · May 30, 2026 · 48 min
• STAGES Episode 627: GLENN ELSTON · May 27, 2026 · 38 min
• STAGES Episode 626: DEBORAH KENNEDY · May 23, 2026 · 57 min
• STAGES Episode 625: JAY LAGA’AIA · May 20, 2026 · 1h 2m
• STAGES Episode 624: DEBRA LAWRANCE · May 16, 2026 · 54 min