William C. Kenyon serves as head of the Lighting Design Program in the School of Theatre at Penn State University. An active professional designer, William has designed more than 150 plays, operas, and dances, along with over a dozen national and international tour seasons with several theatre and dance companies. William has been involved in Native American theatre and dance for more than 15 years, serving as resident lighting designer for the American Indian Dance Theatre, and was involved in the complete reimagining of Unto These Hills, a massive outdoor spectacle celebrating the history of the Cherokee. Prior to Penn State, William taught lighting and sound design at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. William received his BFA from the University of Connecticut, and his MFA from Brandeis University in Massachussetts. William is very involved with OISTAT’s Education Commission (Organisation Internationale des Scénographes, Techniciens et Architectes de Théâtre), after having served two terms as Commissioner for Education for USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology). He is also a member of USITT, OISTAT, IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers), IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America), and USAA (United Scenic Artists of America) Local #829 in the areas of lighting and sound design. When not on tour or in tech, William is working on climbing the highest point in each US state. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Jenny, a costume and scenic designer and forensic artist, and his daughter, Delaney, who is a designer, martial artist, and world traveler.
