Interview with lighting designer and St. Kate’s alum, Nancy Schertler

Oct 12

Oct 12 Interview with lighting designer and St. Kate’s alum, Nancy Schertler

By Alexandriana Davis

An acclaimed American theatrical lighting designer, Nancy Schertler’s career has illuminated stages across the United States for over four decades. From working in Washington, D.C. at the Arena Stage to becoming a freelance lighting designer, Schertler encountered many twists and turns along her journey. What most do not realize, however, is that Schertler began her career at St. Catherine University. Schertler spoke about how her time at St. Kate’s shaped her career in an interview with The Wheel.

A St. Kate’s graduate of ‘76, Schertler was a part of a lighting program active at the O’Shaughnessy in the ‘70s. Schertler said, “One of the reasons that I chose St. Kate’s was because they had just built the O’Shaughnessy Theater and the Frey Theater.” While deciding which college to attend, one of her parents' friends told her to attend a small school to gain the hands-on experience necessary to become a lighting designer. At the time, the O’Shaughnessy had a theater program, outside of the Drama Club, where she could gain the skills necessary to become a lighting designer. St. Kate’s, therefore, met all her career goals, so she decided to attend. Schertler said her decision to go to a small college paid off: “It was the hands-on that made a huge difference in my career.” As Schertler continued discussing the theater program, she added, “I was devastated when that program was closed, particularly because it has such a fabulous facility.”

After Schertler graduated from St. Kate’s, she went back to Washington, D.C., her hometown, in the hopes of becoming involved in the theater scene there. She sent a letter to Arena Stage asking whether she could intern in lighting or stage management. They hired her, and Schertler “was an electrician, and then moved up the ranks and became the assistant lighting designer for every show they were doing.” When Schertler was there, Zelda Fichandler, a leading stage producer and theater director often considered the “matriarch” of the American regional theater movement, was the artistic director (NPR). Over time, Schertler ended up designing for Fichandler, whom Schertler praised as “an amazing speaker and an amazing visionary.” Schertler’s work at the Stage Arena alongside Fichandler shaped the trajectory of Schertler’s career and pushed her to become a freelance lighting designer.

Throughout her career as a lighting designer, one of Schertler’s favorite experiences was working alongside American actor and comedian Bill Irwin. While starting out as a freelance lighting designer, Schertler took on as many jobs as she could, but none paid well. Suddenly, one of her friends from the Arena Stage, Rita Giomi, who had become a production manager at the Seattle Repertory Theater, called her out of the blue. According to Schertler, Giomi said, “So here’s the deal: Bill is going to be doing a show at the Seattle Rep. It’s called ‘Largely New York.’ He wants you to come design it, and these are the dates.” Schertler responded, saying she had a gig somewhere else, to which Giomi said, “I’m going to hang up the phone and pretend I didn’t just hear what you just said. Call me back when you say yes.” Schertler laughed to herself before saying, “So anyway, I did that show with Bill in Seattle Rep. As it happens, that show moved to Broadway, and I ended up getting a Tony nomination for it.”

Schertler’s career spans far and wide, and she has worked alongside many of the top theater directors in the industry. When asked if she had anything to say to the current students at St. Catherine University, she said, “As a student, you need to go experience the arts. You need to go to the theater. You need to participate because a) they need you, and b) it’s such an important part of your education.”

Schertler is currently the lighting designer for the Children’s Theater production of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” The production will run from November 3, 2026, to January 3, 2027.