Hemsley Lighting Programs

Announcing the 2026 Hemsley Interns, Ashley Christensen and AJ Rose. Also announcing the 2026 Binkley Fellow, Jules Cabrera. Congratulations from the Hemsley Lighting Programs!!!

Announcing the 2026 Hemsley Lighting Programs Internships and Howell Binkley Fellow!

Ashley Christensen (achristensenm.com) is a lighting designer originally from Portland, OR. She is an M.F.A Lighting Design candidate at Indiana University Bloomington (2026). As a lighting designer as well as a sound designer, and musician, her design work strives to combine each of her backgrounds in order to find the richness where the three intersect. This pushes her to find innovative ways to communicate through light, helping her to find the beats in a moment onstage, the musicality in a transition, and to strengthen her collaboration with the sound or score of a work. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and playing harp. Ashley will intern with the lighting departments of the San Francisco Opera, The New York City Ballet, and The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre from July through February.

AJ Rose (ajrosedesigns.com) is a lighting designer originally from Michigan, finishing their MFA program at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. AJ is passionate about enhancing the artistry of the shows they work on with their lighting design. When not in a theatre, he enjoys reading, going to the movies, and hanging out with his cat Celia. They are so excited to continue their professional lighting journey this summer with the Hemsley Internship Program! AJ will intern under the guidance of Paul Miller on the Gene Kelly Awards, Pittsburgh
Civic Light Opera, and with Rob Denton at the Muny in St. Louis.

Jules Cabrera (www.julescabdesign.com) is a theatrical lighting designer born and raised in Austin, Texas. She holds a BFA in Theatre from Texas State University and an M.F.A. in Lighting Design and Technology from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She is thrilled by the opportunity to work with Ryan O’Gara and Amanda Zieve, and intends to make the most of every moment and connection. Jules hopes to move to New York City, and is excited to carry what she learns from this opportunity every step of the way. She values storytelling in all of its forms, especially through light.