work experience

contact

preston bircher

 

mobile:  +1.305.778.6741

fax:  +1.305.866.6076
email: preston@prestonbircherdesigns.com

Dallas, Texas

1982-1989

Staff Lighting Designer | Master Electrician

Job Duties:

  • Design lighting and sound for dramatic and musical theatrical productions in a 215-seat, Equity SPT 3/4-thrust house.

Dallas, Texas

1986-1987

Designer & Draftsman

Job Duties:

  • Assist in architectural lighting design for multi-million-dollar commercial and residential projects.
  • Drafting of all aspects of the architectural lighting installation.

Dallas, Texas

1985-1986

 

Job Duties:

  • Rental and sales of theatrical and concert lighting and audio systems

Good Time Theatre

Arlington, Texas

1979-1982

 

Job Duties:

  • Lighting Designer, Stage Manager & Show Manager

Magic Moments Theatre

Valencia, California

1980

 

Job Duties:

  • Lighting Designer

Miami, Florida

1989-2012

Entertainment Technical Projects Manager

Carnival Productions: Lighting Designer & Technical Director

Playlist Productions: Technical Director

 

Responsibilities:

  • Oversee and direct project consultants coordinating all state of the art entertainment venues with shipyards and architects for new vessels under construction for Carnival Cruise Lines.  Including  all venue operations, front and back of house, specifications and implementation, all support spaces, control booths, storage lockers, dressing rooms, electrical lockers, etc.
    • SEE APPENDIX ‘A’ SHIPS AND DETAILED INFORMATION
  • Initial duties included maintaining all lighting, audio, pyrotechnics, and laser installations in entertainment venues aboard the fleet of ships, as well as the now retired vessels.
    • SEE APPENDIX ‘B’ RETIRED VESSELS
  • Oversee and direct the renovation and retrofitting of the vessels main showrooms as shows were changed.

CARNIVAL PRODUCTIONS

  • Instrumental in the creation of one of the industry’s first and largest ‘in-house’ production companies.
  • Was a member of the team that conceived, wrote and oversaw the production of new shows.
  • Staff Lighting Designer for all shows aboard all vessels.
  • Technical Director for all new shows.  Working directly with all technical disciplines; scenic, video, special effects, music and audio.
  • Worked on maintaining show quality, uniformity and original content in conjunction with the Entertainment Department’s technical operations’ division.

PLAYLIST PRODUCTIONS

  • In keeping with the corporate plans to re-brand the onboard experience, worked to adapt the venues to showcase state of the art high-definition LED video walls and automation.
    • SEE APPENDIX ‘C’ HIGH-DEFINITION LED WALLS
  • Worked with Hasbro, the largest board game company, to re-create a live on-stage version of their HUB Network’s game show, “Family Game Night”.
    • Conceptualized show ideas and flow.
    • Oversaw the game design and construction, installation and designs.
    • Merged 26 game operation personnel into one show control operator system.

education

North Texas State University | University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

1981-1985

  • Course of study: Theatrical Design / Interior Design

 

community activities

Woodrow Wilson High School

Dallas, Texas

1975-2003

  • Design lighting for Broadway-style musicals on an over-sized scale.
  • Designer for specialty Show-Choir, the Variations, winner of many notional, state and regional awards.
  • Instruct students in technical theatre design, construction and installation of theatrical equipment.

 

Junior Players Guild

Dallas, Texas

1977-1985

• Lighting designer for Children's Theatre Company offering a year-round season.

Various shows  (please see resume of shows)

1985~1989

  • Lighting Designer & Master Electrician
resume of shows

APPENDIX ‘A’—SHIPS AND DETAILED INFORMATION  [Scroll down for more.]

  • Kvaerner Masa-Yard, Helsinki, Finland (now STX Finland Cruise Oy)
    • Carnival Ecstasy—1991
    • Carnival Sensation—1993
    • Carnival Fascination—1994
    • Carnival Imagination—1995
    • Carnival Inspiration—1996
    • Carnival Elation—1998
    • Carnival Paradise—1998
    • Carnival Spirit—2001
    • Carnival Pride—2001
    • Carnival Legend—2002
    • Carnival Miracle—2004
  • Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani, S.p.A., Trieste, Italy
    • Monfalcone Shipyard
      • Carnival Destiny—1996
      • Carnival Triumph—1999
      • Carnival Victory—2000
      • Carnival Conquest—2002
      • Carnival Glory—2003
      • Carnival Liberty—2005
      • Carnival Dream—2009
      • Carnival Magic—2011
      • Carnival Breeze—2012
    • Marghera (Venice) Shipyard
      • Carnival Freedom—2007
    • Genoa Shipyard
      • Carnival Splendor—2008
  • Special Consult: The Cunard Line
    • Queen Mary 2 – Royal Court Theatre™
  • Venue technical specifications included:
    • Automated rigging systems of 30+ axis for single-operator playback, lifts and turntables
    • Lighting systems with 80+ automated light fixtures, 120+ conventional lighting fixtures, 100+ automated accessories.  All systems to coordinate with automated show control for single operator playback and to maintain original design integrity.
    • Audio system with high-power concert-style quality, playback and automation.
    • Multiple video high-power systems, also completely automated for no-operator playback.
    • Automated Special Effects systems for atmospheric and pyrotechnic performances.
  • Venues included:  (size varies from vessel to vessel)
    • Main Showroom: 900~1800 seats
    • Cabaret Showroom: 400~500 seats
    • Nightclub/Dance Club: 200~300 guests
    • Jazz Club: 70~100 seats
    • Piano Bar: 100~150 seats (with AMX venue automation)
    • Lido outdoor amphitheater and outdoor systems
    • Restaurants with live performance capabilities
    • 6 to 9-deck Atrium performance venue

 

APPENDIX ‘B’—RETIRED VESSELS

  • T.S.S. Mardi Gras
  • m/s Tropicale
  • m/s Holiday
  • m/s Jubilee
  • m/s Celebration
  • T.S.S. Carnivale (and her conversion to the T.S.S. Fiesta Marina)

 

APPENDIX ‘C’—HIGH-DEFINITION LED WALLS

  • State of the art high definition LED video walls and automation:
    • 5mm-pitch LED walls that are automated to travel via the showroom’s rigging automation system and additional "Fisher/Tate Navigator" system.
    • 10mm-pitch LED walls that freely rove the stage as per the director’s vision.
    • 40mm-pitch LED “scrim”; a transparent video product that flies in/out in various combinations to help in the creation of endless possibilities.
    • Show Control for media servers and minimal personnel required for performance and playback.
appendix

Island City Stage (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

At Empire Stage

Lighting Designer | Master Electrician  | Technical Director

  • Angry Fags
  • Shorts Gone Wild 3 (In association with City Theatre)
  • Daniel's Husband
  • The Little Dog Laughed
  • Octopus (highly acclaimed design by local press)
  • Poz
  • Shorts Gone Wild 2 (In association with City Theatre)
  • Secrets of the Trade
  • The Timekeepers (Winner: 2014 Carbonell Award for Best Lighting—musical or play)
  • Shorts Gone Wild (In association with City Theatre)

 

Empire Stage (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Lighting Designer | Master Electrician

  • The Hebrew Hillbilly
  • Die, Sister Twin, Die!
  • The Peep Show
  • Jamaica, Farewell
  • Pigs Do Fly; a new attitude!
  • Re-Designing Women
  • Pigs Do Fly; Fifty Plus—a collection of short plays
  • Making Porn
  • The SantaLand Diaries

 

City Theatre (Miami, FL)

At Adrienne Arsht Center’s Carnival Studio Theater

Lighting Designer

  • Summer Shorts 2015
  • Summer Shorts 2014

 

Plaza Theatre (Manalapan, FL)

Lighting Designer | Master Electrician

  • Cougar—the musical
  • Rent
  • Music of the Night—an evening of Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • Dirty Blonde
  • Rags—the New American Musical

 

Carnival Cruise Lines (Miami, FL)

Lighting Designer | Technical Director

  • Holiday
    • Hooray for Hollywood
    • A Broadway Holiday
    • Shout!
    • Fuego del Caribe
  • Jubilee
    • Broadway!
    • Here’s Hollywood
  • Celebration
    • Champagne!
    • A Broadway Celebration
    • Standing Room Only
    • X-Treme Country
  • Carnival Fantasy
    • A Broadway Fantasy
    • Fantasy Follies
    • Nightclub Express
    • Ticket to Ride
  • Carnival Ecstasy
    • Oba Oba du Caribe
    • Dream Voyage
    • X-Treme Country
  • Carnival Sensation
    • It’s Party Time!
    • Hey Mambo!
    • Far From Over, the 80’s
    • Curves
  • Carnival Fascination
    • Fiesta Latina
    • Far From Over, the 80’s
  • Carnival Imagination
    • Livin’ in America
    • Shout!
  • Carnival Inspiration
    • Fiesta Latina
    • Shout!
  • Carnival Elation
    • Spin!
    • Rhythm!
    • Just Rock
    • Win!
  • Carnival Paradise
    • Dream Voyage
    • Shout!
    • Eight More Seconds
  • Carnival Triumph
    • Wonderful World
    • The Century Café
    • The Big Easy
  • Carnival Victory
    • Livin’ in America
    • Vrooom!
  • Carnival Spirit
    • Standing Room Only
    • High Spirits
    • Jazz Hot!
    • The Big Easy
    • Singin’ with the Big Band
  • Carnival Pride
    • Wonderful World
    • Vrooom!
  • Carnival Legend
    • Take Two!
    • Singin’ with the Big Band
    • Jazz Hot!
    • The Big Easy
  • Carnival Conquest
    • Formidable
    • Point-n-Click
  • Carnival Glory
    • Livin’ in America
    • Rock Down Broadway
  • Carnival Miracle
    • Generations
    • Ticket to Ride
  • Carnival Valor
    • Nightclub Express
    • Far From Over
  • Carnival Liberty
    • Wonderful World
    • Singin’ with the Big Band
    • Ticket to Ride
  • Carnival Freedom
    • The Big Easy
    • Jump, Jive & Wail
    • Ticket to Ride
  • Carnival Splendor
    • The Beat
    • Fiesta Latina
    • Vrooom!
  • Carnival Dream
    • Get Ready
    • Dancin’ in the Streets
    • X-Treme Country
  • Carnival Magic
    • The Groove Line
    • Win!
 

 

National ‘Bus & Truck’ Tours

Lighting Design | Master Electrician

  • The Cotton Patch Gospel
  • Banjo Reb and the Blue Ghost
  • Mr. Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band; Home Town Saturday Night
  • Mr. Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band; Hometown Christmas
  • Sing for Your Supper
  • Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
  • Meet Mark Twain!

 

Dallas Repertory Theatre (Dallas, TX)

Lighting Designer | Master Electrician

  • 2 By 5 (also Scenic Designer)
  • A Chorus Line
  • A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum
  • A Shayna Maidel
  • Ain't Misbehavin’
  • Annie Get Your Gun
  • Baby
  • Birds Of Paradise
  • Brighton Beach Memoirs
  • Corpse!
  • The Cotton Patch Gospel
  • Evita
  • The Gin Game
  • The Gingerbread Man
  • Greater Tuna (Scenic Designer)
  • Gypsy
  • Harvey
  • I'm Not Rapapport
  • The Importance of Being Earnest
  • Jerry's Girls
  • The Little Foxes
  • Mack and Mabel
  • Man of LaMancha (also Scenic Designer)
  • Meet Mark Twain!
  • The Octette Bridge Club
  • Our Town
  • Sing For Your Supper
  • Social Security
  • Some Enchanted Evening
  • The Top Hat Revue

 

Plaza Theatre (Dallas, TX)

  • The Little Shop of Horrors                                                                                            Audio Designer

 

Six Flags over Texas (Arlington, TX)

Lighting Designer | Master Electrician | Puppeteer | Stage Manager

Good Times Square Marionette Theatre                                                                                                     

  • World on a String
  • Stars-n-Strings

 

Six Flags' Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA)

Lighting Designer | Master Electrician

Magic Moments Marionette Theatre

  • Hooray For Hollywood

 

K-D Studio Theatre (Dallas, TX)

  • The Crucible                                                                                                                                Lighting Designer

The Irving Theatre (Irving, TX)

  • Working                                                                                                                                       Lighting Designer

 

Garland Civic Theatre (Garland, TX)

  • Pack of Lies                                                                                                                                Lighting Designer

 

The Greenhill School (Dallas, TX)

  • The Little Shop of Horrors                                                                           Lighting Designer | Technical Director

 

Other Shows

Lighting Designer

  • 42nd Street
  • Absurd Person Singular
  • Annie
  • Anything Goes
  • Applause
  • Auntie Mame
  • Babes in Arms
  • The Boyfriend
  • Bye, Bye, Birdie
  • Can - Can
  • Cinderella: The Rock-N-Roll Romance
  • Crazy for You
  • The Fantasticks
  • Forty Carats
  • Guys & Dolls
  • How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
  • Kiss Me Kate
  • Ladies at the Alamo
  • Lil' Abner
  • Little Mary Sunshine
  • The Little Shop of Horrors
  • Mame
  • The Matchmaker
  • Oklahoma!
  • Once Upon a Mattress
  • Peter Pan
  • Singin’ in the Rain
  • Snoopy
  • Tintypes
  • West Side Story
  • Where’s Charlie?
  • Winnie the Pooh
  • Working
  • You're A Good Man Charlie Brown

 

Other

RSVP, the Vocal Group™                                                                     Lighting Designer | Technical Director

 

The Variations                                                                                       Lighting Designer | Technical Director

Boca Raton, Florida

2013

Technical Consultant

Technical Director

Responsibilities:

  • Consult with new owners on updating and upgrading existing 333-seat playhouse theatre into a full musical theatre season venue. 
  • Technical aspects | Lighting | Audio | Rigging | Video 
  • Venue redesign and layout | Control Booths | VIP Suite creation | Catwalks and followspot locations 
  • Lobby redesign for post-show live cabaret performances | Stage design | Audio & Lighting integration 
  • Museum Tour & Luncheon performance spaces
sitemap