RACHAEL N. BLACKWELL (Lighting Designer, Amélie) is is a native of Hampton Roads, VA but now calls Atlanta home. She works full-time as the Lighting & Projections Director at the Alliance Theatre, while still working as a freelance designer around the country. Rachael was the 2020 recipient of both the Gilbert Hemsley Lighting Internship and the Judy Dearing Design Competition for Lighting, presented by the Black Theatre Network (BTN) and in 2021, Rachael received an Off Broadway nomination for her NY lighting design of new musical Rathskeller: A Musical Elixir. Rachael is excited to join Horizon Theatre Company for Amélie and hopes you all enjoy this fun and whimsical production! Other Atlanta credits include The Color Purple (Aurora Theatre), Wait Until Dark (Georgia Ensemble Theatre- Suzi Bass Nominee for Best Lighting Design) and Everybody (GSU). Education: CCM – MFA, Lighting Design & Technology (2020), Alabama State University – BA, Theatre Arts (2016).