About the Artist

Graduated in 2008 from Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University) in Grand Junction, CO with a BA in Technical Theatre and Design, Vanessa moved to Lexington, Kentucky to accept an internship as Production Apprentice at Lexington Children’s Theatre. After honing her skills there for 2 years, she then moved to Portland, Oregon to begin her professional design career in the performing arts, creating electrifying lighting designs for dance, musicals, classic plays, new works, and innovative and unique live experiences. After a brief stint working as a stagehand in Chicago, she is back to her stomping grounds in Denver, CO, and is currently freelancing as a Lighting Designer and Master Electrician.

Vanessa has an unmatched passion for the arts. She has a comprehensive history with Lighting Design, Sound Design, Stage Management, Directing, Acting, Carpentry, Scenic Painting, Foley, and any other miscellaneous projects to be taken on.

She grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a member of the ASPCA, and if she weren’t so in love with theatre, would have grown up to be a Paleontologist. She enjoys spending her free time with her cats and spouse.

“…The lighting design by Vanessa Janson is stunning, as perfect moments are captured with dark silhouettes and striking poses.” -Deb Flomberg, Denver Theater Examiner (2010)

“The… lighting design was outstanding. [The designers] did their jobs admirably, especially given the space limitations.” -Patrick Brassell, broadwayworld.com (2014)

“Vanessa Janson’s lighting design, which distinguished the different spaces represented simultaneously on stage… enhanced the sense of the outside-inside dynamic so important to the performance.” -Richard Wattenberg, The Oregonian (2015)