Co-founded by Anzli and Heather McNew, EpiArts Alliance is dedicated to creating a world where performers with Epilepsy and photosensitivity are celebrated, supported, and empowered to showcase their talents without limitations.

EpiArts Alliance held a roundtable discussion gathering experts in lighting design and photosensitivity, including Tony Award-winning lighting designer Don Holder, author of Visual Stress Dr. Arnold Wilkins, lighting designer Barbara Samuels, photosensitive researcher Dr. Laura South, ConsultAbility Founder Paul Behrhorst, It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price! Director Kristin Hanggi, and Composer Ben Decter to address the question:

How can we go beyond the standard flashing light warning sign & provide photosensitive audiences members with flashing light cues?

In response, EpiArts worked with the roundtable experts to develop a comprehensive Theater Lighting Safety Guide on Photosensitivity as a resource for lighting designers and launched the FlashCue Project, a database where designers share details about their show’s flashing light cues for audiences to make better informed decisions.

These tools, informed by experts, provide essential guidelines to help make performances safer for both audiences and performers with photosensitive conditions.

Learn more at: https://www.epiartsalliance.com/

Nicole Hughes (aka ‘Nico’ - she/her) is the founder of Glassable Productions and the playwright of Graceland Too, a new play that premiered at NY Theatre Festival. As an impact producer, she has worked on documentary film campaigns including Coded Bias on PBS/Netflix, and with Together Film on Hulu’s To The End, Netflix’s In Her Hands, and LIFT on Amazon Prime. Nico is an advocate for social justice, disability rights, and inclusion in arts and education. Her recent work includes producing Columbia Business School Executive Education Digital Health Programs, curating 20+ global museum exhibitions for an AI-equity non-profit, and supporting the impactful work of Lavender Rights Project. 

Nico is very proud to be a founding team member of EpiArts Alliance & Research Lead of the FlashCue Project, initiatives of Design With Us, and holds a Masters of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of Edinburgh.

Read more about her and her work with FlashCue in Lighting & Sound America magazine.

Arnold Wilkins is Emeritus Professor at the University of Essex. He spent two years at the Montreal Neurological Institute (1972-1974) where he became interested in epilepsy.  He returned to England to work as a research scientist at the Medical Research Council Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge (1974-1997) and joined the University of Essex in December 1997. Professor Wilkins’ initial studies of photosensitive epilepsy and techniques for treatment led to a more general interest in vision and health.

His publications are available here: www.visualstress.info/wilkins_publications.htm

Donald Holder has worked extensively in Theatre, Opera, Dance, Architectural, Film and Television lighting in the US and abroad for over 30 years.  He has designed 59 Broadway productions and has been nominated for fourteen Tony awards, winning the Tony for Best Lighting Design for ‘The Lion King’ in 1998, and for the 2008 revival of ‘South Pacific’.  Recent Broadway productions include: ’Paradise Square’, ‘Tootsie’, ‘Kiss Me Kate’, ‘Anastasia’, ‘Oslo’, ‘Straight White Men’, ’She Loves Me’, \ ‘Fiddler On The Roof’, ‘The King and I’, ‘On The Twentieth Century’, ‘The Bridges of Madison County’, ‘Spiderman-Turn Off The Dark’, ‘Bullets Over Broadway’, and many others.  Projects at the NY Metropolitan Opera include ’Champion’, ‘Rigoletto’, ‘Porgy and Bess’, ‘Samson et Delilah’, ‘Otello’, ‘The Magic Flute’ and the premiere of ‘Two Boys’. Upcoming: ‘La Sonnambula’, ‘The Wedding Banquet’,‘Macbeth’. His television/film work includes the theatrical lighting for two seasons of ‘Smash’ (NBC- Dreamworks), ‘Spirited’ (Apple Studios), ‘Oceans 8’ (Warner Brothers Pictures) ‘Gossip Girls’ (HBO Max), and ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ (Amazon Studios). Mr. Holder is a graduate of the University of Maine and the Yale School of Drama, and currently head of the lighting design program at Rutgers University- Mason Gross School of the Arts. 

https://www.donaldholderlighting.com

Dr. Laura South is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Williams College. She earned her PhD in Computer Science from Northeastern University in 2024, where she was advised by Michelle Borkin. Dr. South's research focuses on digital accessibility for individuals with varying abilities, particularly within interactive and immersive technologies. Recent projects have included developing assistive technology for people with photosensitive epilepsy, spanning areas like virtual reality, data visualizations, and social media. Additionally, she has explored methods for producing 3D printed braille in collaboration with individuals who are blind or have low vision.

Barbara Samuels (she/her) is an Obie Award winning queer lighting designer, organizer and producer creating design-forward live events that prioritize generosity, equity, and representation. New York credits include designs at Soho Rep, MCC, Lincoln Center, Ars Nova, NYTW, Playwrights Horizons, WP Theater, The Bushwick Starr, Beth Morrison Projects, New Georges, and Clubbed Thumb. Regional: Pig Iron, Bard Summerscape, The Alley, Long Wharf, ACT., Woolly Mammoth, Playmakers, Kansas City Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Shakespeare Theater Company, and Trinity Rep. New Georges Affiliated Artist. 2016 Target Margin Institute. Wingspace Member. WP Lab 2022-24. BA, Fordham; MFA, NYU. Proud member of USA829. www.barbarasamuels.com

Paul Behrhorst is the co-founder of ConsultAbilty and is the Accessibility Manager at the Perelman Performing Arts Center. Paul has been working with disabled theatre professionals since 2008. He has worked in theatre in many capacities, including as a Stage Manager, Production Manager, and Safety Health and Wellness Manager for theatre companies such as The Denver Center for the Performing Arts and The Oregon Shakespeare Festival. 

https://www.consultability.org/

EpiArts Alliance operates proudly as a project of Design With Us, an organization committed to sharing design and STEM knowledge to empower disabled youth in creating unique solutions. Through this partnership, we are dedicated to fostering inclusivity and celebrating the creativity of the next generation within the performing arts, empowering them to shine in an environment that values their talents and voices.

Learn more at: https://www.designwithus.org/