Ardean Landhuis

Ardean is thrilled to join the Malt Jupiter Theatre family for the first time. He has amassed over 150 professional Lighting Design, Scenic Design and Technical Direction credits in Opera and Theatre productions across the country.  These credits include two productions honored with CARBONELL Award nominations for Best Production (LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC), one show which won the CARBONELL Award for Best Production (MACK AND MABEL), three Regional Premieres (PHANTOM, DROWSY CHAPERONE, POCAHONTAS), one pre-Broadway Production (ZERO HOUR) and three world premieres (KNISH ALLEY, FULL CIRCLE, GILGAMESH).  Ardean also provided the original Lighting Designs for the cult-favorite musicals RESPECT and MENOPAUSE, THE MUSICAL.

Opera audiences in the Southeast have seen his Scenic Designs for productions of DON GIOVANNI, LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, THE MERRY WIDOW, L’ELISIR D’AMORE, and LA TRAVIATA.  Theatre Scenic Designs include productions of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, and A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  As a Technical Director, Ardean has been responsible for mounting dozens of productions, including a majority of the classic “standards” of the American Musical Theatre.  Iconic titles such as ANNIE, CAMELOT, FIDDLER, LA CAGE, OKLAHOMA, PETER PAN, SOUND OF MUSIC and WEST SIDE STORY are mixed in with seldom-seen shows like BUBBLIN’ BROWN SUGAR, CAN-CAN, CRAZY FOR YOU, MATING HABITS, SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ and ZIEGFELD.

As a Lighting Designer, Ardean has been heavily influenced by the visual styles of Dance, Opera and Drama.  His designs reflect a broad, expressive pallete and stylistic flexibility.  Lighting credits range from popular Plays (STEEL MAGNOLIAS, THE FOREIGNER, THE ODD COUPLE) and review-style Musicals (DREAM, BEGUILED AGAIN, SUDS) to the more operatic Sondheim/Lloyd Weber pieces (EVITA, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, SONG & DANCE) and Musical Theatre Standards (42^nd STREET, SINGING IN THE RAIN, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.)  Opera designs include productions of CAVALERIA RUSTICA/ I PAGLIACCI, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, THE BARBER OF SEVILLE and RIGOLETTO.

Ardean’s expertise in theatrical lighting has resulted in work on commercial/industrial lighting systems installation.  Clients include Walt Disney World, Cirque du Soleil, Universal Studios and MTV Latin America.