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Creator
Miller, Craig J., 1950-1994
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 476
Physical description
30.12 linear feet (58 boxes, 10 tubes, 4 oversize folders); 831 kilobytes (32 computer files)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Craig Miller designs and papers, (S) *MGZMD 476. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.
Status note
Electronic records currently unavailable.

Craig Miller (1950-1994) was an American lighting designer who worked in dance, opera, theater, and musical performances. The Craig Miller designs and papers date from 1969 to 1994 and document Miller's short but prolific career through designs and documents relating to productions on which Miller worked; his early work; correspondence; business files, and photographs.

Biographical/historical information

Craig Miller designed lighting for dance, opera, and theatrical productions, as well as musical concerts on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in experimental venues, and regional theaters, primarily in the United States.

Miller attended Northwestern University from 1969 to 1972. After graduation, he taught lighting design at Barat College in Illinois, designing lighting for student productions there and working professionally as a lighting designer for dance and theatrical performances in the region. In 1976 he moved to New York City and began working on Broadway dance and theatrical productions, initially as the assistant to lighting designer Thomas Skelton.

Miller served as resident lighting designer for the Lar Lubovitch, Alvin Ailey, Laura Dean, and Elisa Monte dance companies and, for fifteen seasons, at the Santa Fe Opera. He also worked frequently with the Boston Ballet, the Dallas Opera, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Spoleto Festival, the Goodspeed Opera House, the Long Wharf Theater, and the Tyrone Guthrie Theater. His Broadway theater credits include: Black Comedy/White Liars, The Most Happy Fella, Safe Sex, On Golden Pond, The Wind in the Willows and Take Me Along. His work on Barnum in 1980 earned him a Tony nomination. In 1992 and 1993 he collaborated with artist David Hockney on Die Frau ohne Schatten staged at the Royal Opera House in London and at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Miller died of cancer in 1994 at age 43.

Scope and arrangement

The Craig Miller designs and papers represent Miller's short, but prolific, career as a lighting designer principally through "lighting paperwork," i.e. lighting plots, designs, plans, diagrams, records created as productions were staged, and other documents relating to productions on which he worked. Business files, files on Miller's early work, a small amount of correspondence, and photographs are also present.

The Craig Miller designs and papers are arranged in five series:

  • Series I: Early Work and Teaching
    1968-1975

    This series represents Miller's early work in Illinois prior to his relocation to New York City. There is some overlap among materials relating to Miller's student work at Northwestern University, work in community theater and professional productions staged in and around Chicago, and his work as a theater instructor at Barat College. During this period, especially when he was a student, Miller worked in roles other than that of lighting designer, including director, actor, and set designer; content of files varies to reflect these different capacities.

  • Series II: Photographs
    1970s-1989

    These two files of photographs consist primarily of slides documenting Miller's lighting designs in use onstage. A few photographic prints are also present.

  • Series III: Business
    1970-1993

    The Business series contains daily planner calendars from 1976 through 1992; Miller's bio sheets and resumes; files of articles about other lighting designers and theater colleagues; templates and blank forms; and technical reference material.

  • Series IV: Productions
    1976-1994

    The productions series includes work Miller did after moving to New York City in 1976. Though he traveled frequently and worked at venues throughout the United States, he remained based in New York City for the remainder of his career. Lighting paperwork occupies the greatest portion of the series. Also included are scripts, some with Miller's handwritten notes; scores; and a few files of review clippings relating to productions on which Miller worked.

  • Series V: Correspondence
    1970s-1994

    Correspondence includes notes and letters from colleagues, a few letters from family members and friends, and many cards expressing sympathy and encouragement following Miller's cancer diagnosis.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of Stan Pressner / Pressner Studios, 2017.

Processing information

Processed by Heather Halliday, 2018.

Using the collection

Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor