Ayun Fedorcha, a Helen-Hayes nominated lighting designer who served as resident artist for two Washington companies, passed away after a long illness on September 28th. She was 53.
Fedorcha, who learned her craft in the University of Virginia at Charlottesville’s MFA program, served as resident lighting designer for Adventure Theatre and Teatro de la Luna for nearly twenty years. She also served as lighting designer for such companies as Folger Theatre, Spooky Action, Washington Shakespeare Company (now WSC Avant Bard), American Century Theater, Round House, and Actor’s Theatre of Washington.
She won a Helen Hayes nomination as outstanding lighting designer in 1997 for her work on GALA Hispanic Theatre’s La Chunga, and lit several other shows for them. She also designed lights for numerous college, opera, ballet, and community theater productions. The website “About the Artists” lists forty-eight lighting design credits in all for Fedorcha.
Many observers noted Fedorcha’s facility for creating naturalistic settings with her designs. “Ayun Fedorcha’s lighting design captures a feeling of the outdoors and sunlight dappled by shade trees,” DCTS’ Roz Lacy noted in a 2009 review of GALA’s The Best Judge, the King, and in reviewing Teatro de la Luna’s Love in the Open Air in 2007, Lacy noted “[l]ighting designer Ayun Fedorcha creates subtle lighting shifts from soft blues to daylight, warm yellows.”
In the Facebook memorial page, her colleagues are remembering her with respect and affection. “I can say with great certainty that she was one of the best lighting designers that a sound designer could ever hope for,” writes veteran sound artist Neil McFadden. “I can also say that she had an ability to take 6 clip-lights and 2 household rheostats and make art with it. Her talent was immeasurable.”
“It’s hard not to remember the ethereal glow of the dining room scene from One Shoe Off, the backstage shadows from The Dresser, or the searing heat (which damn near burnt down the old Round House, by the way) from Pantomime,” Joseph Musumeci recalls.
And Tom McCarthy also has an affectionate memory of that startling day at the old Montgomery County theater. “Ayun was…the only designer in my time at Round House to blow the main breaker to the building — by turning on every light we owned (and a few she borrowed) during Pantomime,” he writes. “Who knew how much electricity it took to make sand pretty?”
“I am a very warm and fuzzy lighting designer,” Fedorcha once said. “My goals include making beautifully lit productions, playing well with my co-designers, and making my directors happy.”
Further information on memorial services will be posted on an “In Memory of Ayun Fedorcha” Facebook page.
Information on Fedorcha’s life and passing was obtained, in part, from this Facebook posting by Debbie Grossman.
Wow I can’t believe it’s been 4 years! Ayun was my moms best friend growing up and as I grew up I would hear awesome stories of their crazy adventures as kids and even crazier ones as adults. I know it still breaks my moms heart today whenever she thinks of ayun. She was an amazing woman with a strong will and a beautiful passion for theater and she is and will continue to be missed by all her family and friends! We love you ayun!!
Miss you, Ayun! Where are you when I need you, my dear?
Will be thinking of you especially tonight during Memorial at GALA, but (and I know you will understand) due to work (and I know you will be happy for me), I cannot attend in person.
We will be there in spirit, Ayun.
~~Hilary
I had the pleasure of managing/operating her lights design and following it. She was a very sweet, funny and kind women who brought her sense of humor even in the middle of the stress and who kept at peace. Will always remember her. Thank you for your light! Gracias por tu luz! Rest in peace and may we always remember your light.
On top of all her talents she was a wonderfully kind woman.
I’m so sorry to hear this. Ayun made a magical forest appear in the middle of Theatre Lab (Into the Woods) which was quite an accomplishment, if you know the space. She also brought me neat things to add to my costume collection for that show – she always thought of others. I am sorry to loose her so soon.
Ayun was a generous lady and a wonderful artist. I am happy to have had many opportunites to work with her. Especially when she designed Round House’s one-man-show MEN ON THE VERGE… I was rehearsing, a little anxious about carrying a solo show, then tech started and her lighting plot came to life! Correction, she brought the show and my performance to life. You will be missed, dear one. Last time I’ll ask: “Ayun, would it be too much to ask for a follow spot here?”
Thank you for this lovely tribute to a very generous artist. She helped Theatre Lab and our students on many occasions, and did some beautiful work on our teen shows. This was the first I heard of her passing; what a loss for our community.