Karen Perlow

Karen Perlow is an exceptionally talented and accomplished American lighting designer and educator celebrated for her ability to sculpt mood, atmosphere, and narrative through the medium of light. Based in Philadelphia, she has built an extensive and highly respected biography over nearly three decades, designing for premier regional institutions including the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Arden Theatre Company, and People’s Light. Her deep technical expertise and artistic sensitivity have established her as one of the most prominent and vital visual collaborators in the contemporary American regional theater landscape. Known for her meticulous precision, striking color palettes, and seamless integration of light with scenic landscapes, Perlow has illuminated a vast and diverse repertoire of plays, musicals, and world premieres. Alongside her prolific design career, she is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of theater artists, teaching lighting design at prestigious institutions like Drexel University. Her outstanding artistic contributions to the stage have been recognized with multiple prestigious Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Lighting Design, alongside numerous nominations, solidifying her status as a visionary force and a cornerstone of the East Coast performing arts community.