When sound and dialogue cannot convey emotions in a live stage production, lighting is essential to effectively show changes in mood and visually guide audiences across a stage.

For the world premiere of the Minneapolis-based Children’s Theatre Company’s production of “Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress,” the task of illuminating the stage is left to Lighting Designer Paul Whitaker and Assistant Lighting Designer and University of Iowa 2020 alum Dante Benjegerdes.

Adapted from the award-winning children’s book by Christine Baldacchino, the story follows Morris, an imaginative young boy who frequently wears a tangerine dress. Though his classmates have trouble understanding his decision to wear the dress, Morris finds acceptance from friends and
his parents.

Benjegerdes studied theater arts as an undergraduate at the UI with a particular interest in lighting. They reached out to the Children’s Theatre Company about working on this show when its production was first announced because the story resonated with them, as someone who is transgender.

“I’m really excited to work on this production, in particular, because it has to do with a little kid who wants to wear a dress,” Benjegerdes said. “It’s one of those kinds of trans narratives that are important to me.”

According to Benjegerdes, collaboration between teams is essential on set, but success ultimately relies on the performance.

“Everything else is just sort of a cherry on top,” Benjegerdes said. “So, to have truly excellent lighting design, you need to have a truly excellent performance because everything that we do is in service to the scripts or to the performance and we are here as technicians and artists in most design fields to accentuate and elevate.”

Each element of stage design, including the lighting, will culminate during the upcoming world premiere. “Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress” will run from Oct. 10 to Nov. 19 at the theater’s Cargill Stage in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Benjegerdes said they and their coworkers are enthusiastic to share this show because “it deals with identity issues and gender nonconforming issues in such a simple but profound way, particularly for a child audience.”