FINNEGAN X. GAVELLI
LIGHTING DESIGN
About
Finnegan
Finnegan is a recent graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Fall 2025, getting his BFA in Theatre Design and Technology, with an emphasis in Lighting Design. This program has provided him with hands-on and classroom experience in lighting design, projection design, rigging, sound design and engineering, electrics, technical direction, and more.
Finnegan’s primary focus is lighting design, with over five years of experience in lighting and electrics and four years of experience as a designer. Most recently he has designed Stranger Sings for the Civic Theatre of Allentown. He has also designed for the Penn State Centre Stage, lighting Crazy for You in October 2025 and Much Ado About Nothing in November 2024. During the 2025-26 season his design of Crazy for You won Penn State's Oliver Smith award for excellence in lighting design. For Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Finnegan has designed both Princess & The Frog Prince and Timon of Athens in the summer of 2025. While in Happy Valley, Finnegan also designed at the Penn State Center for Performing Arts and Bryce Jordan Center, where he has lit the Volé dance showcases, comedy tours such as Colin Jost, and multiple musical and touring groups for acts such as Afrique en Cirque and Lakecia Benjamin. Outside of Penn State, Finnegan also had the opportunity to pursue his first design in New York City recently, designing the Boombox Burlesque Festival for Beatbox Burlesque in the Five Angels Theater at The 52nd Street Project. Finally, Finnegan is an active member of Wildwood Summer Theatre, designing Alice by Heart In 2024 and Head Over Heels in 2023. Alongside designing, he serves as a tenured member of Wildwood's board, formerly as their director of communication and currently as their director of operations. He strives to support the theatre's vision of education and engagement for theatrical artist beginning their career or just experimenting.
While progressing through his studies, Finnegan also worked part-time in various roles, including programming, spotlighting, stagehand work, and other positions for the Bryce Jordan Center and Penn State Center for Performing Arts. At these venues, he garnered hands-on experience in handling the pressure and demands of professional theaters and arenas and was integrated into the touring segment of the industry. He has worked on tours such as Come from Away and Fiddler on the Roof, along with acts like Zach Bryan, Travis Scott, and Drake. Finnegan has also gained experience in summerstock theatre in a variety of roles. Most recently, he worked as the assistant lighting designer for the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. With PSF over the summer of 2025, Finnegan assisted five productions and three designers while also designing a further two shows mentioned above. He learned valuable lessons in teamwork, leadership, and creativity while managing a variety of tasks and obstacles during tight timelines. Finnegan also worked as an electrician and spotlight operator for Opera Theatre Saint Louis over the summer of 2024, where he garnered significant experience in repertory theatre and a greater understanding of the importance and interconnection of the lighting and technical team.
Aside from his theatrical work, Finnegan is also a freelance photographer. Since he could first hold his family's Nikon D70, he has been developing a deep-seated passion and knowledge of this craft. His primary focus is landscape and architecture photography; however, he has also been learning about stage and portrait photography. Once he has mastered these, Finnegan wants to develop his skills in sports photography and is invested in learning about aerial drone photography. Photography has taught Finnegan valuable lessons and concepts such as depth, saturation, and texture, which he is now incorporating throughout his work. Beyond that, photography has served as a medium of communication and connection for Finnegan, allowing him to express his thoughts and form otherwise unexpected bonds.
Since graduating from Penn State, Finnegan is fervently continuing to seek further opportunities to design and learn more about art, lighting, and the world around him. His next stop is to finally walk the graduation stage this May, where he is excited to explore the future, yet will certainly miss the endless friends, experiences, opportunities, and education Penn State has given him.