About Me
Dallas J. Cook is a lighting designer and theatrical technician currently based in Knoxville, TN and Charlotte, NC. He is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He was the 2025-2026 Lighting intern at The Naples Players in Naples, Florida, and graduated undergrad in May of 2025 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte). Previous theatrical design credits include Hairspray and Peter and the Starcatcher (Matthews Playhouse), Much Ado About Nothing (The Naples Players), Rent and Cats (The Naples Players Academy of Dramatic Arts), and Measure for Measure and Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully (UNC Charlotte). DJ also has extensive experience designing for dance, lighting styles including ballet, modern, contemporary, and hip-hop. His lighting design for Welcome to Our Village received a 2024 KCACTF Region IV Nomination for Lighting Design. DJ was also 2024 ETC Fred Foster Student Mentee and a 2025 USITT Gateway Mentee.
Work Experience
Clarence Brown Theatre - Knoxville, TN
Theatrical Electrician
Aug 2026–present
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Serve as an electrician on all Clarence Brown Theatre productions
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Hang, circuit, and focus, lighting fixtures across three performance spaces; the Clarence Brown Theater, Jenny Boyd Theater, and Lab Theater
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Create, maintain, and troubleshoot lighting practicals for productions
IATSE 322 - Charlotte, NC
Theatrical Stagehand
Mar 2022–present
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Load in and load out touring shows at theatrical venues, including the Knight Theater, Belk Theater, and Booth Playhouse
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Set up large concert venues such as Spectrum Center, Bank of America Stadium, and PNC Music Pavilion
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Work as a theater electrician, audio technician, theater carpenter, weight loader, spotlight operator, and general stagehand
The Naples Players - Naples, FL
Full-Season Lighting Intern
Aug 2025–May 2026
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Assist Director of Lighting Chris Riley on all lighting needs across six performance spaces at the Sugden Community Theatre
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Coordinate and teach volunteer electricians on hang and focus calls, as lighting programmers, and as spotlight operators
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Serve as Assistant Lighting Designer on four productions and Lighting Designer on five productions throughout the season
UNC Charlotte: Production Arts and Operations - Charlotte, NC
Lead Lighting Lab Worker
Sept 2021–July 2025
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Supervised student electricians on all UNC Charlotte performing arts productions under Rick Moll, Production Electrician
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Assisted in hanging, focusing, circuiting, and programming lighting equipment across three performance spaces
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Helped teach new students how to interpret light plots, read paperwork, and work with lighting equipment
UNC Charlotte: Student Activity Center and Venue Management - Charlotte, NC
Audio/Visual Technician
Sept 2021–May 2025
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Operated sound board, light board, and Show Control for basketball games, football games, and commencement ceremonies
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Set up and monitored audio/visual equipment for salon events
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Conducted general sound, lighting, and video equipment troubleshooting and maintenance
The Naples Players - Naples, FL
Summer Lighting Intern
Jun–Aug 2024
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Served as Co-Lighting Designer for 42nd Street and Lighting Designer for School of Rock
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Set up and maintained lighting equipment for four mainstage productions over the summer season
Cannes Film Festival - Cannes, France
Filmfestivals.com Journalist
May 2024
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Contributed videos, photos, and blog posts to Filmfestivals.com’s subscriber base of over 170,000 patrons
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Attended and covered events such as talk sessions with Billy Zane, Meryl Streep, Demi Moore, and George Lucas
Charlotte Ballet – Charlotte, NC
Freelance Technician / Assistant Stage Manager
Oct 2022–Mar 2023
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Ran sound board and coordinated backstage communication for multiple performances at the Center for Dance theater
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Assisted in transforming the rehearsal space to a performance space through unrolling marley and setting up lighting booms
