Light Upgrades Benefit Performers, Audiences

From the stage at Dalton Theatre, the difference is unmistakable. As the lights come up, performers now stand beneath a brighter, more even glow that renders colors more vividly, eliminates harsh shadows, and radiates less heat. What audiences see as clarity and brilliance, actors and musicians feel as comfort and precision.

That transformation follows a $180,000 lighting upgrade at Dalton Theatre in the Light Fine Arts Building at Kalamazoo College, funded largely through the support of 11 grantors. With assistance from SLS Production Services, the College replaced outdated fixtures and controls with updated technology, providing brighter, more even illumination while reducing energy use and maintenance needs.

Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Susan Lindemann said the College anticipates annual energy savings of about 72,000 kilowatt-hours from the update—roughly what six U.S. households would use in a year. The cost savings are estimated at about $8,700 annually with electricity purchased at high voltage.

Beyond operational savings, the upgrade also enhances student learning opportunities by providing hands-on experience with current lighting technology while ensuring reliable theatre operations for a wide range of educational, cultural, community and College events.

Kalamazoo College President Jorge G. Gonzalez demonstrates the new lighting system in Dalton Theatre at the Light Fine Arts Building during a campus presentation celebrating the theatre’s $180,000 lighting upgrade.

K President Jorge G. Gonzalez marked the transition for faculty and staff during a lighthearted demonstration at a campus gathering, pushing buttons and flicking switches on a prop control panel while invoking the magic words of Lux Esto—the campus motto, meaning “be light”—to help activate the new system.

As the house lights dimmed on February 25, the updated lighting system made its public debut during Kalamazoo Choral Arts’ performance of Carmina Burana: Reimagined. Designed to enhance both performance quality and flexibility, the project reflects a collaborative effort between K and its many campus and community partners who rely on Dalton Theatre.

“Student organizations, outside events, admissions events, music concerts, choral concerts, and any event that occurs in Dalton Theatre will visibly notice a transformative experience,” said Lanny Potts, K’s James Stone Professor of Theatre and Artistic Director of Theatre.

A recipient of the National Lighting Design Award from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Potts emphasized the importance of versatility in the design. That flexibility ensures the upgraded lighting system will support not only College music, theatre and student groups, but also a wide range of community organizations, including the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, the Gilmore, the Connecting Chords Music Festival, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and Fontana Chamber Arts. Together, these partnerships help ensure Dalton Theatre continues to serve as a shared, high-quality performance space for the region.

“From performers to audience members, everyone has noticed the difference. The new lighting elevates an entire production,” said Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Maria Newhouse. “Between the enhanced experience and the significant energy savings, we’re incredibly grateful to the grantors who made this project possible. We couldn’t have done it without their support.”

The grantors included: