Shelby Thach is a theatrical and dance lighting designer originally from San Gabriel, California. Shelby's favorite thing about lighting is taking an intangible medium and transforming it into something the audience can feel. Her design process involves working with her collaborators to unlock the emotional arc of a story in order to bring it to life on stage. Oftentimes, she uses her personal experiences, background, and culture to influence her work.
After a fulfilling experience designing a production of Velina Hasu Houston's Tea with an entirely Asian cast and creative team, Shelby found a passion for the diversification and proper representation for not only those onstage, but those backstage as well.
Shelby received her MFA in Lighting Design from the University of California, San Diego and her BA in Drama with Honors in Lighting Design and Technology from the University of California, Irvine. She is a proud recipient of the 2023 Hemsley Lighting Internship and 2024 Walt Disney Imagineering Show Lighting Design Internship.
Outside of theatre, Shelby enjoys visiting places she's never been to before, especially museums. One of her favorite types of work to look at is contemporary art, particularly abstract sculptures or installations. Another passion that Shelby keeps up with is wrestling; she likes to visit her former high school to teach students who are new to the sport as often as she can.
