Purchase College Professor David Grill Lights the Republican National Convention

Date Released: 8/29/2008

Purchase College Professor David Grill will light the 2008 Republican National Convention September 1- 4 in the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media and guests are expected to attend. Grill is a Purchase alumnus and Emmy award-winning lighting director.

An Assistant Professor of Theatre Design/Technology in the School of the Arts, Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Film, he received a 2002 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lighting Direction for his work on the 2002 Winter Olympics. He was the lighting designer for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Grill has designed lighting for theatre, dance, television, video and industrials, taking him to the Great Wall of China to the Great Stage of Radio City Music Hall. He was lighting designer for this year’s Super Bowl, five previous Super Bowls, and last summer’s Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His lighting design was nominated for a daytime Emmy Award.