Shirley Prendergast
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BornJune 15, 1929
DiedFebruary 26, 2019
OthernamesMerris Shirley Prendergast
Occupationlighting designer
Shirley Prendergast | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 15, 1929 |
| Died | February 26, 2019 |
| Other names | Merris Shirley Prendergast |
| Occupation | lighting designer |
Merris Shirley Prendergast (June 15, 1929 – February 26, 2019) was a theater lighting designer notable for being the first African-American woman admitted to the United Scenic Artists’ lighting division in 1969. She was also the first African-American woman lighting designer on Broadway in 1973.[1][2] Prendergast designed lighting for Broadway shows such as Waltz of the Stork, Amen Corner, and the Paul Robeson one-man show.[3] She designed lighting for fifty years, well into her mid-80s. One of her last productions was Zora Neale Hurston: a Theatrical Biography in 2016.[4]