Lighting designer Kevin Adams made his Broadway debut in 1998 with a play called “Getting and Spending.” That show, sadly, did not last long, but Adams’ career has. The designer has brought craft and showmanship to the lighting of 30 Main Stem productions, including this season’s revival of “Chess.” His thrilling design and its roots in the musical’s dramaturgy have earned him a 2026 Tony Award nomination for Best Lighting Design of a Musical.
Here, Adams describes how he evokes the epic-ness of a rock concert, the emotional tension of East versus West and sweeping musicality through lights.
The 2026 Tony Awards will take place on June 7 at Radio City Music Hall. P!NK will host the ceremony, which will be broadcast live on CBS and livestreamed on Paramount+ Premium (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). CBS and Pluto TV will present the Tony Awards: Act One, with additional details to follow.
See the full list of nominations here.
