THE LION KING

"Time and again, Donald Holder's lighting design produces a striking atmosphere."

- Tim Smith, The Baltimore Sun

“The clever use of scrims and dramatic lighting by designers Richard Hudson and Donald Holder are breathtaking.”

- Bob Abelman, News Herald

“…Donald Holder's wonderful elemental lighting.”

- Ben Brantley, NY Times

"Donald Holder’s Lighting Design enhanced the musical. Not only did the lighting designate tone and mood of each scene, but it held the emotional undertones

of the musical that brought the musical into the next realm of enjoyment. Holder’s strongest suit though of his design was the ability to give the set so many

different views based on not only coloring of lights, but the location of lights to bring forth shadows, silhouettes, and highlighting each element of the musical."

- Angela Newby, The Column

"The creative team of Richard Hudson behind set design, Julie Taymor’s costume design, Donald Holder’s brilliant lighting, and Michael Curry and

Julie Taymor’s creation and design of the 232 puppets in the show create a believable savanna setting."

- Lynette Randall, Daily Utah Chronicle

"Richard Hudson’s scene design has a primitive, elemental look that magnifies the sense that we’re deep within Africa. That feel is magnified by

Donald Holder’s lighting and Steve Canyon Kennedy’s sound design."

- Orange County Register

SOUTH PACIFIC

“The impeccable lighting is by Donald Holder.”

- Ben Brantley, NY Times

"Donald Holder’s breathtaking lighting allows for Bali Hai to be seen and then fade into the mist to wondrous effect"

- Simon Saltzman, Princeton Info

KISS ME KATE

"painted stage curtains and coulisses, enhanced  by Donald Holder’s beautiful soft-hued lighting"

- Deb Miller, DC Metro Theater Arts

TOOTSIE

"Donald Holder's lighting casts delicate splashes of color wherever needed and he paces the musical numbers with easy mastery"

- David Barbour, Lighting & Sound America

M. BUTTERFLY

"If the stagecraft makes you swoon, then this must be a Julie Taymor production, with prodigious contributions from Paul Steinberg (sets),

Constance Hoffman (costumes), Will Pickens (sound), and especially from Donald Holder (lighting)."

- Marilyn Stasio, Variety

GEM OF THE OCEAN

"Donald Holder's candle-lit lighting design reflects the play's twin themes of mystery and illumination and his contribution to the

City of Bones séance, complemented by Dan Moses Schreier's sound design, is potent."

- Laura Hitchcock, Curtain Up

BIG FISH

"In addition to sets by [Julian] Crouch, the wizard behind the look of the great Grand Guignol 'Shockheaded Peter,' the show has top-of-the-line lighting by

Donald Holder, costumes by the tireless William Ivey Long and fluid projections by Benjamin Pearcy for 59 Productions."

- Ben Brantley from The New York Times

ANASTASIA

"Alexander Dodge’s luscious backdrops of St. Petersburg and Paris aided by Donald Holder’s lighting are more seductive

than the best travel poster."

- Jonathan Mandell, DC Theatre Scene

"The projections and scenic design and Donald Holder’s lighting design make the stage able to compete with animated action, and Peter Hylenski’s

sound design gives the actors’ voices that ever-bright note that makes cartoon sound so distinctive."

- Donald Brown, New Haven Review

"Donald Holder’s lighting design creates depth and drama in every scene."

- Colin Douglas, Chicago Theater Review

SHE LOVES ME

"David Rockwell’s sets (Mitteleuropa does Art Deco) glow with his typical urbane suavity; the costumes by Jeff Mahshie are bright and snug on the

appealing actors; and Donald Holder’s lights bathe scenes in seductive shadows or a candy-colored glow."

- David Cote, Time Out

THE FATHER

"This lighting design by Donald Holder mimics the brain’s electrical impulses firing and misfiring, seeking patterns of normalcy and healing and

surcease from suffering – neurotransmitters that fail to fully cooperate or simply fail altogether."

- David Roberts, OnStage Blog

CARMEN

"... David Rockwell's handsome sets, Donald Holder's fiery lighting and Julie Weiss' costumes adding to the overall feel."

- Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun Time

MY FAIR LADY

"The costumes by Catherine Zuber are breathtaking, as is the set design by Michael Yeargan, complemented by

Donald Holder’s lighting design."

- Lynn Menefee, MD Theatre Guide

"The large orchestra and original arrangements sound magnificent. The production is loverly — thanks to chic costumes by Catherine Zuber,

flattering lighting by Donald Holder, fine-tuned sound by Marc Salzberg and fluid, if busy, scenery by Michael Yeargan."

- Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News

THE KING AND I

"A highlight for me was Donald Holder’s lighting design, which gave each soloist an extra pop of brightness at the end of a tune, almost as if they were receiving a gold star."

- Donald Munro, The Munro Review

"Michael Yeargan’s sets are breathtaking and eye catching which compliment Donald Holder’s creative lighting, Scott Lehrer’s soundscapes and Catherine Zuber’s colourful costumes."

- Dawn Smallwood, Fairy Powered Productions

RAY CHARLES LIVE!

"The rest of the large cast is mostly all that it should be, and Riccardo Hernandez's intricate set design and Donald Holder's

lighting are dazzling."

- Jay Reiner, Hollywood Reporter

EMMA

"Colorful lighting choices (by Donald Holder) imbue the story with a vitality that shines on the essentially blank canvas, even if the neutral

color palette leaves one yearning for the BBC’s bold, vibrant 2009 adaptation, all fuchsias and golds"

- Lisa Trifone, Third Coast Review

SPIDER MAN

"Donald Holder’s lighting design washes the gorgeous sets in deep reds and blues. Furthermore, Holder’s collaboration with projection designer Kyle Cooper

creates some of the more stunning uses of video seen on Broadway"

- Jessee North, Stage Rush

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

"Donald Holder’s lighting design conjures pale bleakness and low winter sun."

- Williamspot Sun-Gazette

THE CHERRY ORCHARD

"Only Donald Holder's muted lighting strikes a tone that consistently makes sense, bringing surges

of warmth, expressive feeling and straining vitality."

- David Rooney for Hollywood Reporter

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX

"The piece’s unity comes from wonderful technical aspects, including Donald Holder’s lighting, Anita Yavich’s costumes,

Jennifer Jancuska’s choreography and the wonderfully hilarious and smart puppetry of Lydia Fine and Nick Lehane."

- David John Chavez, Bay Area Plays

"Bright beams slice through the darkness in Donald Holder’s dramatic lighting."

- Sam Hurwitt, Mercury News

GOLDEN BOY

"...dim, moody lighting by Donald Holder all contribute to a gloomy gorgeousness."

- Mark Kennedy, Washington

HE BROUGHT HE HEART BACK IN A BOX

"Donald Holder’s lighting both anchors this place with projected words and blueprints

(Austin Switser is the video designer) and sets it swirling into giddy decomposition."

- Ben brantly, NY Times