QolorTOPIX Episode 5: Mextly Couzin, Lighting Designer

QolorTOPIX Light Conversations by City Theatrical

Mextly Couzin was born in Baja California, México and raised in Los Angeles. She holds a BS in Pure Mathematics and an MFA in Lighting Design from the University of California, San Diego. She currently pays rent in NYC. Mextly loves living playwrights, collaborations with dance makers, opera, and lighting for stage and camera. She also thinks no art installation is complete without lighting.
Mextly had her Broadway debut as lighting designer for Job at the Helen Hayes Theatre in July 2024. She was a recipient of the 1/52 Project award, presented by Beowulf Boritt, as an up-and-coming designer in September 2024. Other recent shows include N/A at Lincoln Center and Mexodus, a new musical that will soon be at Berkeley Rep.
City Theatrical talked to Mextly Couzin to learn more about her background, her experience lighting Job, and what's next for Mextly. Learn more in this QolorTOPIX Podcast Episode 5, featuring Mextly Couzin.

QolorTOPIX Light Conversions podcast series by City Theatrical features some of the most unique lighting professionals in the entertainment lighting business. QolorTOPIX conversations range from every sector of light, from film & video, to television, theatre, dance, music, themed entertainment, art, architecture and more. QolorTOPIX is hosted by the City Theatrical Marketing team. The podcast series explores the lives of amazing practitioners of light, by discussing their careers.

Thank you for listening to this episode of QolorTOPIX Light Conversations podcast series. Please join us next time for another exciting conversation with one of our customers or collaborators. Have a great day!

QolorTOPIX is hosted by the City Theatrical Marketing team. The podcast series will explore the lives of amazing practitioners of light, with the goal of discussing their careers, projects, favorite tools, and vision for the future of the lighting industry.

Chapters

1. QolorTOPIX Episode 5: Mextly Couzin, Lighting Designer (00:00:00)

2. Intro to Mexly Couzin: Name Pronunciation (00:00:51)

3. Where are you from? (00:02:22)

4. Year of experience? (00:02:58)

5. Favorite show? (00:03:49)

6. Other languages? (00:03:55)

7. Hidden Talents? (00:04:00)

8. Finding creativity in math? (00:04:32)

9. Quickfire questions (00:04:45)

10. Favorite lighting tool? (00:04:57)

11. Favorite scene in Job? (00:05:13)

12. 3 words to describe your design for Job? (00:05:55)

13. Unique lighting challenges? (00:06:17)

14. Learnings from Job? (00:09:25)

15. Shout outs? (00:10:49)

16. Best part of being a lighting designer? (00:12:33)

17. Challenges of technology? (00:13:11)

18. Future of lighting? (00:13:28)

19. About the 1/52 Project Award (00:14:12)

20. Lighting designer goals? (00:14:55)

21. About N/A at the Mitzi at Lincoln Center (00:16:16)

22. Two-Hander style? (00:16:51)

23. About Mexodus (00:17:21)