Neil Koivu at a lighting console on site

Neil Koivu is a freelance lighting designer in the Metro Detroit area

The highlight of lighting designer Neil Koivu's 10 year professional career was Ben Vereen saying "you must be a man of style and class" when lighting a concert for the award winning performer, while wearing a bow tie. Neil is a Wilde Award Nominee for the remount of Eric Gutman's From Broadway to Obscurity for Detroit Public Theatre.

Neil has experience as a Lighting Designer, Sound Designer, Scenic Designer, and Production Electrician.

Neil has lit one off concerts with Thornetta Davis, Chita Rivera, Patti LuPone, Charles Strouse, Bebe Neuwirth, and Barbara Cook.

Theatre lighting design highlights include The 39 Steps, A Comedy of Tenors, and The Miss Firecracker Contest at Tipping Point Theatre, American Hero for Detroit Public Theatre, Invasion, and The Lonesome West at The Planet Ant, Anything Goes for Nicely Theatre Group, Cabaret, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Disgraced, American Buffalo, Casa Valentina, and the yearly production of The Diary of Anne Frank for the Jewish Ensemble Theatre.

My recent Instagram posts

Just updating my website (link in the bio) to add a couple of shows this year. Ready for the new year to begin to do a couple more shows, and applying to hopefully design a show over the summer.
Just updating my website (link in the bio) to add a couple of shows this year. Ready for the new year to begin to do a couple more shows, and applying to hopefully design a show over the summer.
Another #throwbackthursday this time to A Little More Alive at @meadowbrooktheatre. It was a great show to work on this past season
Another #throwbackthursday this time to A Little More Alive at @meadowbrooktheatre. It was a great show to work on this past season
#stageshotsunday happy closing to @nicelytheatre Guys and Dolls; the haze is reacting very well today. Must be that matinee air flow.
#stageshotsunday happy closing to @nicelytheatre Guys and Dolls; the haze is reacting very well today. Must be that matinee air flow.
#fohfriday I’m not usually running a show on a Friday night but here I am at Front of House for @nicelytheatre Guys and Dolls tonight.
#fohfriday I’m not usually running a show on a Friday night but here I am at Front of House for @nicelytheatre Guys and Dolls tonight.
Going into weekend 2 of @nicelytheatre Guys and Dolls here are my Act 2 pictures, 3 more performances to go. Directed by @masters.mitchell Scenic Design by @eric.w.maher Lighting design by @neilkoivu Props by @campd and Michael Campion Costumes b
Going into weekend 2 of @nicelytheatre Guys and Dolls here are my Act 2 pictures, 3 more performances to go. Directed by @masters.mitchell Scenic Design by @eric.w.maher Lighting design by @neilkoivu Props by @campd and Michael Campion Costumes by Karen Sound by @backstage_noel
#throwbackthursday to @nicelytheatre Drowsy Chaperone while we’re in between Nicely’s Guys and Dolls weekends.
#throwbackthursday to @nicelytheatre Drowsy Chaperone while we’re in between Nicely’s Guys and Dolls weekends.
Happy opening to @nicelytheatre production of Guys and Dolls. Directed by @masters.mitchell Scenic design by @eric.w.maher Lighting design by @neilkoivu Costumes by Karen Page Props by Michael Campion and @campd Sound by @backstage_noel
Happy opening to @nicelytheatre production of Guys and Dolls. Directed by @masters.mitchell Scenic design by @eric.w.maher Lighting design by @neilkoivu Costumes by Karen Page Props by Michael Campion and @campd Sound by @backstage_noel
#throwbackthursday getting ready for @nicelytheatre’s production of Guys and Dolls opening next weekend brings me back to doing Pippin this time 2 years ago. #TBT
#throwbackthursday getting ready for @nicelytheatre’s production of Guys and Dolls opening next weekend brings me back to doing Pippin this time 2 years ago. #TBT
Happy world Theatre Day. Here are a selection of shows I’ve done over the past year.
Happy world Theatre Day. Here are a selection of shows I’ve done over the past year.
Happy opening for Native Gardens at @meadowbrooktheatre! Such a great place to work and design! Directed by @travis.walter.31 Scenic design by @cltausney Lighting design by @neilkoivu Costume Design by Krista Brown Sound Design by @mikeduncansoun
Happy opening for Native Gardens at @meadowbrooktheatre! Such a great place to work and design! Directed by @travis.walter.31 Scenic design by @cltausney Lighting design by @neilkoivu Costume Design by Krista Brown Sound Design by @mikeduncansound
Happy opening for A Little More Alive at @meadowbrooktheatre sadly I can’t be at opening night because I have a Rare Earth concert to light tonight, but it’s a great show everyone should go see. I’m very happy with it. Directed by
Happy opening for A Little More Alive at @meadowbrooktheatre sadly I can’t be at opening night because I have a Rare Earth concert to light tonight, but it’s a great show everyone should go see. I’m very happy with it. Directed by @travis.walter.31 Scenic Design by @bk.kess Lighting Design by @neilkoivu Costumes by @costumesbymarley Sound by @mikeduncansound
Waiting for a zoom production meeting to begin and starting some prep of my Augment3d show file for A Little More Alive
Waiting for a zoom production meeting to begin and starting some prep of my Augment3d show file for A Little More Alive
Just updating my website (link in the bio) to add a couple of shows this year. Ready for the new year to begin to do a couple more shows, and applying to hopefully design a show over the summer. Another #throwbackthursday this time to A Little More Alive at @meadowbrooktheatre. It was a great show to work on this past season #stageshotsunday happy closing to @nicelytheatre Guys and Dolls; the haze is reacting very well today. Must be that matinee air flow. #fohfriday I’m not usually running a show on a Friday night but here I am at Front of House for @nicelytheatre Guys and Dolls tonight. Going into weekend 2 of @nicelytheatre Guys and Dolls here are my Act 2 pictures, 3 more performances to go. Directed by @masters.mitchell Scenic Design by @eric.w.maher Lighting design by @neilkoivu Props by @campd and Michael Campion Costumes b #throwbackthursday to @nicelytheatre Drowsy Chaperone while we’re in between Nicely’s Guys and Dolls weekends. Happy opening to @nicelytheatre production of Guys and Dolls. Directed by @masters.mitchell Scenic design by @eric.w.maher Lighting design by @neilkoivu Costumes by Karen Page Props by Michael Campion and @campd Sound by @backstage_noel #throwbackthursday getting ready for @nicelytheatre’s production of Guys and Dolls opening next weekend brings me back to doing Pippin this time 2 years ago. #TBT Happy world Theatre Day. Here are a selection of shows I’ve done over the past year. Happy opening for Native Gardens at @meadowbrooktheatre! Such a great place to work and design! Directed by @travis.walter.31 Scenic design by @cltausney Lighting design by @neilkoivu Costume Design by Krista Brown Sound Design by @mikeduncansoun Happy opening for A Little More Alive at @meadowbrooktheatre sadly I can’t be at opening night because I have a Rare Earth concert to light tonight, but it’s a great show everyone should go see. I’m very happy with it. Directed by Waiting for a zoom production meeting to begin and starting some prep of my Augment3d show file for A Little More Alive

Up Coming productions

These shows are likely to be changed or canceled as the future is unknowable

I’d love to work with you