Emma McManus is a New York City– and Los Angeles–based lighting designer. Born and raised in Queens, NY, Her work spans theater, dance, concerts, gallery installations, and live events. She is completing her MFA in Lighting Design at CalArts (May 2026), where recent credits include The Misanthrope, The Master and Margarita, and Half-God of Rainfall. Emma has also just finished an internship as a show lighting designer with Disney Imagineering and is a recipient of ETC’s Fred Foster Mentee Award. Her concert work includes collaborations with artists at iconic Hollywood venues such as the Troubadour, the Roxy, and the El Rey Theatres. Drawn to new works and interdisciplinary collaboration, Emma explores how light shapes the relationship between movement, music, and space. Passionate about live music, she creates immersive environments that translate sound into dynamic visual experiences, blending the technical aspects of lighting with a distinct artistic voice.