The Theatre School > About > Faculty & Staff > Design - Technology > Christine Binder

Christine Binder

  • ​​

  • cbinder@depaul.edu
  • Chair of Design and Technology; Head of Lighting Design
  • Design - Technology
  • 773-325-7931

Christine, a native to Illinois, first studied dance in college, but a knee injury led her to lighting design classes at the same university. "When I understood the power of lighting, I was hooked," says Binder. "As a dancer, I was only interpreting someone else's ideas. But as a designer, I saw that I could participate in the creative process in a more meaningful way and make a bigger impact on the final product." She has designed in Chicago and all around the country. Ms. Binder's opera designs include work at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theatre, San Diego Opera, New York City Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Theater An der Wein in Vienna, Austria and the Seito Kinen Festival in Matsumoto Japan. In theatre, Chris has worked with The Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare, The Court Theatre, Redmoon Theatre, Northlight, Lookingglass Theatre Company, the McCarter Theatre, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Recent designs include Brothers Karamazov, produced by the Lookingglass Theatre Company; The Ox Herder's Tale at the MCA, produced by Blair Thomas and Co.; and Madama Butterfly for the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Ms. Binder has received two Jeff Citations for her work with Redmoon Theatre (Frankenstein and Frankie and Johnny) and has been nominated for the Jeff Award for her work with Court Theatre, Northlight Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre Company. Ms. Binder is an Artistic Associate with Lookingglass Theatre Company. She resides in Oak Park, Illinois with her husband Claude and her son, Cody.​