Obituary - Ayun Fedorcha, Lighting Designer

AYUN FEDORCHA – Obituary

10/15/1957 – 9/28/2011

Lighting Designer Ayun Fedorcha passed away on September 28, 2011 after an extended illness. Ayun was born Mary Ann Fedorcha in Lakeland, Florida. She grew up in Lakeland, and attended Sante Fe Catholic High School. She went on to Mercer University in Macon, Georgia where she got her BA. After college, Ayun worked as a stage manager and/or lighting designer for Theatre Winter Haven, Lakeland Little Theatre, Lakeland Senior High School, and several dinner theatres. In 1986, she entered the MFA program in lighting design at UVA in Charlottesville, where she stayed for two years. She then took a job with a retail craft company and moved to Westminster, Maryland. She left the company in 1991, and moved to DC to try to freelance in the theatre.

In the Washington, DC area, Ayun's resume reads like an overview of the DC theatre scene. She was a Resident Artist - Lighting Designer at Adventure Theatre (since 1994) and Resident Lighting Designer at Teatro de la Luna (since 1992). She also designed lights for American Century Theatre, the Capital City Symphony, George Mason University – Opera Department, GALA Hispanic Theatre, Georgetown Prep, HEXAGON, Round House Theatre, School of Theatrical Dance, Summer Theatre Experience, The Other Opera Company, VLOC - Victorian Lyric Opera Company, and Washington Shakespeare Company (now WSC Avant Bard). In addition, she was a Guest Lighting Designer for Actor's Theatre of Washington, D.C., Ballet Theatre of Ashburn, Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia, Spooky Action Theatre, The Alden Theatre, and The Catholic University of America.

Ayun said about herself: “I am a very warm and fuzzy lighting designer. My goals include making beautifully lit productions, playing well with my co-designers, and making my directors happy. Paying the rent is also a nice thing.” She consistently received rave reviews for her lighting designs. Ayun was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award in 1997 for her Lighting Design for GALA Hispanic Theatre's La Chunga.

A memorial event is being planned. Details will be posted on the “In Memory of Ayun Fedorcha” Facebook page or email dgrossman@capitalcitysymphony.org for more information.