Stephen Sakowski, associate professor of lighting and sound design with The University of Toledo Department of Theatre and Film, recently served as the lighting director for a benefit concert at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles as part of the Global Citizen Live event on Sept. 25.
The L.A. stage, one of 14 stages worldwide involved in the fundraising effort, hosted 24 performances by 10 artists over three hours as part of the 24-hour event. The L.A. artists were Adam Lambert, Demi Lovato, 5 Seconds of Summer, Shulman Smith, Stevie Wonder, H.E.R., The Lumineers, Chloe X Halle, Migos, Ozuna and One Republic.
Stephen Sakowski, associate professor of lighting and sound design, served as lighting director for the Global Citizen Live event at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
The combined stages produced 24 hours of continuous programming. As a result, the event raised $1.1 billion to defeat poverty, as well as funding to provide 60-million-plus COVID-19 vaccines and to plant 157 million trees.
Sakowski, who teaches courses in Lighting Design, Sound Design, Fundamentals of Design and Theatre Technology, said his experience with Global Citizen Live was particularly memorable given the event’s size and purpose.
“It was an honor to be a part of a project like this for an organization that is supporting the greater good,” he said. “When working in the entertainment industry it is not often that you can see such a direct relationship between our work and the worldwide benefits.”
Highlights of the live event are available at Global Citizen’s YouTube channel.
To learn more about Global Citizen, visit the organization’s website, globalcitizen.org.
