Maria Shaplin is a Philadelphia-based theater designer who received her MFA in lighting design from Temple University. She has a BA in Anthropology and Sociology from Hampshire College. In addition to lighting, Maria practices graphic and web design. Although she works on many forms of performance, Maria is especially versed in devised processes, new play development, experimental performance and game design. Maria is the co-founder of Applied Mechanics, a collective that devises immersive, multi-narrative plays. Maria began her theatrical career as the resident lighting designer for The Riot Group, with whom she has toured all over the world. Maria received the 2018 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Lighting Design, and the 2015 Independence Fellowship in the Arts. Maria is a frequent collaborator with many companies in Philadelphia including The Riot Group, Swim Pony Performing Arts, InterAct, Arden, New Paradise Laboratories, 1812 Productions, The Wilma Theater, Orbiter 3, People’s Light, The Berserker Residents, Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium, Quintessence Theater Group, Team Sunshine Performance Corporation, Theater Horizon, Nichole Canuso Dance Company, Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental, UArts, PlayPenn, and Headlong Performance Institute.
