Rudolph’s nose isn’t the only thing shining bright this season at Tuacahn. Thanks in part to the work of Pat Downes, master electrician for the indoor Hafen Theatre, the theater is ready to transport audiences to the magical — and beautifully lit — world of the North Pole/p>

Whether checking on the spotlights or upgrading the space with the latest in lighting technology, Downes does his best to shine a light on all the amazing sets, costumes and performances happening inside the Hafen Theatre.

From the time he was in high school, Downes, was pretty sure he wanted to spend his career bringing theater to life — as long as he could do it from backstage. In high school, he was always helping out with stage crew. As he moved toward graduation his vision for the future started taking shape with something in the technical world as his main focus.

“Without lighting, we wouldn’t be able to fully convey the story that’s being presented.”

“For me, the really attractive thing about this industry is the ability to work in so many different fields while working in entertainment,” Downes says.

Downes’ perspective, and his versatility, has proved to be a boon to his career, both in his former life as a freelance electrician, carpenter and stagehand in New York, and now with his position at Tuacahn.

Like many people, Downes’ career took a rough hit, and eventually a turning point during the COVID-19 pandemic. With months of no work in New York, he gratefully accepted a position in the small Southern Utah town of Ivins and was surprised to find it wasn’t anything like he’d imagined.

“I think coming here I had an expectation of what this place was going to be, but it’s really not, which is fun,” Downes says. “I think I thought it would be more rural than it is. Plus, I love hiking and photography and this is an ideal place to explore.”

Day to day, Downes’ role in lighting the Hafen Theatre includes checking and repairing all the lighting fixtures, as well as ensuring the special effects are working. It’s up to him to communicate to the stage manager and the director when he feels the lighting elements are ready, and the cast and crew can continue progressing toward opening night.

Once the show opens, Downes is the one seated behind the light board, taking lighting cues from the stage manager and illuminating all the most important elements on stage.

As the indoor Hafen Theatre continues to evolve, Downes has been instrumental in upgrading many of the lighting elements, and he looks forward to taking even more steps in that direction in the future.

“I’m excited to see in years to come how far we can get with this space,” he says. “It already offers so much in the way of professional theater, and it has even more potential that I’m really excited about.”

One of the upgrades this year is the addition of 24 new high-end Lonestar lights making their debut during Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.

“Our job with lighting is to emphasize the story through displays of color and emotion,” Downes says. “Without lighting, we wouldn’t be able to fully convey the story that’s being presented.”

One of the unique aspects to Rudolph is the fact that so much of the set is white — thanks to its setting in the North Pole. Rather than this being a challenge, Downes says it opens a “fun world” for the lighting designer, and a unique opportunity for him as the master electrician.

“It’s been nothing but a blessing to work at Tuacahn.”

“Lighting is another way to intensify the narrative of the show we’re presenting,” he says.

In addition to his work as the master electrician for the Hafen Theatre, Downes is also responsible for arranging and bringing set pieces on and off stage in the Outdoor Amphitheatre during the Broadway season. For him, the ability to compare and contrast the two spaces leaves him with a greater appreciation for both.

“The Amphitheatre is so grand, whereas the Hafen is such an intimate space,” Downes says. “I really enjoy working in both venues.”

As one of the employees working full-time year-round at Tuacahn, Downes considers himself fortunate to come to work each day in the shadow of the red mountains and illuminate all the wonderful things happening at Tuacahn.

“It’s a really great gig,” this New Yorker-turned-Southern Utahan says. “It’s been nothing but a blessing to work at Tuacahn.”

Check out Downes’ lighting effects, as well as the rest of the story unfolding in the Hafen Theatre with Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer playing through Dec. 22. For tickets go online to www.tuacahn.org or call the box office at 435-652-3300.