About

Jake DeGroot Headshot

Jake DeGroot is a freelance lighting designer based in New York City. Jake has collaborated with theaters, companies, directors, designers, and artists all over the US and the world. He is a Drama Desk Nominee and an LA Drama Critics Circle Award Recipient. Originally from Massachusetts, Jake became heavily involved with the theatre scene in the greater Boston area from a very young age, including two seasons as Co-Lighting Supervisor at the Tony-Award-Winning Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Today, Jake works primarily as a lighting designer for live theatre, along with work in architectural lighting, television, and special events. He made his Broadway design debut with Oh, Hello on Broadway. Jake holds a BFA in Lighting Design from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama. He is also a proud member of the United Scenic Artists Local 829.

"'Oh, Hello, Live!' has been given a charming full-dress production...with crucial witty lighting by Jake DeGroot" BEN BRANTLEY, THE NEW YORK TIMES View the Oh, Hello Project
"The lighting design by Jake DeGroot has shadows, shades and backdropped tones that soar." MARCIA CALLER JAFFE, THE ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES View the The Temple Bombing Project
"The lighting design was masterful – and what else can you expect from a show about electricity? A bank of lights on the ceiling was almost another character in the show and were used with precision." AMY DURANT, THE ALT View the Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat Project
Outside of the theatre, Jake is passionate about social justice and has been known to take to the streets in protest. He was a core volunteer, organizer, and staffer for the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Congressional Campaign and is the co-founder of Reach which is a new canvassing app helping progressives connect with voters. He is also an enthusiastic year-round cyclist and cycling evangelist.