I’m Nick Forrest, a Fort Worth, TX native and a graduate of Birdville High School (2012). In 2024, I earned my Associate of Arts degree from Tarrant County College, where I built a strong foundation in technical theatre, developing skills in carpentry, lighting design, and stage production. During my time at TCC, I also discovered a passion for fine woodworking, honing my expertise with a wide range of power tools. I was especially drawn to CNC routing and dedicated myself to mastering its capabilities, combining precision fabrication with creative problem-solving.

In addition to my academic work at TCC, I have served as the lighting designer for the TCC Dance Company at the Northeast Campus for the past 10 years, a role I continue to hold. In this position, I collaborate closely with choreographers, faculty, and performers to design lighting that supports movement, atmosphere, and storytelling across multiple concerts and productions each year. I am responsible for developing lighting concepts, creating plots and cue structures, programming, and running performances. This long-term role has strengthened my ability to translate artistic vision into cohesive lighting designs while working efficiently within tight rehearsal schedules and evolving production needs.

I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Design/Tech with a focus on technical production at the University of North Texas, with an expected graduation date of May 2026. I bring over a decade of hands-on experience across lead carpentry, lighting design, and CNC fabrication, allowing me to approach production work with both creative and technical insight.

For the past two years, I have also worked as the lighting designer for the Fort Worth Dance Festival, designing lighting for a wide range of dance companies, choreographers, and performance styles within a festival setting. In this role, I collaborate with multiple artists within a compressed timeframe, adapting lighting designs for diverse pieces while maintaining consistency, safety, and artistic integrity. I am responsible for cueing, programming, and executing lighting transitions during live performances, often working under fast-paced technical rehearsals and tight turnaround schedules. This experience has sharpened my adaptability, communication skills, and ability to deliver polished designs under pressure.

In the summer of 2025, I worked at Stage Door Manor as a Lead Carpenter, supporting multiple productions in an intensive, fast-paced theatrical environment. In this leadership role, I assisted with load-ins, changeovers, and strikes; verified scenic construction against technical drawings; and supported the scenic team lead with shop management, tool organization, and build decisions. I also worked closely with carpenters, swing technicians, and the technical director to ensure scenery was built accurately, safely, and on schedule. Beyond carpentry, I collaborated across departments as needed—assisting with painting, wardrobe tasks, and last-minute production needs—to help all productions reach opening successfully.

As I continue to grow in the field, I am actively seeking hands-on opportunities—including internships, production work, and collaborative projects—where I can expand my skills, deepen my understanding of professional standards, and contribute meaningfully to theatre, dance, and fabrication environments. I am especially interested in roles that blend scenic construction and CNC-based design and build work, allowing me to apply my full technical skill set in collaborative production settings.