Illuminating our stages and our imaginations, here are the 2023 Orlando Sentinel honorees for best lighting design as selected by theater critic Matthew J. Palm.

Although it’s impossible for one person to see every local production, as the Orlando Sentinel’s theater critic, each year I see a broad spectrum of dramas, comedies and musicals. The individuals selected by me for this 2023 theatrical honor roll, presented here alphabetically, elevated the theatrical arts. Go to OrlandoSentinel.com/entertainment to see the honorees in other fields, and check back on Dec. 21 to learn the Critic’s Pick in this category.

Derek Critzer

‘9 to 5’ ♦ Theater West End

In Theater West End’s “9 to 5,” Derek Critzer used the lighting design to amp up the musical’s energy, but also played to its sense of fun and the movie’s status as a camp classic with a patina of whirling, changing bright colors. Critzer, who has been honored five previous times, is a double honoree in this category this year.

Derek Critzer

‘Spring Awakening’ ♦ Theater West End

Derek Critzer, also honored this year for directing Theater West End’s “Spring Awakening,” created his show’s clever lighting design in which the lights pulsed with the energy and anger of youth whose elders won’t hear them, mirroring the musical’s sensibilities. But he also included lights shining through cracks around the stage’s central platform — beacons of hope breaking through the darkness.

George Jackson

‘Million Dollar Quartet’ ♦ Orlando Shakes

“Million Dollar Quartet” tells a story about a famous meeting between music legends, but also serves as a vehicle to let the audience experience their best-known songs. For Orlando Shakes’ production, George Jackson’s lighting neatly and strikingly changed its mood from a vibe of reality for the plot-based scenes to rockin’ out for the show’s concert-like performances. Jackson has been honored in this category six previous times, awarded the Critic’s Pick twice.

Alyx Jacobs

‘The Little Mermaid’ ♦ Theater at St. Luke’s

Alyx Jacobs’ gorgeous lighting, full of shimmering colors, transported viewers under the sea for this large-scale production of “The Little Mermaid” from Theatre at St. Luke’s. With so much going on, Jacobs’ work also helped focus the viewer. And in a particularly nifty — and striking — idea, he used lighting to create a luminous stage-surrounding “curtain” to make beautiful scene transitions and hide necessary theatrical trickery. Jacobs has been honored in this category three previous times, awarded the Critic’s Pick once.

Lance LaBonte

‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ ♦ Theater West End

Lance LaBonte’s lighting let Theater West End audiences viscerally and visually peek in the head of Christopher, a young man with Autism Spectrum Disorder, in “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” And the design was nicely calibrated to the size of the Sanford theater. LaBonte also was honored in this category last year.

Kylee Taylor

‘Lizzie’ ♦ Florida Theatrical Association

In “Lizzie,” the pop-punk, rage-fueled musical about Lizzie Borden of ax-murderer fame, Kylee Taylor’s lighting flashed and changed color to the beat with rock-concert precision. But, as befits the creepiness of the crime under discussion, her lights also danced around the venue in unsettling, helter-skelter fashion.

Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find entertainment news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/entertainment.