Kenneth E. Laeger (Kel) Originally from California,  Kel came to Alabama in 1971, after graduating from Chabot Community College in Hayward, California.  He received his undergraduate degree in Theatre at Birmingham Southern College and an MFA in Scenic Design from Boston University.

Kel came to UM in 2004, and is an Associate Professor of Theatre.  As resident scenic and lighting designer for UM Theatre, he has designed 40 productions in both scenic and lighting. Some of Kel's set designs at UM include GODSPELL, PARADE, MEASURE FOR MEASURE, SEAGULL, SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM, SIDE SHOW, MACBETH, SCAPIN,  MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940, TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY,  DEAD CITY and HAIR.  

Previous teaching positions include Alabama State University in Lighting Design and 7 years at the University of Alabama in Birmingham as a scenic and lighting designer.  Kel brings extensive professional experience to his work at UM Theatre including numerous lighting designs at Birmingham Opera between 2002 and 2009.  Kel also designed sets and lights for many Town and Gown and Summerfest Theatre productions in Birmingham.  Kel has worked at The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Cincinnati Opera and toured with Thor Nielsen as his tech support in AS  LONG AS THE CUCKOO SINGS,  a one man musical play about Hans Christian Andersen which included performances in Scotland at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Additionally,  Kel headed the production team that presented the play HOLMES and WATSON at the off-off Broadway theatre, St. Peter’s Church Theatre, at the Citi-Corp Center in New York City.

laegerke@montevallo.edu ; (205) 665-6207.