Warren E. Law

WARREN E. LAW, born on Feb. 2, 1950 in Little Rock, Ark. passed away unexpectedly at his home on Dec. 1, 2014. He was the face of theatrical lighting design in Central Arkansas for most of his life. Warren graduated from Central High School in 1968 and joined the Navy. He served aboard the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier in the Tonkin Gulf for 18 months during the Vietnam War and was always proud of his military service. In fact, he taught his theatre production students to "clean a dance floor like you clean the deck of a ship." Warren received his B.A. in accounting from UALR and joined the UALR Theatre and Dance Department in 1973. For the next 28 years, Warren designed and hung the lights for nearly every show, big or small, that was produced in the UALR theatre. He served as the technical director for Artspree, taught classes in lighting design and lit countless dance recitals and other shows. He used students as his crew for all of these jobs, providing them with invaluable in-the-field training and giving many of them their only source of income. He always fought for better wages and schedules for his crew. Many of his students grew to have national careers in theatrical production. Warren became the lighting designer for Ballet Arkansas in the late 1980s, lighting "The Nutcracker," among other productions, every year. At the time of his death Warren was also the lighting designer for Robinson Auditorium and the Little Rock School District, lighting dance concerts for the Horace Mann and Parkview performing arts schools. Warren worked with the UALR Trojan Pep Band, Murry's Dinner Playhouse and the Arkansas Arts Center over the years as well. A longtime Razorback fan, Warren could often be found in a lighting booth with his tiny black and white TV watching his team while running the light board or writing cues. Warren was preceded in death by his parents, Robert A. Law and Geneva Goodloe Law. He is survived by his dearest sister, Mary Law of Little Rock; wife, Shannon Law of Hot Springs; daughter, Claire Law of Little Rock, sons, Rob Law and Joey Law of Hot Springs and sister, Roberta Overman of North Little Rock. The burial will take place at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at 1 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2014. A memorial celebration of Warren's life will be held at UALR in the Haislip Theatre at 6 p.m. that evening. In lieu of flowers, you may contribute to the Warren E. Law Theatre Design and Production Scholarship by sending a check to the UALR Office of Development, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204 with a notation indicating it is in remembrance of Warren.