Wright State grad grabs major award for Beyoncé’s  ‘Lemonade,’ set to appear at the Neon Sunday

A local graduate nabbed a major award for her work on the critically acclaimed work "Lemonade" a day before internationally renowned singer Beyoncé won Grammy glory for the very same project.

Centerville High School alumna Hannah Beachler on Saturday won the  best "Awards or Event Special" 2017 Art Directors Guild  Award for production design on the conceptual music video album that aired on HBO.

You can see her this weekend at a special event at The Neon movie theater, 130 E. Fifth St. in downtown Dayton.

>>MORE: Dayton-area grad praised for work on ‘Moonlight’, Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’

Beyoncé won the Best Urban Contemporary Album Grammy Sunday night for Lemonade.

Beachler’s design work is part of the Academy Awards Best Picture nominee “Moonlight.”

In its Nov. 29 edition, Variety called Beachler "Hollywood's production designer of the moment."

"It is an honor to be a part of Moonlight and Lemonade," said Beachler, who also worked on Don Cheadle's "Miles Ahead" and "Creed," a sequel to "Rocky."

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Beachler said her family has had ties to Dayton since the 1970s.

Her father Mark lives in Kettering while her mother, Marsha, resides in Centerville. Her sisters are also still in the area.

Beachler, a product of Wright State University's film and production design program,

is working in Atlanta on the Ryan Coogler-directed Marvel feature "Black Panther." She will make a public appearance in Dayton at noon Sunday, Feb. 19 for a special "talk-back" and re-screening of "Moonlight" at The Neon movies.

Credit: Photo: submitted

Credit: Photo: submitted

 W. Stuart McDowell, a Wright State professor and the artistic director of its Department of Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures, will host the special event.

Tickets are $7.50  or $5 for Wright State students.

McDowell interviewed Beachler when The Neon screened “Fruitvale Station,” Coogler’s 2013 independent film highlighted by Beachler’s design work.

He said McDowell demonstrated ingenuity resourcefulness during that critically acclaimed project.

>>MORE: Buzzworthy ‘Fruitvale Station’ has local flavor

“Hannah is a true talent, and a self-starter, who has blazed a trail in the motion pictures industry, beginning as a production assistant of various kinds, establishing contacts and a reputation for reliability and professionalism and creative resourcefulness that led to contacts and contracts that have lead to her becoming one of the leading up-and-coming production designers in the motion pictures industry,” McDowell said. “She's a rare talent and a fabulous, gracious person to boot; her coming back to Dayton for this screening is testament to her magnanimous spirit, sharing with the next generation of filmmakers her wisdom, experience, and, well, simply said— her brilliance.”

Beachler said McDowell asked her to do the event and she gladly obliged.

She compared Wright State’s film school to larger, better known schools and praised its faculty and graduates.

"It is important for people to know that Wright State is a viable film school," she said.

The Neon played Moonlight for several weeks last year.

It is Neon movie manager Jonathan McNeal’s best picture pick for this year’s Academy Awards.

>>MORE: What you need to know about the Neon, Dayton’s 30-year-old art house

Oscar nominations are in and there are TONS of Dayton connections. LIVE at the The NEON with Jonathan McNeal and Amelia Robinson. http://on.dayton.com/2jtxIN1

Posted by Dayton.com on Tuesday, January 24, 2017

McNeal said it is wonderful to see what Beachler has done since her work on Fruitvale Station.

“Her career has skyrocketed in just the last few years and it has been amazing to see,” he said.

Advanced tickets are available at The Neon's box office for her talk-back.

>>MORE: 16 Daytonians who made us proud at OSCARS, Grammy and SAG Awards

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