CASE STUDY:
Teatro Angelina
LIGHTING THAT PERFORMS
CHALLENGE
Located next to the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Teatro Angelina needed to operate on a different stage. As both a pre-show destination restaurant and post-performance lounge, the interior environment had to deliver atmosphere that could flex with the rhythm of the evening.
The design stakes were high: lighting would directly influence guest perception, food presentation, and guest retention. Without the right solution, the space risked feeling flat before curtain call or overly harsh once the night slowed—undermining both guest experience and revenue potential.
Decorative Fixtures
0
%
Focused Task Lighting
0
%
Indirect Architectural Feature Lighting
0
%
SOLUTION
VANROOY developed a layered lighting strategy that treated illumination as an integrated design system rather than a decorative afterthought. The plan targeted a 65/25/10 distribution: 65% ambient lighting to enhance the architectural features and establish a consistent, glare-free base; 25% task-focused illumination to ensure visual clarity at tables and service points; and 10% decorative fixtures to introduce focal accents and visual drama.
A unified 2700K color temperature tied the system together, ensuring cuisine, finishes, and complexions appeared warm and flattering. Fixture placement was carefully modeled to eliminate hotspots, shadows, and distracting glare, while alignment with material textures and circulation patterns reinforced spatial flow. The result was a technically precise system that could modulate energy levels across service periods while always maintaining visual comfort and brand consistency.
Increased Check Averages
Organic Visibility / Social Sharing
Stronger Repeat Customers
RESULTS
Teatro Angelina transcends traditional dining—the space unfolds like a performance. The layered lighting strategy not only elevated the design, it highlighted architectural features, directed guest movement, and shaped the entire guest experience. The 2700K lighting temperature provided warmth, optimized food presentation, encouraged guest comfort, and extended guest retention, leading to increased check averages and stronger repeat patterns.
Operationally, the design delivered a photogenic, impactful environment that generated organic visibility through guest-driven social sharing—creating measurable earned media value. For ownership, the return was clear: the restaurant became a natural pre- and post-show tradition, built equity as a destination, and leveraged lighting design as a driver of both guest satisfaction and revenue performance.
For this project, it was critical that the lighting had theatrical elements; telling a story through focal points and shadows. Every layer, every glow, is intentional: highlighting the architecture, the food, and shaping guests’ mood from arrival to departure.
