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Severe Clear: September 11 from Memory to History
TECHNICAL DIRECTION
Great River Shakespeare Festival
The Great River Shakespeare Festival is housed on the Winona State University campus, performing three shows in rep on the main stage each summer from late June through early August. Planning began yearly in December, with build commencing in early May. Each season I supervised an ATD, 1-2 Master Carpenters, 2-3 interns, and occasional overhire or volunteers. Budgets for these productions averaged between $2000 and $4000 each. I worked closely with designer R. Eric Stone to ensure that all scenery was constructed at a professional level of quality while simultaneously and could be changed from one set to another with relative ease. This gallery represents a selection of sets constructed during my seven years as TD.
Great River Shakespeare Festival, 2014 Scenic Design: R. Eric Stone Direction: Paul Mason Barnes Lighting: Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz Costumes: Meg Weedon Photo Credit: R. Eric Stone
Great River Shakespeare Festival, 2015 Scenic Design: R. Eric Stone Direction: James Edmonson Lighting: Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz Costumes: Rebecca Bernstein Pictured: Chris Gerson, Tarah Flanagan Photo Credit: R. Eric Stone
Great River Shakespeare Festival, 2017 Scenic Design: R. Eric Stone Direction: Doug Scholz-Carlson Lighting: Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz Costumes: Meg Weedon Pictured: Silas Sellnow, Alex Givens Photo Credit: R. Eric Stone
Great River Shakespeare Festival, 2014 Scenic Design: R. Eric Stone Direction: Paul Mason Barnes Lighting: Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz Costumes: Meg Weedon Photo Credit: R. Eric Stone
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TECHNICAL DIRECTION
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Scenic Design: Amanda Kolbe Direction: Beth Cherne Lighting Design: Sarah Herkert Costume Design: Joe Anderson
Scenic Design: Amanda Kolbe Direction: Mary Leonard Lighting Design: Amanda Kolbe Costume Design: Joe Anderson
Scenic Design: Amanda Kolbe Direction: Mary Leonard Lighting Design: Ben Golden Costume Design: Joe Anderson
Scenic Design: Amanda Kolbe Direction: Beth Cherne Lighting Design: Sarah Herkert Costume Design: Joe Anderson
Our Department of Theatre Arts produces six shows each academic year, as well as a summer musical. I began teaching at UWL as the Assistant Technical Director in 2014, and moved into the role of Technical Director in 2016. In addition to having an ATD who oversees the daily operations of the scene shop, we are staffed by 5-6 paid student workers each semester. In non-Covid times, we also have between 30 and 50 lab students fulfilling a requirement for Theatre Appreciation (a General Education course). These lab students begin at a variety of experience levels, making our work an incredible teaching opportunity. Though our department places a strong emphasis on process over product, we also strive to emulate professional quality and experiences.
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Our main stage productions (four each academic year) typically have budgets ranging from $2000 to $3500, with a 4-6 week build period. However, because we produce six shows annually, our build periods overlap. With our shop being open only 20 hours per week, organization is key, and I am a paperwork nerd. I invite you to peruse examples of my paperwork and technical drawings in the PDF available at right.
TD Paperwork
Severe Clear: September 11
from Memory to History
SCENIC DESIGN
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
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Though my position at UWL is that of Technical Director, the department supports our desire to take on additional roles when opportunities arise. I do not consider myself a professional in scenic design, but love doing it anyway - designing pushes my creativity in different ways from Technical Direction, and I see each production as a learning opportunity. I strongly believe students need to see their mentors pushing themselves outside their comfort zones, and therefore I make no secret of the struggles I encounter through the process (and even with the product!) of designing scenery. I strive to model the benefits of reaching beyond my abilities, even when that means the result is imperfect. This gallery provides a glimpse at some of the end results of my work.
Direction: Beth Cherne Lighting Design: Ben Golden Costume Design: Joe Anderson
Direction: Greg Parmeter Lighting Design: Gabe Hanson Costume Design: Joe Anderson
Direction: Mary Leonard Lighting Design: Ben Golden Costume Design: Joe Anderson
Direction: Beth Cherne Lighting Design: Ben Golden Costume Design: Joe Anderson