When reflecting upon my responsibilities as an educator, I believe that my number one goal is to teach my students to be giving artists. I firmly believe that at the end of the day talent only gets you so far; it is character that keeps you jobs. I emphasize listening versus hearing and stress the importance of being an active listener. Better listeners make better designers. I teach collaboration above competition.
I place more emphasis on guidance rather than instruction in the classroom and when advising. I do not believe in “cookie cutter” models of education, where students are expected to regurgitate facts or learn one “correct” method design. I do not see the professor as god. I see students as individuals and seek to engage their unique learning styles. I treat my students as future colleagues because that is indeed what they are.
My goal as a teaching theatre artist is to create a safe environment for students to try and fail. I believe in learning by doing and seek to give my students as many opportunities to learn on their feet through as many realized projects as possible. The professors who I connected with the most as a student stressed that it is about the journey not the destination. They were patient. They were kind. I strive to be like them. It is my responsibility at the completion of a project, not just evaluate a student’s end result, but to ask the critical question - what did you learn from this?
Below are a few of my students and a sampling of their hard work, dedication, and accomplishments.
Edward Truth Snow (FKA Victoria "Toria" Snow) is a multi-talented artist who studied costume design at Weber State University. During his senior year, we worked closely on a number of projects together, including the designs for the mainstage production of The Cripple of Inishmaan. Edward’s costumes would go on to win first place at the national Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington, DC. His award would be a trip to the 2019 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space.
For Edward’s capstone project, he wanted to focus on installation art. He came to me with this idea and we set up two pieces, one on campus and one off-campus in some of Utah’s national and state parks. The on-campus installation, titled Keep Sweet, was a tent made from sewing patterns. The off-campus installation, titled Epilogue, took us down to Southern Utah. In Edward’s words “Epilogue is a reclamation of places that hold personal trauma by displaying journal pages, drawings, and artifacts as a way to finally speak up and tell my side of the story. The use of twine and clothespins is an acknowledgment of the saying I was told to keep me silent - we don’t air our dirty laundry.”
Edward and I also co-wrote and presented a workshop titled Environmental Inspiration & Collaboration Through the Visual Metaphor for KCACTF Region 8 in Los Angeles, California that year. We later would present this workshop at Nebraska Wesleyan University, while Edward was working as my assistant designer for a production of Xanadu. Edward was accepted to California State University, Fullerton’s graduate program in theatre.
We continue to collaborate today, most recently applying for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Artist in Residence.
“Keep Sweet is meant to bring back the memories and feelings of safety that children experience when they hide in forts that they have created. To achieve an authentic feeling of sanctuary I used found objects and constructed the entire structure by myself.” - Edward Snow
Alina Cannon is a brilliant scenic artist and designer who graduated from Weber State University with a B.A. in Theatre Arts. During her junior year, I asked Alina to be the charge artist for the mainstage production of Ruthless. Aside from the faux finishes that she handled masterfully, Alina painted a number of large-scale portraits for the production. She went on to present her work for this production at the Region 8 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
That summer Alina was my assistant designer for Asylum Song presented by The Adjusted Realists in association with Weber State University in New York, NY. Alina was responsible for painting the ground cloth and soft goods in Ogden, UT, and overseeing their transportation to New York.
Before moving on from my position at Weber State, Alina was assigned the scenic design for the following year’s premiere of The House of Edgar Allan Poe. Even though I was no longer at her university, Alina and I remained in contact, knowing that I would continue to be available to her as a mentor. The production was invited to perform at the Region 8 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. While participating at KCACTF, Alina won the regional award in scenic design, becoming one of eight finalists invited to present their work at the national festival in Washington D.C. From the national festival, Alina received The National Partners of the American Theatre Design Award (2020).
Alina is currently a graduate assistant attending West Virginia University, pursuing an M.F.A. in Scenic Design.
Tristan Predmore is an incredibly talented actor/artist who graduated in the spring of 2022 from New World School of the Arts. I first met Tristan in his sophomore year when he was assigned to the electrics crew. From the start, I could tell Tristan had an eye for lighting design in addition to beginning a skilled actor. I quickly asked him if he would like to be my assistant lighting designer for the next mainstage production. He enthusiastically agreed.
In Tristan’s junior year, his work really stood out in the production design class. I found his digital collage work to be evocative and his concept statement insightful with a twist of dark humor. At the end of the school year, he asked if I would be his advisor for the senior year capstone project - writing and producing a one-person show.
It was an absolute delight to work on this project. His writing is witty and self-deprecating while still allowing his character to be vulnerable and authentic. He was always up for the challenge as I keep questioning and encouraging him to take his writing further.
Since graduating Tristan has been cast in several upcoming productions in South Florida and is currently working for Fantasy Theatre Factory as a lighting technician, a lead theatre teacher in their summer camp program, and as a performance artist for their 2022-2023 touring educational show season. He also served as the lighting designer for Oskneru, written and directed by his classmate Sefanja Galon and performed at Main Street Players in Miami Lakes, FL.
Link to Tristan's one-person show, Chip Off the Block (36:50)
Sefanja Galon is a brilliant artist who graduated in the spring of 2022 from New World School of the Arts. I first met Sefanja in his sophomore year when he would stop by my office constantly to ask me questions about tech crew. It was apparent from the beginning that Sefanja had a dedication to his education and his craft that was contagious amongst his peers- a quality I admire greatly.
In Sefanja’s junior and senior years, his work really stood out in the production design and theatre history classes. Sefanja always came to class with a list of questions ready to go - he is the type of student that makes me a better teacher.
In the summer of 2020 Sefanja wrote Oskuneru, a play he described as “an homage to the story of the Maroon people of Suriname - my ancestors. They were amongst the first enslaved peoples of the African Diaspora to claim their freedom despite being so far removed from their families and their lands. Researching this topic made me ponder intensely as to why this could have happened and how they could have persevered despite having the odds so staggeringly stacked against them.” He put in a proposal to direct the piece at school as a studio piece in the spring of 2022. Sefanja would come by my office to discuss some logistical and design elements of the production. I knew from our conversations that this play he had written was something really special. Seeing it performed for the first time was breathtaking. It is truly one of those plays that make you change the way you think about theatre. When his run ended at school another professor and I approached Sefanja about getting Oskuneru produced at a local professional theatre. Together we were able to get him a run at Main Street Players in Miami Lakes, FL.
After Sefanja graduated, I asked him if he would be interested in guest lecturing in theatre history. He gave a beautiful presentation on ritual and how his family history and traditions helped him write his play.
Concept Collage for The Moors.
Show poster for Oskuneru by Sefanja Galon.