As part of SMTD’s BFA in design & production curriculum, students display their work in an annual portfolio review, with faculty and guests reviewing their work and offering comments. The portfolios feature examples from coursework as well as hands-on production experiences in theatre, musical theatre, opera, and dance, including conceptual drawings and models, stage management materials, costumes, props, sets, lighting designs, and more. The 2026 Design & Production Portfolio Exhibition was open to the public from January 27 to February 6 at the Duderstadt Center Gallery on North Campus.
Photography from the Design & Production Portfolio Exhibition Opening Reception on January 23, 2026. Photos by Alex Heskett
Students’ growth as theatre artists and collaborators is at the heart of the annual portfolio exhibition – as well as a celebration of the often-underappreciated skills and leadership required in design and production work.
SMTD is proud to announce the students whose work was showcased in the 2026 exhibition, along with snapshots from their displays:
- Sammer Ali – Costume Designer
- Eliza Anker – Lighting Designer
- Iliana Beauchamp – Costume Designer
- Andy Blatt – Props Fabrication
- Gretchen Brookes – Scenic Designer / Wigs, Hair & Makeup Designer
- Kelly Burkel – Scenic Designer and Artisan
- Justin Comini – Stage Manager
- Chloe Deutschman – Stage Manager
- Sarita Gankin – Stage Manager
- Aiden Heeres – Technical Director
- Ethan J. Hoffman – Lighting Design
- Shelby R. Holloway – Stage Management / Lighting Design
- Esther Hwang – Stage Manager / Production Manager
- Aspen Kinomoto – Costume Designer
- Lucy Knas – Costumes & Props
- Ren Kosiorowski – Scenic Designer / Charge
- Hannah Kryzhan – Scenic Artist / Designer
- Katie Kutzko – Stage Manager
- Talia Lev – Scenic Designer & Digital Artist
- Alex Li – Artisan & Designer
- Maya Liu – Stage Manager
- Yuchen Ma – Scenic Design
- Benjamin Mehta – Technical Director
- Josi Middaugh – Scenic Designer
- Rachel Pfeil – Costumes
- Lindsay Robert – Stage Manager / Lighting Designer
- Ceri Roberts – Scenic Designer
- Kayti Sanchez – Costume Design & Construction
- Kathleen Stanton-Sharpless – Stage Manager
- Greta Steever – Stage Manager
- Lauren Streng – Scenic Designer
- Ellie Van Engen – Costume Designer
- Amber Walters – Multidisciplinary Artist / Stage Manager
- Frannie Walton – Stage Manager
- Chloe Yoo – Stage Manager
- Tate Zeleznik – Theatre Artist
- Sammer Ali – Costume Designer
- Eliza Anker – Lighting Designer
- Iliana Beauchamp – Costume Designer
- Andy Blatt – Props Fabrication
- Gretchen Brookes – Scenic Designer / Wigs, Hair & Makeup Designer
- Kelly Burkel – Scenic Designer and Artisan
- Justin Comini – Stage Manager
- Chloe Deutschman – Stage Manager
- Sarita Gankin – Stage Manager
- Aiden Heeres – Technical Director
- Ethan J. Hoffman – Lighting Design
- Shelby R. Holloway – Stage Management / Lighting Design
- Esther Hwang – Stage Manager / Production Manager
- Aspen Kinomoto – Costume Designer
- Lucy Knas – Costumes & Props
- Ren Kosiorowski – Scenic Designer / Charge
- Hannah Kryzhan – Scenic Artist / Designer
- Katie Kutzko – Stage Manager
- Talia Lev – Scenic Designer & Digital Artist
- Alex Li – Artisan & Designer
- Maya Liu – Stage Manager
- Yuchen Ma – Scenic Design
- Benjamin Mehta – Technical Director
- Josi Middaugh – Scenic Designer
- Rachel Pfeil – Costumes
- Lindsay Robert – Stage Manager / Lighting Designer
- Ceri Roberts – Scenic Designer
- Kayti Sanchez – Costume Design & Construction
- Kathleen Stanton-Sharpless – Stage Manager
- Greta Steever – Stage Manager
- Lauren Streng – Scenic Designer
- Ellie Van Engen – Costume Designer
- Amber Walters – Multidisciplinary Artist / Stage Manager
- Frannie Walton – Stage Manager
- Chloe Yoo – Stage Manager
- Tate Zeleznik – Theatre Artist
Photography by Chris Boyes & Robert Coelius
Sammer Ali
Costume Designer | Class of 2027
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Sammer Ali’s display of costume sketches and photos.
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Ali’s final project from Intro to Puppetry.
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Costume sketch Ali created for Mascarille from Two Precious Maidens, Ridiculed.
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Bridesmaid’s blouse from The Marriage of Figaro, designed by Ali.
Eliza Anker
Lighting Designer | Class of 2027
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Eliza Anker’s display of lighting images, plans, and notes.
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Costume design sketches for The Island, created by Anker.
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Lighting production photos showing Anker’s work on Tick…Tick…Boom!.
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Anker’s DMX layout sheet for Gloria.
Iliana Beauchamp
Costume Designer | Class of 2028
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Illiana Beauchamp’s display of costume sketches, photos, and samples.
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Costume sketches for Bullrusher, designed by Beauchamp.
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Ribbon samples for period costuming.
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Side by side of Beauchamp’s costume sketches and final concept drawings.
Andy Blatt
Props Fabrication | Class of 2026
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Andy Blatt’s display of stage management notes, planning sheets, and production photos.
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Blatt’s production photos and notes from Julius Caesar.
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Hoover backpack prop from Hansel und Gretel, created by Blatt.
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Foam statue set piece from The Convent, created by Blatt.
Gretchen Brookes
Scenic Designer / Wigs, Hair & Makeup Designer | Class of 2028
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Gretchen Brookes’s display of sketches, production photos, and costuming samples.
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Brookes’ makeup design concept art for Cabaret.
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Masquerade masks created by Brookes.
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Production photos featuring Brookes’s work on Cabaret.
Kelly Burkel
Scenic Designer and Artisan | Class of 2028 | Kelly Burkel – Instagram
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Kelly Burkel’s display of sketches, props, and production photos.
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Preliminary scenic model for Two Trains Running, created by Burkel.
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Baron von Redberry set piece from Hansel und Gretel.
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Boxing gloves prop from Wolf Play.
Justin Comini
Stage Manager | Class of 2027 | Justin Comini – Website
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Justin Comini’s display featuring call sheets, a digital display, and production photos.
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Comini’s call sheets and production notes from Gloria.
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Rendering of a rainbow romper and Marie Curie costume for Costumes 1, both by Comini.
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Digital display playing videos from Comini’s work on Matilda.
Chloe Deutschman
Stage Manager | Class of 2028
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Chloe Deutschman’s display of run sheets, production binders, and production photos.
Chloe-Deutschman-02
Set sketches created by Deutschman for Intro to Rendering and Design.
Chloe-Deutschman-03
Production photos from the Hamilton Lip Sync Light Lab Project.
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Deutschman’s call script from Oklahoma!.
Sarita Gankin
Stage Manager | Class of 2028
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Sarita Gankin’s display featuring sketches, set models, and production photos.
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Candlestick render drawn by Gankin.
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Gankin’s line notes from Ride the Cyclone, as well as production photos.
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Gankin’s deck run sheet and production photos for The Marriage of Figaro.
Aiden Heeres
Technical Director | Class of 2028 | Aiden Heeres – Website
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Aiden Heeres’s technical design display featuring props, scenic models, and production photos.
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Heeres’s “dream/nightmare box” created for the Foundations in Design class.
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Scenic models for Antigone and a “transforming box” concept created by Heeres.
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Blueprints of a set wall for Macbeth, designed by Heeres.
Ethan J. Hoffman
Lighting Design | Class of 2026 | Ethan Hoffman – Website
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Ethan Hoffman’s display featuring production photos and lighting design outlines.
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Close up of a lighting sheet designed by Hoffman.
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Close-up of a production photo with lighting by Hoffman.
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A dance production photo and QR code leading to Hoffman’s portfolio.
Shelby R. Holloway
Stage Management / Lighting Design | Class of 2027
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Shelby Holloway’s display featuring costume sketches, line notes, and production photos.
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Holloway’s stage plot notes for The Convent.
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Holloway’s deck sheet for The Convent.
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Production photos from the University of Michigan Dance Company 2025 performance.
Esther Hwang
Stage Manager / Production Manager | Class of 2026
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Esther Hwang’s display featuring call scripts, run sheets, and production photos.
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Hwang’s call script binder for John Proctor Is the Villain.
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Hwang’s daily call sheet for Catch Me If You Can, accompanied by production photos.
Esther-Hwang-04
Hwang’s call schedule for the 2025 SMTD Musical Theatre Senior Entrance, accompanied by production photos.
Aspen Kinomoto
Costume Designer | Class of 2026
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Aspen Kinomoto’s display featuring sketches, production photos, and sample costume pieces.
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Costume sketches for Metamorphoses, designed by Kinomoto.
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Tennis shoe CAD rendering done by Kinomoto.
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Spencer jacket model created by Kinomoto for Costume Construction.
Lucy Knas
Costumes & Props | Class of 2026
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Lucy Knas’s display featuring costume sketches, models, and a digital display.
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Print by Knas titled The Music Room.
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Carved foam puppet head created by Knas for Introduction to Puppetry.
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Knas’s hand and rod puppet created for Introduction to Puppetry.
Ren Kosiorowski
Scenic Designer / Charge | Class of 2028 | Ren Kosiorowski – Website
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Close up of Ren Kosiorowski’s display signage.
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Production photos showing Kosiorowski’s work on Ride the Cyclone.
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Production photos showing Kosiorowski’s work on RED.
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Wooden medallion detail created by Kosiorowski for Scenic Painting.
Hannah Kryzhan
Scenic Artist / Designer | Class of 2028
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Hannah Kryzhan’s display featuring paintings, set models, and blueprints.
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Self portrait of Kryzhan.
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Scenic sketches showing a concept for a three-act progression.
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Marble floor scenic painting sample by Kryzhan.
Katie Kutzko
Stage Manager | Class of 2026
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Katie Kutzko’s display featuring props, paintings, and production photos.
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Kutzko’s assistant stage manager prompt book for Twelfth Night.
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Process photos of Kutzko’s puppet creation.
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Pet paintings by Kutzko.
Talia Lev
Scenic Designer & Digital Artist | Class of 2026
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Talia Lev’s display featuring set blueprints and a digital display of production photos.
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Blueprints for Gloria, drafted by Lev.
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Lev’s set drafting for Semele.
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Lev’s digital display showing an array of production photos from Gloria.
Alex Li
Artisan & Designer | Class of 2025
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Alex Li’s display featuring costuming examples and production photos.
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Ida Straus’s hat from Titanic, crafted by Li.
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“Bamboo” replica stool created by Li for Furniture as Architecture.
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Production photos from Wolf Play.
Maya Liu
Stage Manager | Class of 2026
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Maya Liu’s display featuring call sheets, production bibles, and photos.
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Video display of Liu’s transition runs during The Marriage of Figaro.
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Liu’s deck run sheet and a production photo from A Few Good Men.
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Close-up of a set model created by Liu.
Yuchen Ma
Scenic Design | Class of 2027
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Yuchen Ma’s display featuring costume sketches, set models, and production photos.
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Two box set models created by Ma for Set Design II.
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Construction process photos for a prop from The Marriage of Figaro, created by Ma.
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Production photos from The Convent.
Benjamin Mehta
Technical Director | Class of 2028
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Benjamin Mehta’s display featuring sketches, set models, and example props.
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Set concept sketch for Antigone.
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3D set model of the previous concept sketch for Antigone, created by Mehta.
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Set ground plan for Barefoot in the Park, by Mehta.
Josi Middaugh
Scenic Designer | Class of 2028
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Josi Middaugh’s display of concept sketches, set modes, and production photos.
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Miniature set model created by Middaugh.
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Production photos from RED.
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Middaugh’s set blueprints, construction photos, and production photos from Matilda, as well as a lighting study for Lighting Design I.
Rachel Pfeil
Costumes | Class of 2027
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Rachel Pfeil’s display featuring costume sketches, construction examples, and production photos.
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Two mannequins displaying a jacket and a corset made by Pfiel for Costume Construction and Period Costume Construction.
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Production photos from The Convent.
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Half-scale 1920s dress model constructed by Pfiel.
Lindsay Robert
Stage Management | Class of 2027
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Lindsay Robert’s display featuring call sheets, production binders, and production photos.
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Close up of Robert’s costume sketches.
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“Pie face” prop sheet created by Robert.
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Costume production photo displaying Robert’s work for For Colored Girls.
Ceri Roberts
Scenic Designer | Class of 2027 | Ceri Roberts – Website
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Ceri Roberts’s display, featuring set renders, costume designs, and production photos.
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Roberts’s set sketches for Cabaret.
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Set model for Much Ado About Nothing, created by Roberts.
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Roberts’s costume renders for The Half-Life of Marie Curie.
Kayti Sanchez
Costume Design & Construction | Class of 2026 | Kayti Sanchez – Website
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Kayti Sanchez’s display featuring costume sketches, models, and production photos.
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Sketches and photos showing the Emcee’s costume track from Cabaret.
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One of Sanchez’s Emcee costumes, created for Cabaret.
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Deconstructed corset demonstrating period costume construction techniques.
Kathleen Stanton-Sharpless
Stage Manager | Class of 2026
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Kathleen Stanton-Sharpless’s display featuring call sheets, a digital display, and production photos.
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Stanton-Sharpless’s call script binder for A Few Good Men.
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Stanton-Sharpless’s run sheets for A Few Good Men, accompanied by production photos.
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Close up of a call script page from Cabaret.
Greta Steever
Stage Manager | Class of 2028
Greta-Steever-01
Greta Steever’s display featuring costume sketches, rendering examples, and production binders.
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Costume sketches focusing on pattern study by Steever.
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Steever’s “dream/nightmare box” created for the Foundations in Design class.
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Steever’s costume sketches for The Half-Life of Marie Curie.
Lauren Streng
Scenic Designer | Class of 2026
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Lauren Streng’s display featuring set models, blueprint sketches, and production photos.
Lauren-Streng-02
Production photos of the stained glass set piece from The Convent.
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Set model for The Convent.
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Costume sketches and fabric swatches by Streng.
Ellie Van Engen
Costume Designer | Class of 2026 | Ellie Van Engen – Website
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Ellie Van Engen’s display featuring sketches, costume models, and production photos.
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Cassius’s armor from Julius Caesar, designed by Van Engen.
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Van Engen’s principal costume sketches for The Marriage of Figaro, as well as close-ups of trims, medals, and other costume details.
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The Countess’s dress from The Marriage of Figaro, designed by Van Engen.
Amber Walters
Multidisciplinary Artist / Stage Manager | Class of 2026
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Amber Walters’s display featuring art pieces, production photos, and stage manager materials.
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Spread of Walters’s art prints, including a poster from the 62nd Ann Arbor Film Festival.
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Walters’s applique project examples from Sewing Assemblage.
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Neck ruff created for Period Costume Construction by Walters.
Frannie Walton
Stage Manager | Class of 2026
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Frannie Walton’s display featuring call sheets, run sheets, and production photos.
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Walton’s daily call sheets, call script samples, and production photos from The Convent.
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Close up of Walton’s call script for The Convent.
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Sample of Walton’s blocking pages from The Government Inspector.
Chloe Yoo
Stage Manager | Class of 2027
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Chloe Yoo’s display featuring run sheets, puppets, and production photos.
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Two puppets created by Yoo for Introduction to Puppetry.
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Yoo’s storyboard for a project titled When You’re In Love.
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Yoo’s props list for Wolf Play.
Tate Zeleznik
Theatre Artist | Class of 2027 | Tate Zeleznik – Website
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Tate Zeleznik’s display featuring lighting plan sheets and production photos.
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Zeleznik’s lighting sheet and production photos from Matilda.
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Production photos from Fool (No Water).
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Production photos from Oklahoma!.