“A designer has to… ‘create an envelop- provide an atmosphere- that serves the author, the director and focuses on the actor by letting him belong to the environment and the environment to him.'”
– Ralph Koltai
With all of the care in the world and warmth in our hearts, we are proud to announce and congratulate the spring 2021 graduates from our Bachelor of Fine Arts Design, Technology, and Stage Management program! We have six seniors who have dedicated their education to using their intricate, technological designs and innovative thinking to create breath-taking theatrical elements. They have persevered through these uncertain and changing times and come out more ready and prepared than before. We can say without a doubt that each graduate has made such an impact in the Department of Theatre and Dance and at Missouri State University.
With that, we could not be more overjoyed to congratulate the following seniors: Angelina Adams, Libby Casey, Lauren Fahrner, Savannah Heslep, Levi Manners, and Cole Trumble.
Angelina Adams (she/her) is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design, Technology, and Stage Management with an emphasis in Lighting Design. Her credits with M.S.U. Mainstage include Working: A Musical as Co-Projection Designer; Picnic, CATS: The Musical, Sightlines: Spring Dance Concert, and She Stoops to Conquer (2018) as the Lighting Designer. Other credits include the Les Miserable National Tour as Local Head Electrician and Disney’s The Lion King Rafiki Tour as the Deck Electrician. Honors include making the Dean’s List 2017-2021 and receiving the Byrne Blackwood Scenic Design Scholarship 2020-2021 and Clint Overstreet Memorial Scholarship 2021.
“My favorite memory from undergrad was sitting in Coger Theatre watching the final dress rehearsal of CATS: The Musical. CATS was my first go at lighting a musical, and I poured my heart and soul into the show. Sitting there, surrounded by friends and colleagues, I watched all my hard work pay off. It was an overwhelming sense of accomplishment I felt knowing that the colors and textures I saw in my head months ago were finally out on stage and looking better than I could have dreamed. It’s those brief moments of pure accomplishment that make all the stress of creating theatre worthwhile.” She would like to thank Anna Hunt “for all her support over the last 4 years.”
Libby Casey (she/her) is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design, Technology, Stage Management with an emphasis in Stage Management. Her credits with M.S.U. Mainstage include Assistant Stage Manager for Heathers: The Musical and Stage Manager for The Secret Garden, Spring Dance Concert: Dancing the Next Dimension, Crimes of the Heart, Spring Dance Concert: Sightlines, and She Stoop to Conquer. Her credits with Tent Theatre include Stage Manager for The 39 Steps and Assistant Stage Manager for Catch Me If You Can, Grease, and The Mousetrap.
“My favorite memory of being in the department is seeing the show I am working on come together at performances and just constantly hanging out and making memories with my best friends.” She would like to thank “the D.T.S.M. faculty and staff, all the directors, musical directors, and choreographers I have been able to work with, my family and friends, and the D.T.S.M. seniors.”
Following graduation, Libby will be the Stage Manager for Tent Theatre’s The 39 Steps.
Lauren Fahrner is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design, Technology, and Stage Management.
Savannah Heslep is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design, Technology, and Stage Management.
Levi Manners (he/him) is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design, Technology, and Stage Management with an emphasis in Sound Design. His credits with M.S.U. Mainstage include Sound Design for Working and The Secret Garden and Sound Design and Engineer for CATS. Other credits include Sound Design and Engineer for Bigfork Summer Playhouse’s 61st Season, Sound and Projection Design for Oppenheimer with Springfield Contemporary Theatre, and Sound Design for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time with Springfield Contemporary Theatre.
One of his favorite memories of his undergraduate experience was “staying in the worst AirBnB the Great State of Kentucky had to offer. Elevator Broke.”
Cole Trumble (he/him) is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design, Technology, and Stage Management with an emphasis in Properties. His credits with M.S.U. Mainstage include Assistant Properties for She Stoops to Conquer and Properties Master for Everybody, The Secret Garden, Crimes of the Heart, bare: a Pop Opera, and Heathers: The Musical.
One of his favorite of his undergraduate experiences was “watching Meet the Robinsons in Art Annex 001.” He would like to thank “all my friends for helping me survive 4 years at a college. I would like to thank Mark Putman for the guidance and support as well as Anna Hunt for her mentorship.”
Following graduation, Cole will be working as a Carpenter at Tent Theatre and then looking for further employment.
Together, Angelina, Libby, Lauren, Savannah, Levi, and Cole are the future of their fields in the performing and technological arts industry. They are leaving the Department of Theatre and Dance with their heads held high, a mountain of support behind them, and the knowledge of what it means to be a Bear. We wish you the best of luck out there, graduates. Wherever life takes you, remember all those you have impacted, and that you have made an incredible Missouri State-ment.
The Department of Theatre and Dance will not be the same without you.