Department of Theatre & Dance News

Students in the Theatre Design & Technology program at WKU are the driving force behind the success of the Department of Theatre & Dance’s numerous productions. Even though they work behind the scenes, their ability to balance multiple responsibilities and keep the production running smoothly is no easy feat. This is exactly the case with the department’s most recent production, Henry V, directed by Professor Christopher Gilly-Forrer.

For senior Veronica Johnson, a Performing Arts major with a concentration in Theatre Design & Technology from Louisville, theatrical design has been a passion since middle school. Though she initially performed on stage, she soon discovered that working behind the scenes was where she truly thrived.

“They needed extra hands to run a show once, and I did it and thought that it was so much better than performing,” she shared. “You don’t have to be on stage presenting a part of yourself, but you’re still helping. It’s a lot more fun to me and a lot less stressful.”

Johnson continued her love for theatrical design into high school where she built props and sets, solidifying her decision to pursue the field in college. Her choice to attend WKU was influenced by the variety of opportunities available for students.

“While I’ve been here, I’ve been able to take archaeology and Chinese classes, as well as my major requirements,” she said. “I’ve studied abroad twice because Western has an amazing study abroad program. I don’t think I would’ve been able to do quite as wide of a variety of stuff anywhere else.”

As the Scenic Designer for Henry V, Johnson played a major role in bringing the production to life. “Starting in November, we had production meetings with the director, Chris Gilly-Forrer, to develop the concept,” she explained. “The core concept is that it takes place in a classroom, but as the imagination builds up in the show, everything comes apart and the world itself changes around them.” After finalizing sketches in December, Johnson moved on to drafting everything to scale so the scene shop could begin construction. Now, with the set fully built, she takes pride in seeing her vision come to life on stage.

One of the biggest misconceptions about theatre production, according to Johnson, is the level of technical precision required. “For Henry V, I had to make a lot of drafts to scale to show how big I wanted the walls, where I wanted them, and what colors they should be,” she said. “Lighting-wise, you need to know how many lights you can plug into one outlet, how to daisy-chain them together, and how to ensure they’re all patched correctly. It becomes very technical, very fast.”

Senior Adam Crawford, a Performing Arts major with a concentration in Theatre Design & Technology from Murfreesboro, TN, also played a key role in Henry V as the Lighting Designer. “This position is pertinent to a successful production. The light designer is responsible for guiding the view of the audience using the location, quality, and color of the lights that are seen on stage,” said Crawford. “My goal is to create an aesthetic that is cohesive to the story, the setting, and the emotional state in the play at that moment.”

Crawford’s passion for theatre design and technology began in high school when he designed his first set for a musical at the age of 16. “I designed my first set for a musical at the age of 16 and continued to learn the different aspects of design, such as lighting, as I grew through high school, and, eventually, I started working professionally in college,” he shared.

Crawford also addressed some common misconceptions about the field. “Some common misconceptions that people have with theatre design and technology is that you can study this field without practicing at live events,” said Crawford. “You often learn the most doing hands-on work with a variety of different types of productions. This real-life experience is more likely to help you start a career.”

When reflecting on his favorite production, Crawford highlighted Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom. “I was the light designer for this Mainstage spring production in 2024. I enjoyed working on this project because the whole team communicated clearly, and the show ended up being a successful, albeit scary, play that explores the concept of blurring reality and fantasy,” he said.

Crawford found Henry V to be a unique challenge. “Henry V is different from any of the other shows that I have worked on because I have never done a light design for the Russell Miller Theatre, and I have never worked on a Shakespeare play,” he said.

While Johnson has enjoyed working on various productions, her favorite one was Something Rotten, a musical which was presented by the department last spring. “Partially because the show is unserious and silly, but also because of the people I got to work with,” she said. “It wasn’t too serious and was more humorous.” However, she acknowledges that Henry V stands out due to its dynamic transformation of the stage environment. “In a lot of shows, the changes feel smaller, but, in Henry V, the world itself is going into a completely new one and then back to where it started. I’ve never done that before in design, which makes it really fun.”

Henry V runs from Friday, March 7th, to Monday, March 10th, in Russell H. Miller Theatre in the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center. Tickets can be purchased on wku.showare.com or by calling the Fine Arts Box Office at 270-745-3121.

To learn more about the Theatre Design & Technology program at WKU, please visit https://www.wku.edu/theatre-and-dance/theatre_design_and_technology/design-tech.php