Theatre set, costume & lighting designs by Cynthia Evans

44 Winona Ave., Lawrence, KS  66046

(785)331-9589

CynthiaEvansDesigns@gmail.com/CynthiaEvansDesigns.com

 

EDUCATION

 

Master of Fine Arts – Scenography

University of Kansas

Department of Fine Arts, Theatre                                                            (awarded May, 2014)

MFA Thesis:

What's It Going To Be Then, Eh? Youth Violence, Free Will, and the Creative Cycle in

A Clockwork Orange. Committee: Chairperson – Delores Ringer, Delbert Unruh,

John Gronbeck-Tedesco. http://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/handle/1808/14532

 

Bachelor of Fine Arts – Theatre Performance/Directing

University of Kansas

Emphasis/Minor – Production/Design       

Department of Fine Arts, Theatre                                                           (awarded May, 1988)

 

Visual Fine Arts – Painting

Kansas City Arts Institute

Summer Residency with Wilber Niewald, Scholarship                               (1982 and 1983)

 

HONORS/AWARDS

 

• KCACTF Award, Outstanding Portfolio, 2014

• KCACTF Regional Award, Costume Design, "And I And Silence", 2014

• Adah Clarke Hagan Scholarship, 2013-14

• Juanita Strait Scholarship, 2013-14

• KCACTF Commendation, Scenic Design, "Into the Woods", 2013

• KCACTF National Award, Costume Design, "Merrily We Roll Along", 2012

• Clarence Seaver Technical Theatre Scholarship, 2012-13

• Charles "Buddy" Rogers Scholarship, 2012-13

• Best Scenic Design, OCTA, "Picasso at the Lapin Agile", 2010

• ​​EMU Theatre “Birdie Award”,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Technical Direction/Set Design - "Lobby Hero", 2009

• ​KCACTF Commendation, Scenic and Lighting Design, "Victim Art", 1994

• Charles "Buddy" Rogers Acting Scholarship (1984-89)

• Hall Foundation Arts Scholarship (1982-86)

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

Ottawa University, Adjunct Faculty, Technical Theatre, 2015-16

Responsible for writing original syllabus, conducting class three times a week and teaching the basics of theatrical design & construction. Set up and organized off-site scene shop and inventory. Placed emphasis on integrated design and the ideology of creating holistic design concepts working with directors and other designers.

 

University of Kansas, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Costume Construction, 2011-14

Responsible for conducting class twice a week and teaching the basics of fabric identification

and care, hand and machine sewing, costume shop organization and operation as well as

grading papers, lab attendance and other assignments including construction projects and pattern drafting. Of note: final projects consisted of pattern drafting to include simple design elements as well as execution of a finished product.

 

Park University, Adjunct Faculty, Technical Director, Technical Theatre Instructor, 2010-13

Responsible for writing original syllabus, conducting class twice a week and teaching the basics of theatrical design & construction. Placed emphasis on integrated design and the ideology of creating holistic design concepts working with directors and other designers.

 

Free State High School, Technical Director and Technical Theatre Instructor, 2004-07

Responsible for conducting shop classes and training including supervision of construction and stage crew for 3-5 productions per year. Directed and/or designed all productions, organized strikes and maintained scene shop, inventory, costumes and props.

 

REPRESENTATIVE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

 

University of Kansas, Costume design research and dramaturgy projects, 2009-14

Researched costume construction, foundation garments, movement and styles for productions staged in various eras from 15th century Europe through mid-century America. Of note: construction of and movement in women’s corsets and other undergarments and footwear for Lynn Nottage’s “Intimate Apparel”.

 

Olathe Civic Theatre, Scenic Architecture and Lighting Design, 2008

Researched the history, mythology, floor plan and original lighting of the infamous pub and artists’ haunt on the Rue des Saules in Paris, the Lapin Agile, for scenic & lighting design.

 

REPRESENTATIVE PROFESSIONAL AND UNIVERSITY SERVICE & TRAINING

 

Lawrence Arts Center, panel discussion and Q/A of area theatre development & projects, Free State Festival, Lawrence, KS, 2015

 

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, Wiccans in the Hood and Trading Races, technical direction and tour crew, Philadelphia, PA, NYC, 2014

 

BrainSpunk Theater Company, scenic & lighting design, technical direction, NYC & Philadelphia, PA, 2012 & 2014

 

KCACTF52014 Design Tech Intensives, David Thayer Lighting Design Intensive, Conducted by William Kenyon, Penn State University and Steve Shelly, professional Lighting Designer. Workshop participants comfortable with all aspects of lighting design looking to experience more union oriented practice. Participants provide a piece of contemporary music (Regina Spektor’s “Fidelity”) and are tasked with evoking the quality, color and movement of lighting to accompany the music under the guidance of special guest lighting designers with individual critiques presented following performances. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2014

 

KCACTF52013 Design Tech Intensives, Design Explosion, Presented by Ronnie Chamberlain, University of Central Missouri. Design workshop bringing together designers in the areas of Directing, Costumes, Scenery and Lights to explore and collaborate.  Two-day design intensive in which designers explore, experiment and create designs for a One Act Play (Harold Pinter’s Trouble in the Works).  Pushing artistic boundaries and design elements, in search of innovative and powerful designs. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2013

 

KCACTF52012 Design Tech Intensives, Costume Runway, Presented by Marybeth Sorrell, Johnson County Community College. Designers work in teams of two and given a time period and specific character from a traditional classic play ().  Teams research, design and create a full costume.  University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2012

 

Committee Chair, Theatre Graduate Students (TGS), University of Kansas. Coordinated activities, student visits and recruitment, guest speakers and educational opportunities (including Guest Scholar Ken Cerniglia) for the Theatre Department. Developed, edited and published the “The Graduate Hand Guide to the KU Department of Theatre”, 2011-13

 

10-Minute Play Festival, University of Kansas, developed, produced, designed and directed 10-minute plays for performance in the Inge Theatre, 2012-14

 

Academic Advisor, Park University Theatre Club. Coordinated and trained students in scenic design and production, marketing and publicity, fundraising and community involvement.

 

CONFERENCES

 

Midwest Theatre Conference (MTC), Southwest Theatre Conference (STC), National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), American Association of Community Theatre (AACT), “Music Technology and Live Performance” workshop, training and presentation, International Representative and Theatre/Performing Arts Liaison for NOTION Music Software and Virtuosoworks, 2004-07

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

 

United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), member in good standing since 2012; Independent Theatre Artists and Producers (ITAP), since 2011; Midwest Theatre Professionals (MTP), since 2010; Scenic Designers and Fabricators (Design FAB), since 2009; Stage Designers, since 2009