Wyn Caudle
A&E Editor
From March 5 through March 8, The College of Wooster Theatre and Dance Department took five students and two faculty advisors to the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)’s annual conference and stage expo in Columbus, Ohio. The conference allowed students to explore their options in the performance art industry and get hands-on experience through workshops, panels and information sessions.
Morgan Hunter ’25, Abby Rahz ’25, Keara Lennox ’26, Andi Harvey ’27 and Mu Lay Ku ’27 were the students who attended. Faculty advisors were Suwantana Rockland, costume designer and costume shop supervisor, and Naoko Skala, department chair for theatre and dance.
“USITT was an amazing experience. I spent the first day in a workshop focused on Stage Combat and Firearm Safety for the Stage, where we learned about the history of firearms, how to make them stage-ready and how to keep everyone safe when they’re involved in a production,” Rahz said. “Beyond that, I was able to interact with many individuals from the technical theater industry and see how the industry is developing. I got the opportunity to learn more about different fields of technical theater through educational workshops and panels, like ways to organize costume stock databases, lighting metrics, CNC uses for scenic design and creation and so much more.”
Other students enjoyed the opportunity to meet theatre technology professionals and students. Through the conference, students were also connected to employment and educational opportunities in the field.
“USITT was an unforgettable experience. I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to participate this year due to location and funding through the school,” Hunter said. “So often people only want to talk about the actors on stage, so this conference was a nice reminder that the work I do is supported and celebrated by artists both domestically and beyond.”