Theater Department to Host Conversations with Women Practitioners

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Top row, left to right: Anita Yavich and Jane Shaw Bottom row, left to right: Jane Cox and Mimi Lien
Top row, left to right: Anita Yavich and Jane Shaw Bottom row, left to right: Jane Cox and Mimi Lien

In a series of Zoom conversations that will be free and open to a national audience, UMass theater presents four practitioners of theatrical design who will share their thoughts on their work and how they experience their field as women.

Costume designer Anita Yavich, sound designer Jane Shaw, lighting designer Jane Cox and scenic designer Mimi Lien will talk about their art and practice, how they have found ways to assert their voice in a male-dominated sphere, and how they view the economics of making a career in their field.

The conversations will be moderated by the designers' counterpart faculty members in theater, Yao Chen, Amy Altadonna, Penny Remsen, and Anya Klepikov.

With the exception of costume design, theater design and technical fields are dominated by men — one recent study shows that in Off-Broadway theaters, more than two-thirds of set, lighting, projection, and sound design hires from 2010-2015 were men. This series is funded by Women for UMass Amherst (WFUM), made possible with support from Women for UMass Amherst (WFUM), a network of alumni that promotes the advancement of campus programs that provide access, support, and opportunity for UMass Amherst students, with preference to those projects that positively impact UMass Amherst women and their respective communities.

“Our guests will help give our students additional tools and impetus for challenging the sexism and bias out there,” said theater chair Harley Erdman. “The message is important for students of all genders who will be working in these male-heavy fields. We are thankful to WFUM for jumpstarting this idea and generously supporting it.”

Registration for the conversations will open soon through the Fine Arts Center Box Office. In private meetings, each designer will also conduct portfolio reviews and offer career advice to the department's MFA design students.

  • March 2, 1-2 p.m., costume designer Anita Yavich in conversation with Yao Chen
  • March 8, 10:10-11:10 a.m., sound designer Jane Shaw in conversation with Amy Altadonna
  • March 16, 1-2 p.m., lighting designer Jane Cox in conversation with Penny Remsen
  • March 30, 1-2 p.m., scenic designer Mimi Lien in conversation with Anya Klepikov

Free and open to the community on Zoom. Registration for this event is encouraged but not required.