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J.S. Peterson | Leadership
Utah State University Theatre Education Student Association: President. 2023-2024:
This last school year I was elected the President of the Utah State University Theatre Education Student Association. I was in charge of leading the presidency and member meetings. Planning events and service opportunities for the members. And meeting with the department head as the Theatre Education Student Representative. During my time in this position, I led and deliciated a successful food and clothing drive that took place in the lobby of the Lyric Rep. Theatre during the winter production of Its a Wonderful Life. And I advocated for student designers to start presenting our designs in the lobby of the shows to present behind the scene work that often gets overlooked by audiences
Utah State Theatre: Puppet Movement Coach
Spring 2024. For USU's production of The Tempest, I volunteered to be the puppet movement couch for the show. I helped the puppeteers and actors understand what makes good puppet movement and advocated for safety between the performers and the production team while building and using the 4 large puppets.
Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre: Master Carpenter
Summer 2023. This last summer I was hired as a master Carpenter at the Utah Festival Opera. I was tasked with teaching young technicians how to be stage carpenters teaching best practices and safety in the shop. This job allowed me time to work 1on1, leading crews, and mentoring individuals while building and problem-solving on several summer stock shows
Utah State Theatre: Paint Charge:
(Its a Wonderful Life)
For this production of Its a Wonderful Life I was Co-Paint charge. We lead a group of practicum students of which we needed to teach how to properly scenic paint, wash bruches
Utah State University Theatre Education Student Association: Historian. 2022-2023;
As part of the presidency of the club, I lead the documentation of club activities and club members' projects for portfolios.
Utah State Theatre: Puppet Designer: (A Christmas Carol)
This Project had me lead many students in practicum classes to build and complete the restorations of puppets that were made the previous year. Along with leading and communicating visions for a complete redesign of one of the puppets.
Art Council: Council Member. 2021-2022;
Attend Arts Council meetings, and get student feedback to ensure a successful and student-oriented school year.
Utah State Theatre: Props Design: (9to5)
Collected, fabricated, and acquired props for USU's production of 9to5. During this time I lead students in practicum in projects to make deadlines. This project was a bit hard for me to learn to communicate expectations with what I wanted which made me feel like I couldn't ask for help since I couldn't communicate what I needed.
Utah State Theatre: Stage Management: (Ghosts)
This play reading was my first opportunity to stage-manage on my own. I sent a calendar, daily calls, and reports for the week of rehearsals and the day performance to the cast each night. I also took on the role of house management, running sound, and setting the space for the audience putting up risers.
Utah State Theatre: Assistant Stage Management: (A Christmas Carol)
This opportunity was my first paid professional gig as a stage manager. Under the leadership of my Stage manager, I managed the backstage movement of the crew and cast, creating documents for scene changes, and the safety and coordination of puppets off-stage.
© J.S. Peterson, All Rights Reserved
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