Fourteen graduating seniors from The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University in St. Louis had a chance to show off their design portfolios at the school's annual New York Showcase held on March 8, 2004 in Manhattan. Webster University's design, technical production, and stage management programs not only offer students the opportunity to introduce their work to New York City's design professionals, but also have partnerships with two significant professional performing arts organizations in St. Louis: The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.
Peter Sargent, dean of Webster University's Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts says, “It is important to the philosophy of training that the students are regularly engaged with actively producing members of the design profession. The blend of mixing the professionals with the students throughout their training enables the faculty to meet the goal of assuring students understand the needs and demands of the profession.”
Members of United Scenic Artists, USITT, and Webster's alumni network in the New York region are invited to review the students' projects in all areas of study leading to Webster's BFA degree: scene, costume, lighting, sound design; technical direction; costume construction, and stage management. Many of the students are already busy this summer and fall with a variety of jobs, including production coordinator for St. Louis' Fox Theatre, scene designer for the Timberlake Playhouse, and assisting the designers of Nixon In China at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in June.
