ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ student hones her craft in Theatre Design and Production
When Katelynn Watkins, senior design and production major from Pekin, Ill., enrolled at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ University almost four years ago she admittedly did not know anything about the School of Theatre & Dance's costume shop. Now in the fall semester of her senior year, Watkins is ready to take the theatre production world by storm when she graduates in spring 2021.
After she graduates, Watkins is hopeful that she will be "moving to Chicago and getting internships and apprenticeships at some theatres, and then maybe moving onto design in New York."
Watkins is confident in her skills and abilities because of the Theatre Design & Production degree program at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½. She attributes some of her success to the small, close-knit major she is in and the strong relationships the students have with the faculty members.
"Design & Production is a really small major, and because of that we get to have a really good relationship with our faculty," Watkins said. "I can go into any of their offices and I can just sit there and talk to them for a long time about anything. They're here for us and they help us a lot throughout our entire education at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½."
The helpful faculty and Performance Learning opportunities have aided in Watkins' educational experience in her field and her readiness to perform in her professional career.
"ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ has definitely prepared me for my career after graduation since I [can] have a well-rounded education and learn about every aspect of costumes in theatre," Watkins said. "I've done wardrobe supervising, costumes crafts, hair and makeup, and I can come out saying 'hey I've done all of these things, so if you need someone for that I'm the person for you.'"
Watkins said that the Performance Learning aspect is what sets ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½'s program apart from other schools.
