Ithaca College

In April, members of the Faculty and Staff from the B.F.A. in Theatrical Production & Design program in the Department of Theatre Arts invited professional alums and colleagues to speak to students about the many challenges Women+ face in the industry. 

Conceived by Alumni Guest Artist Broadway Sound Designer & Mixer Joanna Staub, BS Planned Studies: Electronic Music, Sound Design & Audio Engineering (’97), in response to students asking her to share some of her professional experiences, it developed into an evening for professionals to share with students.  Along with Joanna, she was joined by Theatre Arts colleagues Ruth Barber, Scenic Art, Ainsley Anderson (’10), Costume Technology, Lilly Westbrook, Costume Shop Manager, Mary Scheidegger, Theatre Operations, and Rose Howard ‘(04) Theatre Technology hosted IC alums Merlin Howard (‘07), Rachel Zack (’03), Becca Terpening (’12), Cheryl Rizzo (’94), and Professionals Lonnie Gertz and Kathleen Dobbins, for an engaging conversation for Women+ in the areas of Tech, Design, and Stage Management.

This event is a pilot for an ongoing program to bring professionals and students together to discuss ways to acquire the tools necessary to be successful in this industry.  Originally planned as an on-campus event, complete with social hour and pizza, it pivoted to Zoom so that the opportunity was not lost.  In fact, more panelists and participants were able to attend, including over 30 students, perhaps greater than could have attended an on-site event. 

The series will continue with focused conversations on a broad range of topics to support women+ entering, thriving and sustaining the ever-changing entertainment industry.