Jody Sekas, MFA
Associate Professor - Theater Arts
Theatre Arts Department
MFA, Humboldt State University, 1997
- EMAIL:
- sekas@uwp.edu
- WEBSITE:
- www.d4production.com
Jody Sekas is the Associate Professor of Scenic/Lighting Design & Technology at UW-Parkside. He came to Parkside from Humboldt State University, CA where he taught courses in scenic design, scene painting, technical production, properties design, theatre history, and CAD and computer rendering. Prior to Humboldt, Sekas was Assistant Professor and Scenic & Lighting Designer for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and for four seasons was the resident scenic and lighting designer for the Sioux Falls Community Playhouse in South Dakota.
In addition to his resident design and collegial experience, Sekas has worked as a freelance designer and technician for such venues like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, First Stage Children’s Theatre, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Dell’Arte International, Omaha Theatre Company for Young People, Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild, Eau Claire Children’s Theatre, Ferndale Repertory Theatre, The Western Stage, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and on several independent films.
Sekas received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Technical Theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Scenic Design and Technical Direction from Humboldt State University.
Areas of Expertise
- Scenic Design
- Props
- Lighting Design
- Film Production
- Digital Fabrication
Teaching Interests
Teaching interests include scenic design, lighting design, sound design, projection design, scene painting, properties design, model making & miniatures, technical direction, computer-aided drafting, 3D rendering and animation, digital fabrication, theatre history, and architectural history/period style.
Research Interests
Creative activity interests include theatrical scenic design, lighting design, prop management, scene painting, and directing. Additional creative activity interests include film work in production design, art direction, set decoration, and prop management.
Research interests include scenic automation, devised theatre/theatre of community, and architectural & period style.
Consulting Interests
Consulting work includes the areas of scenic & lighting equipment and technology for facility renovations, cost-effective design solutions for film, and design & technology solution consultations for community and high school theatre venues.
- (2016) Complex Shutter Cuts and More: Custom, Quick, Detailed, In-House Gobos. United States Institute of Theatre Technology, 3 pp.
Research/Creative Awards
-
(2021)
KCACTF Certificate of Merit - Scenic Design — Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
Award for Excellence in Scenic Design for my design of "The Thanksgiving Play" -
(2021)
Merit Award of Excellence in Scenic Design — Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival - Region III
Received a certificate of excellence for my scenic design for UW-Parkside's production of 'The Penelopiad' -
(2021)
National Excellence in Scenic Design — Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
Was one of three scenic designers nationwide to be recognized for their excellence in scenic design, for my design for UW-Parkside's production of 'Stupid F##king Bird'. -
(2015)
Golden Hand Truck — Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
The Golden Hand Truck award is the highest team honor given at the KCACTF Regional Festival. It is awarded to the production with the most professional, organized, timely, and efficient load-in and load-out of a production. -
(2013)
Merit Award: Scenic Design — Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
Award for exceptional creative work in scenic design for 'Twelfth Night' -
(2012)
Merit Award: Scenic Design — Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
Award for exceptional creative work in scenic design for 'Dancing at Lughnasa'
Departmental Service
- Faculty Advisor — Academic/Career Advisor
- Committee Member — Season Selection Committee
- (2022) Chairperson — Assessment Coordinator
- (2022) Chairperson — Rights & Royalties Coordinator
- (2019) Chairperson — Tour Technical Director
- (2018) Committee Chair — Budget Coordinator
- (2018) Chairperson — Department Chair
- (2017) Faculty Advisor — Incoming student advising
- (2014) Committee Chair — Assistant Department Chair
- (2013) Faculty Mentor — Advisor: Student Poster Presentation
- (2013) Chairperson — Development of Touring Production
- (2012) Other — Assessment Committee, HSU
- (2012) Committee Member — Marketing, Outreach, Recruitment, & Retention Committee - HSU
- (2012) Committee Member — Scholarship Committee - HSU
- (2012) Faculty Advisor — Academic Advisor (BA, MA, MFA) - HSU
- (2012) Committee Chair — MFA Committee - HSU
- (2012) Committee Member — Season Selection Committee - HSU
- (2012) Faculty Advisor — Student Design Adviser - HSU
- (2012) Faculty Advisor — USITT - Humboldt Student Chapter
College Service
- (2024) Task Force Member — Digital Design & Fabrication Lab Maintenance
- (2023) Task Force Member — Digital Design & Fabrication Lab Maintenance
- (2019) Chairperson — Student Employee Supervisor
- (2019) Chairperson — Technical Director
- (2015) Committee Member — RITA Committee
- (2012) Committee Member — Graduate Council - HSU
- (2012) Other — Name Reader: HSU Commencement
University Service
- (2020) Committee Member — Course & Curriculum Committee
- (2019) Chairperson — Course & Curriculum Committee
Professional Service
- (2025) Other — KCACTF Region III
- (2015) Other — KCACTF Region V
- (2015) Other — KCACTF Region VII
- (2015) Other — KCACTF Region III
- (2014) Other — United States Institute for Theatre Technology
- (2014) Other — KCACTF Region III
- (2014) Other — United States Institute for Theatre Technology
- (2014) Other — KCACTF Region VII
- (2013) Other — KCACTF Region III
- (2013) Other — United States Institute for Theatre Technology
- (2012) Other — United States Institute for Theatre Technology
Public Service
- (2012) Other — North Coast Repertory Theatre
THEA 012 - Theatre Practicum II
THEA 050 - Company Participation
THEA 112 - Behind the Scenes
THEA 132 - Stagecraft
THEA 160 - Principles of Theatrical Dsgn
THEA 212 - Intermed Technical Production
THEA 260 - Theatre Crafts
THEA 299 - Independent Study:
THEA 312 - Production Design/Technology I
THEA 373 - Scenic Design I
THEA 380 - Scene Painting I
THEA 385 - Portfolio Development
THEA 412 - Production Desgn/Technology II
THEA 499 - Independent Study: