FORT WORTH — A group of students tasked with a scenic design that celebrated oddball holidays — in their case, Leap Day — was voted 2014 winner of the Rose Brand / USITT Action Design Competition. The contest was staged at the USITT Expo, held here in late March. In a contest first, these same students also won the individual prizes for top scenic, costume, and lighting designers, as well as technical director. “Team Leap Day” members were honored for their design concept, its development and how the themed environment was lit.
More details from Rose Brand (www.rosebrand.com):
Team Leap Day included:
• Costume Designer, Jodie Daniels, University of Houston
• Lighting Designer, Amanda Warren, Stephen F Austin State University
• Scenic Designer, Rachel Bennick, The University of Texas at Austin
• Technical Director, Hillary Collazo Abbot, Ohio Northern University
The annual Action Design Competition pits four teams of student designers and technicians against one another, to rapidly conceive, design and build a scenic environment under a chosen “mystery” theme. Each team is given limited supplies with no prior knowledge of what will be available. The team members need to make the best of their mystery supplies as they plan and execute the ultimate themed environment on the Stage Expo floor, during the Expo, in just four hours. This year’s themes were “oddball” holidays: Leap Day, Darwin Day, April Fools’ Day and Opposite Day.
Joining the students was a special team of design professionals who created their own scenic design inspired by their theme, Pi Day. The professionals provided their recommendations on the top designers in each category. They were also there to serve as a resource, offering advice to the student participants.
Rose Brand thanked all the participants, schools and design professionals who took part in this year’s competition — full list appears below.
More photos of the competition and booth designs have been posted at http://bit.ly/rosebrand-facebook.
Other Participants in the 2014 Action Design Competition included:
Students: Jodie Daniels-University of Houston, Amanda Warren-Stephen F. Austin State University, Rachel Bennick-The University of Texas at Austin, Hillary Collazo Abbott-Ohio Northern University, Nicole Giangola-Ohio Northern University, Annette Roggenbuck-Southern Oregon University, Carl Rugato-High Point University, John A. Mitchell-Dixie State University, Kaylah Dulin-Ohio Northern University, Sarah Schwartz-Southern Oregon University, Matthew Plamp-University of Houston, Eric Swabey-Keith-St. Edwards University, Tiffany Delligatti-University of Connecticut, Jacob Novak-Ohio Northern University, Moriah Aronson-Skidmore College, Tom Gray-University of Alabama in Huntsville, Thomas Fernandez-Clemson University, Brian Sechrist-University of Alaska, Edward Pottorff-University of Alabama, Mike Harvy-Yale University.
Professional Team Participants: Linda Pisano-Indiana University, Jill Klecha-The University of the Arts in PA, Andy Fitch-University of Alabama, Andi Lyons-SUNY Albany
