Jody Sekas, MFA

Jody Sekas

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Scenic Design
  • Props
  • Lighting Design
  • Film Production
  • Digital Fabrication
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.

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.

Selected Publications

2016: Complex Shutter Cuts and More: Custom, Quick, Detailed, In-House Gobos, United States Institute of Theatre Technology (3 pp.)

Research/Creative Awards

2021: Award for Excellence in Scenic Design for my design of "The Thanksgiving Play", KCACTF Certificate of Merit - Scenic Design, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
2021: Received a certificate of excellence for my scenic design for UW-Parkside's production of 'The Penelopiad', Merit Award of Excellence in Scenic Design, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival - Region III
2021: 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'., National Excellence in Scenic Design, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
2015: 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., Golden Hand Truck, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
2013: Award for exceptional creative work in scenic design for 'Twelfth Night', Merit Award: Scenic Design, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
2012: Award for exceptional creative work in scenic design for 'Dancing at Lughnasa', Merit Award: Scenic Design, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival

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

: 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

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
DFAB 170 - CAD I - Sketchup
DFAB 171 - CAD I - AutoCAD
DFAB 172 - CAD I - Vectorworks
DFAB 270 - Digital Fabrication I
THEA 010 - Theatre Practicum I
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 213 - ASSIST STAGE MANAGER/DIRECTOR
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:
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