Elizabeth P. Wislar
Curriculum Vitae
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EDUCATION
BA, Theatre. Washington University in St. Louis
MFA, Theatre Design and Technology. Pennsylvania State University
TEACHING
James Madison University, Spring 2023
-THEA 273 DESIGN ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE 14 Students.
-THEA 333 COSTUME DESIGN 15 students.
-DESIGN Costume Designer & Student Costume Designer Mentor for Chicago with students M. Jumper and J. Hess, and R.U.R. with student H. Jonkers. 45 students. 160 costumes.
-THEA 490 SPECIAL STUDIES IN THEATRE H. Matherly. Advanced Makeup Design and Technique.
James Madison University, Fall 2022
-THEA 331 TECHNICAL COSTUMING 14 Students.
-THEA 332 COSTUME & FASHION HISTORY 14 Students.
-THEA 441 SENIOR SEMINAR IN THEATRE 18 Students.
-DESIGN Costume Designer and Student Costume Designer Mentor for the Virginia Repertory Dance Company Production. 18 student dance performers, 56 Costumes.
James Madison University, Spring 2022
-THEA 273 DESIGN ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE 10 Students.
-THEA 333 COSTUME DESIGN 14 students.
-THEA 336 HISTORY, THEORY, AND PRACTICE OF STAGE MAKEUP 16 Students.
-THEA 390 SPECIAL STUDIES IN THEATRE M. Hill & H. Jonkers. Costume Design for a piece in the Mainstage Dance Concert.
-THEA 490 SPECIAL STUDIES IN THEATRE L. Jung-Moss. Costume Design for a Mainstage Production of a new play. 17 Students.
-THEA 490 SPECIAL STUDIES IN THEATRE M. Thomas. Advanced Makeup Design and Technique.
-DESIGN Costumes for the Mainstage Dance Production. 54 Students. 80 Costumes.
James Madison University, Fall 2021
-STAD 171 PERFORMANCE PRODUCTION: COSTUMES ROTATION 41 Students
-THEA 331 TECHNICAL COSTUMING 9 Students
-THEA 332 COSTUME & FASHION HISTORY 14 Students
-THEA 490 SPECIAL STUDIES IN THEATRE J. Hess. Independent Study. Puppets and Props.
-THEA 490 SPECIAL STUDIES IN THEATRE S. Simpsons. Costume Design and Build of Musical for Mainstage. 17 Students. 45 costumes.
-THEA 490 SPECIAL STUDIES IN THEATRE M. Rodriguez. Costume Design for a piece in the Mainstage Dance Concert. 6 students
-DESIGN Costumes for the Mainstage Dance Production. 17 students. 72 Costumes.
James Madison University, Spring 2021
-THEA 303 TOPICS IN THEATRE 16 Students
-THEA 333 COSTUME DESIGN 14 Students
-THEA 210 INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE 45 Students
-THEA 390 SPECIAL STUDIES IN THEATRE C. Holcomb. Teaching Assistant for the 303 Course.
-THEA 390 SPECIAL STUDIES IN THEATRE E. Redden & S. Sons. Costume Design for Studio Theatre (Pandemic) new play. 17 students
-THEA 390 SPECIAL STUDIES IN THEATRE S. James. Costume Design for Musical Theatre (Pandemic) Mainstage (outdoor) Production. 12 students
James Madison University, Fall 2020
-STAD 171 PERFORMANCE PRODUCTION: COSTUMES ROTATION 36 Students
-THEA 273 DESIGN ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE 12 Students
-THEA 331 TECHNICAL COSTUMING 14 Students
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Spring 2020
-377 COSTUME DESIGN/491 ADVANCED COSTUME DESIGN 13 Students; 12 in 377 and 1 in 491
-370 STAGE MAKEUP 15 Students.
-491 ADVANCED COSTUME CONSTRUCION 1 Student; Individualize Instruction.
-CAPSTONE PROJECT MENTOR: C. Soto.
-103 THEATRE APPRECIATION, 2 Sections. 118 Students.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Fall 2019
-227 COSTUME CONSTRUCTION/ 491 ADVANCED COSTUME CONSTRUCION 11 students
-103 THEATRE APPRECIATION, 2 Sections. 451 students; 229 in one section and 22 in the second section.
Lycoming College. Williamsport, PA, Fall 2018
-230 COSTUME DESIGN 5 Students.
Lycoming College. Williamsport, PA, Fall 2017
-FINA-159-F4 FIRST YEAR SEMINAR Beyond the Stage (Proposed and Developed by E. Wislar)17 Students.
-ADVISED STUDENT MAINSTAGE DESIGNER(S) A. Smith, Costumes. G. Burch, Puppets. She Kills Monsters.
Lycoming College. Williamsport, PA, Spring 2018
-247 SPRING THEATRE COLLOQUIUM One Section. 11 Students.
-ADVISED STUDENT ASSISTANT DESIGNER C. Lane, Costumes. Urinetown.
Lycoming College. Williamsport, PA, Spring 2017
-462 SENIOR PROJECT IN DESIGN/TECH Student: V. Ashmore
-160 THEATRE PRODUCTION PRACTICUM Student: V. Ashmore
-247 SPRING THEATRE COLLOQUIUM 12 Students.
-ADVISED STUDENT MAINSTAGE DESIGNER V. Ashmore, Costumes. Hansel and Gretel (Opera).
Lycoming College. Williamsport, PA, Spring 2016
-100 UNDERSTANDING THEATRE 30 Students.
-160 THEATRE PRODUCTION PRACTICUM Two sections. Students: C. Pyott and E. Hughs
-247 SPRING THEATRE COLLOQUIUM One Section. 15 Students.
-ADVISED STUDENT MAINSTAGE DESIGNER(S)
V. Ashmore, Costumes. Dijla Wal Furat: Between the Tigress and Euphrates
G. Burch, Costumes. The Baltimore Waltz.
Lycoming College. Williamsport, PA, Fall 2016
-246 FALL THEATRE COLLOQUIUM 11 Students.
-ADVISED STUDENT BLACKBOX DESIGNER N. B. Semaj, Costumes. Shakespeare Project.
Lycoming College. Williamsport, PA, Fall 2015
-100 UNDERSTANDING THEATRE Two Sections. 30 students each section.*
-402 SHAKESPEARE ON STAGE One Section. 7 Students.*
*Unique situation: colleague took a medical leave 8 weeks into the semester and I took over their 2 classes.
-230 COSTUME DESIGN One Section. 6 Students.
-246 FALL THEATRE COLLOQUIUM One Section. 12 Students.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
February 2022: Bridging the Gap: A Look into African American Hair and Make-up
Two-hour guest presentation by Jerrilyn Lanier-Duckworth hosted for JMU School of Theatre & Dance
November 3, 2021: CSA (Costume Society of America) Roundtable: Indigenous Theories of Dress.
June-August 2021: Decolonizing Costume History Intensive summer-long Workshop; completely restructured and reframed THEA 332 – Costume & Fashion History. This work greatly informed all other aspects of my teaching.
July, August, December 2020: Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program. Writing Workshops. Native-specific. Participant.
June 2020: Academics for Black Survival and Wellness. Seven Day Workshop Intensive. Participant.
December 3-13, 2020: New Native Theatre Good Medicine Festival. Full Festival Pass. Participant.
September-October, 2020: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain. Book Group. Hosted by JMU Theatre Education’s Joshua Streeter. Participant
September 16, 2020: Design for Black Performer’s Workshop. Hosted by Costume Society of America (CSA). Participant.
Summer 2020: New Native Theatre. Writing and Creativity Workshops, Native-Specific. Participant.
June 2020: Postponed due to COVID Pandemic. Rochester, NY
3D Digital Design: Rendering and illustration of Fabrics for Animation Private Instruction
July 2019: Cobalt Studios, NY Professors Rachel Keebler & Kimb Williamson
Summer Scene Painting Intensive, 3 weeks.
August 2017: School of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL Professor Megan Elizabeth Euker.
Digital Technology and Fabrication Intensive, 1 week. Adobe Illustrator, Rhinoceros 3D, MakerBot software, MeshMixer, and 123D Make, 3D Scanning, 3D Printing, Laser-Cutting
DIRECTING
November 2017
Lycoming College, Mary L. Welch Theatre. Williamsport, PA
She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen.
Costume Design: A. Smith (student)
Scenic Design: J. Innerarity, Department Chair and Head of Design and Technology
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SOUND DESIGN
November 2016
Lycoming College, Mary L. Welch Theatre. Williamsport, PA
Baltimore Waltz by Paula Vogel. Directed by Nigel B. Semaj
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SCULPTURE
Commission and Installation. Chicago, IL. October 2022
With a Little Help from My Friends
Life-size Giraffe and Ostrich sculptures engaged in a playful game of See-Saw, covered entirely in textiles and over 25,000 upholstery tacks.
Smooth, dense foam base. 9 feet long, 4 feet wide, 25 feet tall. Approximately 800 pounds
Ostrich suspended 10 feet from the floor. Purchased for permanent public installation, TBA Colorado, 2024.
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Commission and Installation. Chicago, IL September 2018
Amore Armor
A surreal and ambitious 15 foot by 30 foot painted canvas leaning in large event space.
A 20 foot tall white silk slip emerging from the painting, hanging on an 8 foot wooden hanger.
A clothesline holding 8 large resin teardrops, with 3-D printed objects suspended inside.
Additional photos available upon request.
Scenic by Kim David, with onsite help of Sarah Lewis.
Illustrations by Elizabeth Hughs Jovanovic.
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Commission and Installation. Chicago, IL September 2016
Artiodactyl Aloft
"Arty" is the result of a collaboration between Elizabeth Hughes (illustrator) and myself, Elizabeth Wislar (textile artist) that began in the spring of 2016. The renderings by Hughes were submitted by Wislar to the creative director of a large private event in Chicago. Artiodactyl Aloft was commissioned by and featured at the event. Arty is part of my growing artistic movement towards celebrating large magnificent beasts, living in harmony with nature, and revitalizing vintage textiles. Arty is one-of-a-kind.
Details: Life-size hippo sculpture covered entirely in textiles and over 15,000 upholstery tacks.
Smooth, dense foam base. 9 feet long, 3.5 feet wide, 4 feet tall. Approximately 400 pounds
Originally suspended 10 feet from the floor via an external harness. Currently stands on all four feet.
Loveable and charming. Additional photos available upon request.
Illustration by Elizabeth Hughs-Jovanovic. Photos by Amy Rene Byrne
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Continuing Professional Work
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COSTUME PROFESSIONALS FOR WAGE EQUITY, Founding Member
2019-present
Professional Organization, Founded in May of 2019. We are a national group (1000+ strong) dedicated to working towards a living wage for costume professionals. Our goal is to educate artists and organizations about the current state of inadequate support and compensation in our field by advocating for a sustainable way forward as an industry. Members contribute information and data while offering education and support by sharing the tools and resources that we used successfully for ourselves and others. We are committed to a more diverse, equitable, and sustainable theatre community by advocating for the health, safety, and well-being of all costume professionals.
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ART EXHIBITS
All My Relations, Minneapolis, MN. December 2020-February 2021
Bring Her Home. The Grieving Tree
ESAM (Large Scale Private Event), Chicago, IL.
August-November 2022, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012
Contributing and participating artist, costume designer (2022), and collaborator.
Assistant to the Atmosphere/Scenic Designer
October 2022, Commission and Installation. Chicago, IL with a Little Help from My Friends
Williamsport and Bloomsburg, PA. May 31-August 31, 2020
We See You. We Hear You. We Love You. Series of 25 large painted canvases hung in 25 area business windows
Pajama Factory Earth Day Greenerie. May 2019
Reviving Ophelia. Repurposed textiles, threads, foam, wood. 65" x 32"
Reclaiming Medusa. Repurposed textiles, beads, foam, wood. 55" x 32"
Exchange Arts. August 2019 Committee Invitational
Reviving Ophelia. Repurposed textiles, threads, foam, wood. 65" x 32"
Reclaiming Medusa. Repurposed textiles, beads, foam, wood. 55" x 32"
Helen of NoMan. Repurposed textiles, beads, yarn, foam, wood. 38” sculpture.
October 2019 Over the Top Amore Armor
A 20-foot-tall silk and lace slip, hanging on an 8-foot-wide wooden hanger.
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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL WORK AND SERVICE
A selection from: JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
-Hosted Jerrilyn Lannier of Bridging the Gap: A Look into African American Hair and Makeup in THEA 336 HISTORY, THEORY, AND PRACTICE OF STAGE MAKEUP and for the entire School of Theatre and Dance
-Hosted Karen Olivo and Eden Espinosa in THEA 303 TOPICS IN THEATRE and for the entire School of Theatre and Dance to discuss disrupting the abuse narrative in the performing arts
-successfully advocated for and implemented a commitment to sustainability in the area of costumes through the move to more digitized content and communication, re-allocation of materials budgets to support labor (people over possessions), fostering a regenerative practice of using what is already in existence rather than purchasing new materials, and encouraging all to consider using natural materials rather than synthetic (plastic-based) materials.
-BIPOC Convening. Meeting attendance. In service to and support of BIPOC students
-Accessibility in the Shop Spaces. Working with Production Manager Brian Smallwood to make immediate to long-term changes and upgrades for better accessibility, accommodation, and inclusion. Spring Semester 2021 and Ongoing
-Normalizing a Land Acknowledgement Statement And Decolonizing the Theatre and Theatre Spaces: Presenter at the 2021 STAD Retreat
- Broadway Green Alliance Faculty Green Captain https://www.broadwaygreen.com/about-us
-Normalizing a Land Acknowledgement Statement. Panelist. CFI. Hosted by Edward Brantmeier
-Invited by Dr. Emeka Anaza to present to his JMU class, SRL 605: Workshop in Sport and Recreation Leadership – Entrepreneurship on Monday, October 4, 2021 from 6:30-9PM. Spoke about: my time as a freelancer and small business owner in Chicago, the performing arts industry, leadership style, how I recruited and trained staff, achievements, challenges, and insights.
- helped with a few items for exhibition on the work of Puerto Rican artist Pablo Delano, Spring 2022 semester. Duke Art Gallery. https://www.jmu.edu/dukehallgallery/exhibitions-21-22/pablo-delano.shtml
-Dukes Pride. Panelist for a student-led SOGIE event. 3/29/2022. One hour.
INTERVIEWED FOR: Get the Job in the Entertainment Industry: A Practical Guide for Designers, Technicians, and Stage Managers (Introductions to Theatre) by Kristina Tollefson for Bloomsbury Press. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/get-the-job-in-the-entertainment-industry-9781350103788/
Quoted several times and in the appendix.
WINGSPACE SALON/HOWLROUND, July 22, 2021
Panelist on Pay Equity Wingspace Salon. Virtual Salon #29: Pay Equity in the Theatre Industry
To watch: https://howlround.com/happenings/pay-equity-theatre-industry
Panelists: Elizabeth Wislar, Kimie Nishikawa, Wu Chen Khoo, Moderator: Elsa Hiltner
The need for pay equity in the theatre industry across job titles and areas of work is crucial for a more sustainable theatre ecosystem. As many of us prepare to begin working in-person, new challenges will arise as organizations cry “scarcity” as an excuse for lower fees and lack of transparency. What can each of us do to ensure that the theatre industry in the USA moves forward with practices that sustain us, both artistically and financially? Join us for a roundtable discussion with Elizabeth Wislar, Wu Chen Khoo, and Kimie Nishikawa about how we can embrace our shared responsibility to hold institutions accountable and advocate where we have agency. Moderated by Elsa Hiltner.
DIRTY LAUNDRY PODCAST, 2021
Guest on podcast: https://www.dirtylaundrythepodcast.com/episode-3
Elizabeth Wislar, Dede Ayite, and Clint Ramos talk with Johanna about decolonizing the costume imagination and the arts as a whole.
SMARTISTRY PODCAST, 2021
Guest on Smartistry Podcast: The Smartist | Smartistry
Theatrical designer, educator, and activist Elizabeth Wislar joins Smartistry Founder Melissa Peck to discuss the powerful and innovative new curriculum she developed and shares the personal career lessons she wanted to “pay forward”, as well as her unique approach to confronting the key challenges facing today's arts students. She highlights how Accessibility and Universal Design unexpectedly became a major part of the year's syllabus, and shares ideas and resources to help listeners be more intentional about incorporating DEI principles in their artistic work. Later, Elizabeth discusses “Rebuilding and Reimagining Theatre”…
VIRGINIA THEATRE ASSOCIATION
October 28, 2020 Conference Decolonizing Theatre and Theatre Spaces Workshop. Presenter. 42 Students
ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Guest presenter: Native Dance and Regalia presentation, Spring 2022. 15 students in a Costume course.
MONTCLAIRE STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Theatre and Dance. December 4, 2020. Guest Presenter: Native Dance. Jeanette Aultz Instructor.
MOMENTUM STAGE
July 2020 Decolonizing Conference. July 13, 2020 Panelist/Presenter.
SUSQUEHANNA LIFE MAGAZINE
August 2020. Author, Dear Williamsport: We Need to Talk
SUSQUEHANNA LIFE OUTLOUD
Podcast. Fall 2020. The Past Shall Guide Us. Guest Interview
NEW NATIVE THEATRE Interview with Oogie Pushetonequa. May 13, 2020. Released on YouTube.
Building Better (Play) Worlds: The Next Generation of Anti-Racist Theatre-Makers. Workshop Trial-run Consultant. January 22-24, 2021. 8-hour commitment.
USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology). 2021
Panelist/presenter: Wage Equity in the Performing Arts
CONSCIOUS COSTUME (online) blog. March Conscious Hero, 2020. Interview with Kristen Ahern.
USITT WOMEN IN THEATRE Racial Justice Affinity Group. 8/28/2022. Participant (one of four) in a facilitated discussion with Equity & Justice for Institutional Change; Met with leadership of USITT
SPOTTSWOOD ELEMENTARY, Harrisonburg, VA
Makeup design, instruction, and implementation for a production of Lion King Junior at Spotswood Elementary, Harrisonburg. Assisted by 3 JMU students. Volunteer guest.
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF NEW YORK, NY. July 2019
5th Annual Prom: On a team of 4 guest stitchers. Fittings and alterations of over 50 donated garments in 6 hours for child patients.
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ESAM (Large Scale Biannual Private Event), Chicago, IL. August-September 2022, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012 Contributing and participating artist and collaborator.
Assistant to the Atmosphere/Scenic Designer, Alan Donahue of Donahue Designs.
Engage with industry leaders from all over the world implementing high-end design and technology on a very tight schedule. Maintained contacts in the world of event planning and rigging.
BOHO THEATRE, Chicago, IL December-January 2017
Costume Designer for a production of Urinetown, which garnered several awards and nominations
Attend production meetings, designer runs, fittings, and tech. Established a working relationship for one of our students with a professional storefront theatre that is willing to work with new/emerging artists and technicians.
MAGIK THEATRE COMPANY, San Antonio, TX March-April 2017, 2018
The Emperor’s New Threads, A Wrinkle in Time Guest Costume Designer for several productions a year, which play to full houses of 600 children 6 days a week for 8 week runs. Attend production meetings, designer runs, fittings, and tech. Established a working relationship for our students with a professional theatre that is willing to work with new/emerging artists and technicians.
KCACTF (Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival) Region 2; Respondent (starting January 2018) January 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Engage with other academics and professionals; Participate in additional workshops
Encourage and advise the students on making the best use of their time at festival
Developed and implemented additional requirements for the students as part of their participation in Design, Technology, and Management (DTM)
Past workshop Presentations:
-Emerging as a Professional Designer (How to get a job, where to get a job, and how to get fired)
-Upcycle Costumes: Redefining Found Objects
-Upcycle Masks: Cardboard Manipulation and Storytelling
-Making Armor from Foam: Introduction
-Costume Rendering (and Collage) for Beginners: Conquering Your Fears
2018: Respondent Training and response at Bloomsburg University. The Arsonists
2018: Respondent:
Blith Spirit, Alfred University.
House Full of Letters, Penn State Altoona.
The Secret in the Wings, West Liberty University.
Urinetown, SUNY Oswego.
Sin, Millersville University.
Triangle Factory Fire Project, College of Brockport
2018: Panelist for three workshops:
-It’s Not About You: Creating and Participating in Work that Does Not Look Like You
-Women in Theatre: How Does Change Happen and What Does it Look Like
-Artistic Conversations: Elevating the Production Through Director and Designer Communication
2019: Devised and Presented Workshops:
-Collage a Costume
-Decolonizing the Classroom
-Industrial Sewing Machine Basics
-Working with Student Designers
-Crafting a Fabulous Headdress
-Collaborating in Devised and/or Ensemble Theatre.
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LYCOMING ARTS, Board Member. 2018-2019, One-year Appointment
Marketing and Development Committee. First Fridays Committee Co-Chair. Williamsport, PA
EXCHANGE ARTS, Board member. 2019-2020, One-year Appointment Bloomsburg, PA
ARTS COUNCIL OF THE VALLEY, Board Member. 2021-2022, One-year Appointment Harrisonburg, VA
LARGE SCALE PUPPET/PROP WORKSHOP March 24, 2018. Montgomery High School, PA
Design the plan and build of a large prop: Milky White (a life-size skinny cow) for the production of Into the Woods. Oversaw six students while teaching them the varied techniques of woodworking (frame), foam craft and manipulation (body), fabric skinning, and painting techniques for shadow, highlight, and definition.
BLOOMSBURG THEATRE ENSEMBLE, Bloomsburg, PA 2017-2019 *elected Associate Artist, 2017
Costume Designer for: Diary of Anne Frank, The Foreigner, The Legend of Georgia McBride, Marjorie Prime, The Wizard of Oz, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
Established a working relationship with a local professional theatre that is willing to work with new/emerging artists and technicians
Guest Artist/Workshop Presenter at their Annual High School Theatre Workshop Day, 2017 & 2019: Making Armor from Foam, and Scenic Painting Techniques: Drapery and Clouds
COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER/STUDENT SUMMER STOCK, Williamsport, PA
June-July 2016, 2017, 2018
Active member of the planning committee for the development of a summer stock theatre serving the Lycoming Valley area. Overseeing the design and build of all costumes for the production of Man of la Mancha (2018, build only) Jesus Christ Superstar (2017) and Peter Pan (2016) which was also co-designed with a student of Lycoming College. Professional hire of 2-3 shop assistants, both working professionals and current students at other Colleges/Universities: working to establish a student-trade system with other schools.
USITT CONFERENCE * Member
March 2017 St. Louis, MO
Participate in the Costume Institute
Panelist for a variety of topics, such as Entering the Job Market in Chicago (co-hosted with a NYC Professional)
Devised, proposed, curated, implemented, and oversaw a display of the work of an internationally recognized Baroque opera costume designer, Bonnie Kruger.
March 2019 Louisville, KY
Panelist for IN THE DIRECTORS CHAIR: WHEN DESIGNERS DIRECT, Saturday March 23. 11-12:30pm
April 2020 Houston, TX
Panelist for DON’T FORGET THE ART: COMBINING ARTISTRY AND DESIGN, Wednesday April 1. 5-6:30pm
March 2022 Baltimore, MD
Panelist for PAY & LABOR EQUITY IN THE PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY “We need to have an action plan and accountability for achieving a living wage for all working professionals in the theatre, film and entertainment industries. Let's work together to increase diversity and equity in the arts by educating artists and organizations about the inadequate support and compensation currently being offered to many professionals, while advocating for sustainable future policies.” *The room had a seating capacity of 250; at the time of presentation, all seats were full and many more people were standing around the periphery of the room. It was one of the most well-attended sessions at the conference.
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URTAS, Chicago, IL January 2017
Annual Graduate-level recruitment conference in Chicago for Theatre Artists and Technicians.
Professionally acquainted with the current chair. Help student(s) prepare all necessary materials, portfolios, resumes and perform “mock interviews.” Fully funded a student to attend and participate in the conference (2017) while also taking them to the Chicago International Puppet Theatre Festival, where we saw four amazing productions at a variety of theatres around town. I am professionally acquainted with Blair Thomas, the Founder and Managing Director of the Festival.
ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL at Illinois State University 2018
Attended to familiarize myself with the recruitment potential.
Guest Artist/Workshop Presenter at the Festival: Making Armor from Foam
CAREER DAY December 8, 2017. Montgomery School District, PA
Co-presented with a colleague to interested theatre students (a total of 50-55) over the course of 5 sessions. Asked to participate in a “Shadow-a-Professional” Program.
BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY THEATRE DEPARTMENT, PA Spring of 2018
Worked with a Costume Design student in their Senior Year; they assisted me on a local production with the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble for 3 credit hours. The Legend of Georgia McBride, Director Eric Wunsch.
ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education) Las Vegas, NV August 2017
Invited session panelist: “Writing the Spectacle of Trauma,” a roundtable discussion exploring the historian/theatre practitioner’s struggle with approaching traumatic events, focusing on our individual area(s) of research/practice, theoretical influence(s), and personal struggle with the spectacle of trauma.
FIRETREE PLACE/R.I.S.E. Williamsport, PA. Volunteer Programming Development and Teaching
June-August 2017, 2018; 20+ Students age 9-14 R.I.S.E.: Repurpose. Impact. Sustainability. Empowerment
Independent artist and ‘repurposer’, Elizabeth Wislar will offer a weekly in the craft of turning old or discarded furniture into new use objects. Participants will be encouraged to think about personal consumption and actively engage in thoughtful discussions about how we can commit to environmentally sustainable behaviors. Participants will explore their own creativity, learn to work in a collaborative environment, gain useful knowledge of proper tool use and construction material applications, as well as obtain confidence in making sustainable choices as an individual and a conscientious member of society.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. Staunton, VA Volunteer. Ongoing. https://www.sawhfh.org/
RECOVERY CAFÉ. Staunton, VA Actively pursuing the location, full funding, and adoption of a Recovery Café in Staunton, VA as a member of the national Recovery Café Network. https://recoverycafenetwork.org/
Creating a community space that is drug and alcohol free, embracing, and healing. Nurturing structures of loving accountability called Recovery Circles. Empowering every Member to be a contributor. Raising up Member Leaders. Ensuring responsible stewardship. Working to end systemic racism and socioeconomic inequality so every person can thrive.
COSTUME PROFESSIONALS FOR WAGE EQUITY: Founding Member
Director of Surveys & Research, 2019-present.
Professional Organization. Founded May 2019
As the co-founder of Costume Professionals for Wage Equity, I advocate extensively at conferences, in meetings with companies, as a guest lecturer, invited panelist, and in published interviews for wage, labor, and safety equity in the performing arts. We have successfully petitioned all of the major job posting sites for performing arts jobs to require a clear and transparent rate of pay. Founded in May of 2019, we are a national group of 1500+ members dedicated to working towards a living wage, health and wellness, and labor equity for costume professionals. Our goal is to educate artists and organizations about the current state of inadequate support and compensation in our field by advocating for a sustainable way forward as an industry. Members contribute information and data while offering education and support by sharing the tools and resources that we used successfully for ourselves and others. We are committed to a more diverse, equitable, and sustainable theatre community by advocating for the health, safety, and well-being of all industry professionals and students.
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Hobby: Old Car Restoration and Customization
Below are a few images of cars I have purchased, stripped down, re-assembled, and driven until the wheels fell off. Once. True story.
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1958 Morris Minor
1951 Chevrolet Belair
