Ren ée Surprenant Fitzgerald
Set Designer, Scenic Artist & Educator ReneeSFitzgerald.com Curriculum Vitae [email protected]
EDUCATION
Michigan State University M.F.A. Production Design, East Lansing, MI – May 2013 Theatre in London Study Abroad Program – July 2011
University of Rhode Island B.F.A. Theatre Design and Technology, Summa Cum Laude, Kingston, RI – December 2009
Cobalt Studios, Specialty Professional Seminars The Studio Style, Instructor: Wendy Waszut-Barrett – April 2018 Faux Bois, Instructor: Nels Christianson – May 2018 Painting Translucent Backdrops, Instructor: Rachel Keebler – December 2015
APPOINTMENTS
Lecturer of Set Design Brown University Department of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies, Providence, RI, 2017 - Present
Visiting Assistant Professor of Scenic Design & Technical Director Hillsdale College Department of Theatre and Dance, Hillsdale, MI, 2014 - 2017
Scenic Designer & Technical Internship Coordinator La Musica Lirica, Novafeltria, Italy – 2013 - Present
Theater Technical Supervisor Michigan State University Residential College of Arts & Humanities, East Lansing, MI, 2013 - 2014
Set Designer & Technical Director East Lansing High School Drama Club, East Lansing, MI, 2013-2014
Graduate Teaching Assistant Michigan State University Department of Theatre, East Lansing, MI, 2010 - 2013
UNIVERSITY SERVICE
Brown University Senior Slot Faculty Committee Served as Design Mentor and faculty liaison to students the Senior Slot production process. Collaborated with other production faculty and staff members to review and revise the Senior Slot production process.
Sock & Buskin Board Represented the Faculty and Production Staff in the TAPS Department’s student-run producing board and play selection committee for the 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020 seasons.
(University Service, continued)
Michigan State University Play Selection Committee Represented the graduate students in MSU’s Department of Theatre play selection committee for the 2012-2013 season.
Graduate Affairs Committee, 2011-2012 Graduate Affairs Committee, 2010-2011 Represented the graduate student body as liaison at MSU Department of Theatre faculty meetings.
University of Rhode Island President of the URI Student Theatre Guild, 2009-2010 Vice President of the URI Student Theatre Guild, 2008-2009 Play Selection Committee, 2009
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
The Lansing State Journal’s Thespie Award: Best Set Design The Three Penny Opera, Lansing Community College, directed by Connie Curran-Oesterle, 2016 Happy Holy Days, Michigan State University, directed by Rob Roznowski, 2011
National Opera Association Opera Production Competition Winner, Division IV Set Design: The Magic Flute, Michigan State University Opera Theatre, 2014
Michigan State University
The Varg-Sullivan Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, 2013 Gretel Geist Rutledge Annual Student Award for Excellence in Scene Design, 2012 Stanley and Selma Hollander Fellowship for Graduate Study, 2011
University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island Academic Excellence Award Theatre Department recipient, 2010 University of Rhode Island Theatre Merit Scholarship, 2007, 2008, 2009 Thomas A. Pezzulo Scholarship, 2007 Dean's List 2006-2009
COURSES TAUGHT
Brown University, Providence, RI Visiting Lecturer of Set Design, Fall 2017 – Present
Director/ Designer Collaboration (TAPS 1281A) Co-Course Instructor; Taught undergraduate students of theatrical directing and design collaboration and procedural techniques for working on a production team to come up with original concepts and de- signs for theoretical productions.
(Courses Taught, continued)
Introduction to Theatrical Design (TAPS 1280G) Course Instructor; Taught introductory level undergraduate students the basic principles of theatrical design aesthetics, techniques, and history. Special focus on the process of creating and communi- cating scenic, costume, and lighting designs, as well as basic drawing, drafting, rendering, and model building techniques for scenery.
Introduction to Set Design (TAPS 1280F) Course Instructor; Taught intermediate level undergraduate scenic design students advanced principles of scenic design and aesthetics, with a focus on technical hand drafting, rendering, research, and model building techniques.
Advanced Set Design (TAPS 1300S) Course Instructor; Taught advanced level undergraduate scenic design students advanced principles of scenic design and construction, with an emphasis on historical and contemporary styles and applica- tions.
Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI Visiting Assistant Professor of Set Design & Technical Director, Fall 2014 – Spring 2017
Introduction to Theatre Design Course Instructor; Taught introductory level undergraduate students the basic principles of theatrical design aesthetics, techniques, and history. Special focus on the process of creating and communi- cating scenic, costume, and lighting designs, as well as basic drawing, drafting, rendering, and model building techniques for scenery.
Design I (Set Design) Course Instructor; Taught intermediate level undergraduate scenic design students advanced principles of scenic design and aesthetics, with a focus on technical drafting (via hand and Vectorworks) and model building techniques.
Design II (Set Design) Course Instructor; Taught advanced level undergraduate scenic design students advanced principles of scenic design and aesthetics, with a focus on producing a realized design for one of the theater depart- ment’s productions.
Scenic Painting Course Instructor; Taught introductory level students the basic techniques of scenic painting for the theater.
Theatre Production Course Instructor; Coordinated and supervised the staff in the scenery, costumes, and lighting shops, and backstage run crews for Department productions.
Introduction to Theatre Technology Course Instructor; Taught introductory level undergraduate students the process of producing scenic designs, including scene shop safety, set building and painting techniques.
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI Graduate Teaching Assistant, August 2010- Present
Intro to Scene Design Teaching Assistant; Aided the instruction of undergraduate scenic design students in the principles of scenic design and aesthetics, and basic drawing, drafting, rendering, and model building techniques.
(Courses Taught, continued)
Freshman Showcase Design Advisor; Taught incoming undergraduates techniques for becoming a successful student in the MSU Department of Theatre, and guided the scenic, lighting, costume, and sound design process for their showcase performance.
Introduction to Technical Theatre Classroom Instructor; Taught introductory level students the process of producing scenic designs, including scene shop safety, set building and painting techniques
Script Analysis (Online Course) Moderator and Content Creator; Taught students the critical skills of theatrical script analysis using Blackboard’s ANGEL program
Plays as Film (Online Course) Moderator and Content Creator; Taught students to evaluate the film adaptations of scripts that originated as plays using Blackboard’s ANGEL program
Creative Dramatics (Online Course) Moderator; Taught students to formulate and create lesson plans for classes that teach theatre to children using Blackboard’s ANGEL program
Theater & Society in the West (Integrated Online Course) Teaching Assistant; Wrote and presented lectures, assisted with grading, and created assessments for class of over three hundred undergraduate students
Special Topics in Technical Theatre Classroom Instructor; Taught intermediate level students about scene shop safety, set building and painting techniques
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, 2006-2010
Introduction to Theater Classroom Instructor; Taught introductory level students the basic principles of scenic, properties, lighting, and sound design and technology, and then led them in the design and production process of their own one- act show
National Seminars and Presentations
United States Institute of Theater Technology (USITT) National Conference, St. Louis, MO, 2017 Wearing Many Hats as a Technical Director Hosted a discussion panel, in which professional Technical Directors from across academic world talked techniques for managing time and staff, and considered how to balance different responsibilities.
Michigan Educational Theatre Association, East Lansing, MI, 2011 ‘Scratching’ for Design Ideas Taught students exercises for finding artistic inspiration from Twyla Tharp’s book The Creative Habit. Introduction to Scenic Painting Taught students basic techniques for rendering brick and field stone
ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT in THEATRICAL DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
SET DESIGNS
Brown University Department of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies, Providence, RI Dry Swallow, directed by Misha Chowdhury, 2019 Kemps, directed by Josiah Davis, 2019 The Sonic Life of a Giant Tortoise, directed by Kym Moore, 2019 Hedda Gabler, directed by Spencer Golub, 2019 Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea, directed by Kate Bergstrom, 2018 Next to Normal, directed by Addie Gorlin, 2018 Lives of the Great Poisoners, directed by Richard Waterhouse, 2017 Dreamlandia, directed by Sarah dAngelo, 2017
Providence College, Providence RI Something Rotten! directed by Jimmy Calitri, 2019 The Lord of the Flies, directed by Patrick Saunders and John Garrity, 2019
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI A Brief History of the Earth and Everything in It, directed by Rachel Walshe, 2019 A Little Night Music, directed by Paula McGlasson, 2019 Women & War: Lysistrata and Trojan Women, directed by Kira Hawkridge, 2018 Measure for Measure, directed by Rachel Walshe, 2018 Boy Gets Girl, directed by Jimmy Calitri, 2009 Laundry and Bourbon and Cowboy Mouth, directed by Luke Allard and Kevin Thibault, 2009 University of Rhode Island’s 2009 One-Act Festival, directed by various directing students, 2009
Antigravity Performance Project, New York, NY Miss Julie, directed by Kym Moore, 2019
Opera Louisiane, Baton Rouge, LA HMS Pinafore, directed by Ted Christopher, 2018
Hillsdale College Department of Theatre and Dance, Hillsdale, MI The Physicists, directed by George Angell, 2017 Kiss Me, Kate! directed by James Brandon, 2017 Death of a Salesman, directed by Michael Beyer, 2016 The Eumenides, directed by George Angell, 2016 Mother Courage and Her Children, directed by James Brandon, 2016 Dancing at Lughnasa, directed by Michael Beyer, 2015 Twelfth Night, directed by George Angell, 2015 Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, directed by George Angell, 2015 The Drowsy Chaperone, directed by James Brandon, 2015 The Misanthrope, directed by George Angell, 2014 Almost, Maine, directed by Michael Beyer, 2014 Woyzeck, directed by Katherine Denton, 2014
La Musica Lirica, Novafeltria, Italy Le Nozze di Figaro, directed by David Ronis, 2019 Rigoletto, directed by Robert Breault, 2019 Gianni Schicchi, directed by Copeland Woodruff, 2019 Lucia di Lammermoor, directed by Brygida Bziukiewicz-Kulig, 2018 Cosi Fan Tutti, directed by François Loup, 2018 Dialoghi delle Carmelitane, directed by Robert Breault, 2018 La Boheme, directed by Robert Breault, 2017 Don Giovanni, directed by François Loup, 2017 Suor Angelica, directed by David Ronis, 2017
(Set Designs, continued)
La Traviata, directed by Brygida Bziukiewicz-Kulig, 2016 Falstaff, directed by William Shomos, 2016 Dialoghi delle Carmelitane, directed by Robert Breault, 2016 Madama Butterfly, directed by Dejan Miladinović, 2015 L'Itliana in Algeri, directed by François Loup, 2015 Gianni Schicchi, directed by Theodore Baerg, 2015 L'Elisir D'Amore, directed by François Loup, 2014 La Rondine, directed by Robert Breault, 2014 L'Impressario in Angustie, directed by William Florescu, 2014 Le Nozze di Figaro, directed by Candace Evans, 2013 Lucia di Lammermoor, directed by François Loup, 2013 La Cambiale di Matrimonio, directed by Robert Brault, 2013 Sour Angelica, directed by Mary Anne Spangler Scott, 2013
Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI A Chorus Line, directed by Keeley Stanley 2016
Lansing Community College, Lansing, MI The Snow Queen, directed by Paige Tufford, 2017 The Three Penny Opera, directed by Connie Curran-Oesterle, 2016
Michigan State University College of Music’s Opera Theatre, East Lansing, MI The Magic Flute, directed by Melanie Helton, 2013
East Lansing High School, East Lansing, MI Grease, directed by Mark Shaheen, 2014 The Man Who Came to Dinner, directed by Mark Shaheen, 2013
Michigan State University Department of Theatre, East Lansing, MI Funny Girl, directed by Devanand Janki, 2013 Measure for Measure, directed by Christina Traister, 2012 Mother Courage and Her Children, directed by Mark Colson, 2012 Happy Holy Days (World Premiere), directed by Rob Roznowski, 2011
Summer Circle Theatre, East Lansing, MI Adrift in Macao, directed by Chad Badgero, 2012 Round the World Tales, directed by Wes Haskell, 2012
Lansing Media Theatre Project, Lansing, MI Paint the Dark, directed by B. Emil Boulos, 2012
Assistant Set Design
The Miracle Theatre Group, Portland, OR Corrido Calavera, written and directed by Lakin Valdez, scenic design by Megan Wilkerson, 2013
Costume Design
Williamston Theatre, Williamston, MI The Dead Guy, directed by Tony Caselli, 2011
Lighting Design
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI Orchesis Student Dance Concert, choreographed by members of the Orchesis Dance Company, 2013
The Academy Players, East Greenwich, RI Pippin, directed by Scott Morency, 2009
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI The Foreigner, directed by Alan Hawkridge, 2008
Technical Direction
Hillsdale College Department of Theatre and Speech, Hillsdale, MI August 2014 - Present (Technical Direction, continued)
Michigan State University, Residential College of Arts and the Humanities, East Lansing, MI ‘RCAH Theatre Technical Supervisor’ 2013- 2014 Season
East Lansing High School, East Lansing, MI 2013-2014 Season The Man Who Came to Dinner, Grease
La Musica Lirica, Novafeltria, Italy 2013 Season Le Nozze di Figaro, Lucia di Lammermore, Suor Angelica, La Cambiale di Matrimonio
Summer Circle Theater, East Lansing, MI 2012 Season Adrift in Macao, On the Verge, Around the World in 80 Days, ‘Round the World Tales
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI The Guys, directed by Megan Doran, scenic design by Mike Miele, 2009 Laundry and Bourbon and Cowboy Mouth, directed by Luke Allard and Kevin Thibault, scenic design by Renée Surprenant, 2009
Charge Scenic Artist
Brown University Department of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies, Providence, RI July 2017 – Present
Brown/ Trinity Rep MFA Program, Providence, RI References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, directed by Tatiana-Marie Carlo, designed by Patrick Lynch, 2019
La Musica Lirica, Novafeltria, Italy 2013 Summer Season – Present
Ohio Light Opera, Wooster, OH 2017 Summer Season
Hillsdale College Department of Theatre and Dance, Hillsdale, MI August 2014 –June 2017
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI Three Sisters and Anton in Show Business, directed by Rob Roznowski, scenic design by Shannon Melick Legally Blonde, directed by Rob Roznowski, scenic design by G. ‘Max’ Maxin IV The Grapes of Wrath, directed by Ann Folino White, scenic design by Zac Campbell, 2011 Happy Holy Days, directed by Rob Roznowski, scenic design by Renée Surprenant, 2011
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI Measure for Measure, directed by Rachel Walshe, scenic design by Renée Surprenant, 2018 The Guys, directed by Megan Doran, scenic design by Mike Miele, 2009 Laundry and Bourbon and Cowboy Mouth, directed by Luke Allard and Kevin Thibault, scenic design by Renée Surprenant, 2009
Scenic Artist
Trinity Repertory Company, Providence, RI The Prince of Providence, directed by Taibi Magar, designed by Sara Brown, 2019 A Christmas Carol, directed by Mark Valdez, designed by Michael McGarty, 2018
The Gamm Theater, Warwick, RI The Night of the Iguana, directed by Fred Sullivan Jr., designed by Patrick Lynch, 2018 Uncle Vanya, directed by Fred Sullivan Jr., designed by Michael McGarty, 2018
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI Mary Poppins, scenic design by Cheryl deWardner, 2018 Unbound, scenic design by Christian Wittwer, scenic charge by Brigitte Bechtel, 2010 A Flea in Her Ear, scenic design by Katryne Hecht, scenic charge by Brigitte Bechtel, 2010 25th Annual… Spelling Bee, scenic design by Patrick Lynch, scenic charge by Brigitte Bechtel, 2009
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 2012-2013 season James and the Giant Peach, U.P., The Lady Victory, Sweet Mercy 2011- 2012 season Two 9/11 Plays, The Beaux Stratagem, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Cripple of Inishmaan 2010- 2011 season The American Clock, Evil Dead: The Musical, As You Like It, The Wizard of Oz, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot
Detroit's City Theatre, Detroit, MI Ernie: A Play by Mitch Albom, scenic design by Kirk A. Domer, 2011
Williamston Theatre, Williamston, MI End Days, directed by Tony Caselli, 2012 Dead Man’s Shoes, directed by David Wolber, scenic design by Kirk A. Domer, 2012 While We Were Bowling, directed by John Lepard, scenic design by Kirk A. Domer, 2011
Properties Designer
Hillsdale College Department of Theatre and Dance, Hillsdale, MI August 2014 – June 2017
Summer Circle Theatre, East Lansing, MI Charley’s Aunt, directed by Rob Roznowski, scenic design by Priya Rane, 2013
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI The American Clock, directed by Tony Caselli, scenic design by G. Max Maxin IV, 2010
Master Carpenter
The Gamm Theater, Warwick, RI The Night Watch, set design by Michael McGarty, 2019 Gloria, set design by Jessica Hill, 2018 The Night of the Iguana, scenic design by Patrick Lynch, 2018
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI A Flea In Her Ear, set design by Katryne Hecht, 2010 Unbound, set design by Christian Wittwer, 2010
The Cape Playhouse, Dennis, MA 2010 summer season 2009 summer season 2008 summer season