Owen Collins Professor of Theater
Lenfest 311
540-458-8003
collinso@wlu.edu
Website
Owen Collins, a native of Oak park Illinois, earned his MFA in Theater Design from the University of South Carolina-Columbia. A Full Professor of Theater at Washington and Lee University, where he has taught since 2002 and was department head for 8 years. Collins was the Artistic Director of the Ensemble Theatre Community School, where he was also a faculty member for 12 years. His design work has been seen at The Ailey Citigroup Theatre (Progeny Dance), the Corcoran Gallery of Art (W&L Repertory Dance Co.), Lucille Lortel Theatre (Aquila Theatre) as well as other venues in the Unites States.
Education
M.F.A. Theater Design, University of South Carolina
B.S. Theater Production, Bradley University
Research
Professor Collins is interested in the intersection of new media and technology with contemporary theater practice. This includes desktop manufacturing technologies like 3d Printing, 3d scanning and CNCs.
Teaching
THTR 100, Introduction to Theater
THTR 131, Fundamentals of Theater Art I
THTR 251, Introduction to Theatrical Design
THTR 235, Design and Performance
THTR 236, Lighting Design
THTR 237, Scenic Design
THTR 239, Theater Practicum
THTR 423, Directed Independent Project
THTR 473, Senior Thesis
Selected Publications
"Affordable 3d Printing" Volume 48 No. 1 Winter 2012 in Theater Design & Technology, the Journal of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology
“3d Scanning for Theatre Artists” Volume 53 No. 3 Summer 2015 Theater Design & Technology, the Journal of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology
“A Durable Plaster Texture” September 2002 YALE TECHNICAL BRIEFS
“Modified Parallel Platform Construction for Audience Risers” April 2001 YALE TECHNICAL BRIEFS
“PVC Framing of Non-Weightbearing Scenery” May 2000 YALE TECHNICAL BRIEFS
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Member of Panel - “Training Our Future Assistants” United States Institute for Theatre Technology National Conference March 2015
Member of Panel - “Making Art: The Increasing Role and Capability of Colleges and Universities in Nurturing New Works” Virginia Theater Association, Norfolk VA November 2014
Chair of session, “3d Scanning for the Theater”United States Institute for Theatre Technology Fort Worth, March 2014
Leader of Professional Development Workshop “Not for Barbies: Model Furniture Techniques” Lead section of 3d printing model furniture United States Institute for Theatre Technology Fort Worth, March 2014
Chair of session “Loves Labor Cost Part 3: Married with Children” United States Institute for Theatre Technology Fort Worth, March 2014
Member of Panel Presentation “3d Printing: New Safety for New Technology" United States Institute for Theatre Technology Fort Worth, March 2014
Conference Presentation, “3d Printing for the Theater” United States Institute for Theatre Technology Milwaukee March 2013
Panel Member “Teaching Leadership and Civic Engagement Through Theater Practice: Theater Skills as Essential Life Skills” Association for Theater in Higher Education (ATHE) --Washington, DC August 2012
Chair of Panel, “Finding Success in Aesthetic Failure” United States Institute for Theatre Technology National Conference --Long Beach, CA March 2012
Chair of Panel, “Running Effective Critique Sessions” United States Institute for Theatre Technology National Conference --Charlotte, NC 2011
Presentation, “Anatomy of a Bunraku Puppet” United States Institute for Theatre Technology-Chesapeake Section --Towson, MD 2011
Design and Technology Representative , “Plenary Response Discussion Session” Association for Theater in Higher Education (ATHE) --Chicago, IL 2011
Chair, “How Do We Get Along? Technical Directors, Costume Shop Managers, Faculty and Administration - another Level of Collaboration” Association for Theater in Higher Education (ATHE) --Chicago, IL 2011
Session: “3d Printing for Scene Designers”-- United States Institute of Theater Technology Chesapeake Section Annual Conference and Expo. University of Mary Washington 2010
Member of Panel for Session “Breaking the Mold: New Ways of Teaching the Same Old Subjects” --United States Institute of Theater Technology National Conference and Expo. Kansas City 2010
Member of Panel for Session “The Developmental Stages of the Undergraduate” --United States Institute of Theater Technology National Conference and Expo. Kansas City 2010
Poster Presentation: “Real World Output of Digital Designs” --United States Institute of Theater Technology National Conference and Expo. Kansas City 2010
Presentation: “Theater as a Model for Life” Performyth - 10th National Symposium on Theater in Academe, Lexington VA 2009
Poster Presentation: “Podcasts as Publication: Evaluating Blogging and Podcasting as a Means Disseminating Research” --United States Institute of Theater Technology National Conference and Expo. Cincinnati 2009
VectorWorks Discussion Panel “Stump the Chumps”-- United States Institute of Theater Technology Chesapeake Section Annual Conference and Expo. Towson University 2008
“The Collaborative Design Process of Pirates of Penzance “---United States Institute of Theater Technology Chesapeake Section Annual Conference and Expo. Towson University 2008
United States Institute for Theatre Technology’s Juried Design Expo “Scenic Design for The Tamer Tamed” United States Institute of Theater Technology National Conference, Louisville KY 2006
Exhibited two designs in “World Stage Design 2005” International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians World Congress 2005, Toronto, Canada.
“Bridging the Digital Divide in Drawing” part of the Micro grants in Action Instructional Technology Forum. December 17th 2003 Northen Auditorium.
Design Contributed to “Design Expo 2006” a Juried Group Exhibit United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Louisville, Kentucky, March 2006
“When to Turn It On: Digital Media in Design Education” Panel Chair at United States Institute for Theatre Technology National Conference, March 17-20, 2004 in Long Beach, California.
“Writing on Water: An Exhibition of Theatre Work by Owen Collins” Kamen Gallery, Lenfest Center, Lexington
Two designs contributed in “Design Expo 2004” A Juried group exhibit United States Institute for Theatre Technology National Conference, March 17-20, 2004 in Long Beach, California.
“Virtual Reality for Long Distance Designing” Southeastern Theatre Conference annual convention, March 4-7, 2004
“Creation and Organization of Electronic Portfolios for Academic Review”. Community High School, Roanoke May 2003
Six Designs in “Fill the Screen: a Digital Design Exhibit:, United States Institute for Theatre Technology national convention, March 18-21, 2003 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Poster Presentation “Visualization & Actualization: Virtual Light Lab as an Introduction to Lighting Design” United States Institute for Theatre Technology national convention, March 18-21, 2003 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Design Contributed to “Cover the Walls 2003” United States Institute for Theatre Technology national convention, March 18-21, 2003 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“Computers and the Theatrical Portfolio” Southeastern Theatre Conference convention, March 5-9, 2003 in Arlington, Virginia.
“Lighting Storyboards Using Digital Media” Presentation at KC/ACTF Region III Festival Evansville, IN January 2002
Designs and Productions
Scene Design Sense & Sensibility, Washington and Lee University -December 2016
Scene Design Theory of Relativity, Washington and Lee University -October 2016
Projection Design (co-designer) Theory of Relativity, Washington and Lee University -October 2016
Lighting Design Legally Blonde, Washington and Lee University -March 2016
Scene Design Desdemona, Washington and Lee University -October 2015
Scene Design Spamalot, Washington and Lee University -March 2015
lighting Design W&L Dance Alumni Event, Alvin Ailey Theater, NYC -June 2014
Artistic Director The Beauty Project, An original full length work of Dance & Theater. Combining student, faculty and guest artist work. Washington and Lee University -March 2014
Lighting Design Aerial Dance Alumni Event corcoran Gallery Washington DC, June 2013
Scene Design Bye Bye Birdie, Washington and Lee University -October 2012
Dramatic Presentation & Exhibit of collaborative work, “Objects Are Not What They Seem” A presentation of scenes from Christopher Cartmill’s Romeo’s Dream interspersed with works created by the Spring THTR 235 Design & Performance Class. Johnson Theatre, Lenfest Center for the Arts May 2012
Lead artist- The James Baldwin Project - Dramatic Presentation - Coordinated over 50 interviews, transcribing the conversations, and contributed to a collaboratively written theater piece that looks at the Race, Class and Sexuality in modern culture. Presented in the Johnson Theatre Lenfest Center for theArts March 2012
Lighting Design Aerial Dance 2011, Washington and Lee University -May 2011
Projection Design Aerial Dance 2011, Washington and Lee University -May 2011
The Hamlet Rave - Contributed filmed scenes and an interview to an interdisciplinary deconstruction of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that looks at the influence of the play on theater and modern culture. Presented at NYU’s Gallatin School New York City, NY April 2011
Scene Design Where we’re Born, Washington and Lee University -November 2009
Scene Design Assassins, Washington and Lee University -October 2009
Projection Design Assassins, Washington and Lee University -October 2009
Scene Design Comedy of Errors, Aquila Theater Company National Tour -August 2008- June 2009
Lighting Design Play It again, Sam, Washington and Lee University -December 2008
Scene Design Little Shop of Horrors, Washington and Lee University -May 2008
Scene Design Father Francis, Washington and Lee University -February 2007
Scene design What I Did Last Summer Ensemble Theatre Community School July 2007
Scene design Godspell Ensemble Theatre Community School July 2007
Scene Design Kiss Me Kate, Washington and Lee University -MAy 2007
Projection Design How I Learned to Drive, Washington and Lee University -October 2006
Projection Design How I Learned to Drive, Washington and Lee University -October 2006
Scene Design The Long Christmas Ride Home, Washington and Lee University -October 2006
Projection Design The Long Christmas Ride Home, Washington and Lee University -October 2006
Puppet Design The Long Christmas Ride Home, Washington and Lee University -October 2006
Lighting Design The Long Christmas Ride Home, Washington and Lee University -October 2006
Scene Design oscar & Felix, Washington and Lee University -February 2006
Lighting Design oscar & Felix, Washington and Lee University -February 2006
Scene Design Grimm Tales, Ensemble Theater Community School, Eagles Mere, PA -July 2006
Scene Design Richard Cory, Ensemble Theater Community School, Eagles Mere, PA -July 2006
Scene Design The Pirates of Penzance, Washington and Lee University -May 2006
Scene Design One Acts 2006, Washington and Lee University -March 2006
Lighting Design House of Bernarda Alba, Washington and Lee University -February 2005
Lighting Design Dreaming & Duelling, Washington and Lee University -February 2004
Scene Design Dreaming & Duelling, Washington and Lee University -February 2004
Technical Direction One Acts 2005, Washington and Lee University -March 2005
Lighting Design The Tamer Tamed, Washington and Lee University -May 2005
Scene Design The Tamer Tamed, Washington and Lee University -May 2005
Scene Design The Marriage of Figaro (play version), Ensemble Theater Community School, Eagles Mere, PA -July 2005
Scene Design The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Ensemble Theater Community School, Eagles Mere, PA -July 2005
Scene Design The Shape of things, Washington and Lee University -October 2005
Projection Design The Shape of things, Washington and Lee University -October 2005
Lighting Design Student Showcase 2005, Washington and Lee University -November 2005
Scene Design No Exit, Washington and Lee University -December 2005
Lighting Design No Exit, Washington and Lee University -December 2005
Scene Design Hair Washington and Lee University -May 2004
Lighting Design Hair Washington and Lee University -May 2004
Scene Design Top Girls Washington and Lee University -May 2003
Lighting Design Working Washington and Lee University -February 2003
Lighting Design No Niggers no Jews No Dogs Washington and Lee University -November 2002
scene Design No Niggers no Jews No Dogs Washington and Lee University -November 2002
Lighting Design Last Train to Nibroc Washington and Lee University -November 2002
scene Design Last Train to Nibroc Washington and Lee University -November 2002
Scene Design The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Washington and Lee University -October 2002
Scene Design Nutcracker Peoria ballet December 2002
Scene design Antigone Ensemble Theatre Community School July 2002
Scene design The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket Ensemble Theatre Community School July 2002
Scene Design side man Bradley University February 2002
Scene Design Into the Woods Bradley University September 2001
Scene design The crucible Ensemble Theatre Community School July 2001
Scene Design King Lear Bradley University February 2001
Scene Design A Doll House Bradley University November 2000
Scene Design our town Bradley University February 2000 Scene Design How I Learned to Drive Bradley University November 1999
Scene design Arcadia Bradley University March 1999
Scene Design Comedy oF Errors, Aquila Theater Company - Hemmerdinger Hall, NYC 2000