Performing Arts Production Unit

The Performing Arts Production Unit serves the production needs of the Dance, Opera and Theatre departments at the University of Iowa. We produce all of the production elements for one main stage dance production, two main stage opera productions and eight main stage theatre productions, as well as overseeing eight to 10 smaller scale dance productions, one chamber opera, and twelve to twenty-four second stage and gallery theatre productions.

Production Unit Manuals

Gallery Guidelines* - This manual is for artistic team leaders who are producing gallery productions in the Department of Theatre Arts. It is a listing of facts and procedures which must be followed to produce a work here.

Gallery Guidelines - in Word format.

Lighting Control Board Manual* - We have three new ETC Expression Lighting Control Boards (one in each of our theatres). This is the manual for the board, for the use of lighting designers and electricians who will be working in those spaces. (Go to ETC's home page, where you can also download Expression-Offline, which you can use to edit your ETC Expression show files with any IBM PC.)

*Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download a free version.

Production Staff

RICHARD LOULA (MFA, University of Iowa) is the Production Manager for the Performing Arts Production Unit. He manages the production staff, the shops and performance facilities, and the production process for the departments of Dance, Opera, and Theatre. Rick's Professional experience includes: Audio Engineer for the Connecticut Ballet, Technical Director of the Yale Repertory Theatre and the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Production Manager for the National Theatre of Taiwan, Professor of Lighting at the National Institute of the Arts in Taipei, Taiwan, and principle Theatre Consultant for Performance, Arts, Technology, Design Inc.

BONNIE JENKINS (BA Textiles and Clothing, University of Iowa) Costume Studio Coordinator, has coordinated the execution for every major University Theatre production, including the University of Iowa Summer Repertory Theatre productions since 1972. Bonnie has taught costuming, millinery, crafts, and fabric modification skills, as well as training students in the art of costume production.

CINDY KUBU attended the University of Iowa. She has been with the Dance/Opera Costume Shop since 1986. Cindy supervises the costume shop that creates costumes for all the major operas and dance events. Cindy is responsible for all aspects of costume construction, including pattern drafting, draping, dying, crafts, make-up and costume rental coordination. She particularly enjoys period construction detail and research.

MARGARET WENK (BFA Carnegie-Mellon University) As the Resident Designer for the University of Iowa Performing Arts Production Unit for the past 23 years, Margaret Wenk has gained a national reputation as an artist designing costumes and scenery for the UI Division of Performing Arts. Her designs have had a major impact on the success of the productions staged by the University’s Martha-Ellen Tye Opera Theater, Department of Dance, University Theatres and the Iowa Summer Repertory Theatre. She is an adjunct lecturer and consultant, teaching design, rendering and scenic art for the University Theatres, Arts Outreach and as a freelance artist. Wenk was recently was awarded the 2001-02 Iowa Board of Regent’s Staff Excellence Award.

RON ZIEGLOWSKY (BA, Wartburg College; MFA, University of Iowa), scene shop supervisor, supervises and builds scenery and properties for all University Theatres productions, as well as training students and teaching technical theatre courses. Mr. Zieglowsky has designed, directed, and taught at the secondary and post-secondary levels.

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