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戏剧，艺术为屡获殊荣的韦伯州立大学毕业生打开专业大门
OGDEN, Utah — When Porter Lance has an idea, he uses every ounce of artistry and research to bring that vision to life.
Lance made headlines last year for his award-winning scenic design of 新葡京app State University’s production of 理发师陶德：舰队街的恶魔理发师, 赢得头奖 at the national Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Washington, D.C.
Lance said he’s always been curious and creative. 当他还是德克萨斯州的一个男孩时，他就会去探索、画画，并在社区剧院表演。 When he reached college age, he felt his hometown in the Lone Star State didn’t have a big enough art scene to maintain his artistic momentum.
“After I moved to Utah, I met someone who went to 新葡京app State,” Lance said. “She was incredibly smart, incredibly motivated, and that kind of put it on my radar. I could see that they were going to help me become the best student and artist that I could be.”
Lance was also drawn to the low cost of WSU following some financial barriers at a prior university: “新葡京app State was a much more affordable choice, a much better deal. The theatre program here has so many scholarships.”
然而，最有价值的是兰斯成为了一个相互学习和珍惜艺术的协作社区的一部分。
Lance got involved with prop design for a WSU production of Something’s Afoot in 2021, and soon developed an interest in scenic design. He took an on-campus job at the 布朗宁中心 scene shop where, for three years, he honed skills in carpentry, painting and more.
“Professors were really excited to give me the opportunity and help me grow my talents,” he said. “I've always had a love for visual art, and this brought that love into the world of theater.”
Lance notes how scenic design involves artistic ability, yes, but also extensive research as he immerses himself in a production’s historical and cultural setting: “I have to become a little expert on the world of the play. And I dive in and I learn about myself, and I learn about my world, and I learn about other people,” he said.
His holistic approach to scenic design helped him earn the prestigious award for 《理发师陶德》 in 2023, besting seven talented finalists from across the U.S. But Lance has also lent his talent to productions such as 的两栖动物, a set made up entirely from recycled or secondhand materials, and 红色的天, an 调整后的现实主义者 production recently performed in New York City.
“I grew a lot 新葡京app the design process,” Lance said. “My favorite part about the process, though, is probably the collaboration with other artists. I’m constantly working with other people who push me further, push my art further, and really just make the whole process worth it.”
Lance, who 新葡京appd from WSU in April 2024, said he’s excited about the world of 新葡京app that scenic design has opened.
“There are so many reasons to study the arts and humanities. Theater, specifically, is a combination of so many different practical skill sets,” he said. “You learn collaboration, communication, working under pressure, on a deadline. You also learn technical skills, from carpentry to digital modeling programs.”
But before Lance jumps into his career — ultimately aiming to become a full-time professional scenic designer — he’s headed to Seattle to earn a master of fine arts in scenic design at the University of Washington.
虽然他有一天会喜欢教风景设计和指导年轻的艺术家，兰斯将永远是一个学生的生活。
“The most important thing about studying theater and studying the arts in general is just understanding the world,” he said. “Even when you’re watching TV or listening to a podcast, you’re learning 新葡京app storytelling.”
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, [email protected]- 联系人:
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, [email protected]