The Society of Properties Artisan Managers is proud to announce the recipients of their third annual Edie Whitsett and Jen Trieloff Memorial Grants. Congratulations to Samantha Llanes and Lauren Chilton. These grants are awarded to individuals wanting financial assistance with transportation, housing or other necessities during an internship in theatrical properties. You can find out more about these grants and other resources at the S*P*A*M website. You can also “like” their Facebook page to stay up to date with news and announcements.

2017 Jen Trieloff Grant recipient: Samantha Llanes

Samantha is a third year MFA graduate candidate in Prop Technology at Ohio University. She is from Miami, Florida where she received her BFA in Scenic Design at Florida International University. Samantha is currently enjoying her summer as the Props Intern at the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York. She will present her thesis production of In the Next Room (The Vibrator Play) at Ohio University this Fall. She is grateful for the opportunity to represent S*P*A*M as the 2017 Jen Trieloff Grant recipient and is eager to find new adventures in the wonderful world of props. Samantha’s website, including her resume and portfolio, can be viewed at www.llanesprops.com.

2017 Edie Whitsett Grant recipient: Lauren Chilton

Lauren E. Chilton is a graduate student at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, entering her third year in their Properties Design & Management program. Lauren earned her B.A. in Drama and Studio Art from the University of Virginia in 2012, where she was shuffled into props her second year out of necessity and never left. After graduation she moved to the DC-Metro area, where she first completed a carpentry apprenticeship at Olney Theatre Center and then spent a year as a freelance prop master, working with companies such as Folger Theatre, Imagination Stage, Synetic Theater, Forum Theatre, and The Welders, and as a prop assistant at University of Maryland under the guidance of Timothy Jones. She is currently working as a prop artisan for the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, WV, and is prop designer for The Welders’ world premiere of to tell my story: a hamlet fanfic by Alexandra Petri. Next semester Lauren will develop her project and report in large-scale puppetry while designing and building props for Ping Chong’s Nosferatu, and in the winter will complete her MFA with an internship at the Santa Fe Opera. Lauren’s website, which includes her portfolio and resume, can be viewed at www.laurenechilton.com.

Congratulations to these two talented and promising Props Artisans on behalf of the Society of Properties Artisan Managers. The application process for next year’s grants will begin in March 2018.

The Society of Properties Artisan Managers is proud to announce the recipients of their second annual Edie Whitsett and Jen Trieloff Memorial Grants. Congratulations to Madeleine Winward and Jose Nunez. These grants are awarded to individuals wanting financial assistance with transportation, housing or other necessities during an internship in theatrical properties. You can find out more about these grants and other resources at the S*P*A*M website. You can also “like” their Facebook page to stay up to date with news and announcements.

2016 Edie Whitsett Grant recipient: Madeleine Winward

The Edie Whitsett Grant is an annual award given to an individual wishing to further their career in theatrical properties, especially but not limited to theatrical props in children’s theatre. Edie Whitsett was the longtime property shop manager and a frequent designer at Seattle Children’s Theatre. She also created sets for Village Theatre, Seattle Opera, ACT Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet and other arts entities. Ms. Whitsett’s honors included an Artist Trust fellowship, a commission for an art installation at the Seattle Public Library’s central branch and two Seattle Times Footlight Awards.

The 2016 winner of the Edie Whitsett Grant recipient is Madeleine Winward. Madeleine recently graduated from Southern Oregon University with a BA in Theatre Arts. Passionate about theatre for many years, she began working as a Prop Master early in her college career, working on such shows as Cyrano, The White Fugue, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Upon graduation she served as a properties intern for Seattle Children’s Theatre’s Summer Season, where she was fortunate to work with S*P*A*M member Elizabeth Friedrich. She is particularly passionate about children’s theatre, both in its creative possibility and ability to enrich lives. In addition to Seattle Children’s she served as Prop Master at Village KIDSTAGE in Everett on Young Frankenstein and Seussical Jr. She is very excited to join the team at Center Stage in Baltimore this fall, where she will be working under S*P*A*M member Meghan O’Brien. She feels incredibly honored to have been chosen for the Edie Whitsett Grant.

2016 Jen Trieloff Grant recipient: Jose Nunez

The Jen Trieloff Grant is an annual award given to an individual wishing to further their career in theatrical properties. Jen Trieloff was Properties Director for American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin and Forward Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin and has served as Prop Master and Prop Designer for Madison Rep and Madison Opera and Ballet among others. He was an accomplished craftsman and scene designer whose work was seen on stages inside and outside of Wisconsin.

The 2016 Jen Trieloff Grant recipient is Jose Nunez. Jose is preparing to enter his third year as a graduate student at Ohio University, where he is pursuing his MFA in Production Technology with an emphasis in Properties Design. Jose graduated with his BA in Theatre from the University of Maryland in 2010. It was there that he first honed his propping skills under the tutelage of his mentor and SPAM member Timothy Jones, Properties Master at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. He owes his addiction to propping to Timothy Jones. Following graduation from the University of Maryland Jose freelanced in Washington DC and was the Properties Master at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD for two years, after which he entered graduate school at Ohio University. He now studies under Thomas Fiocchi. This summer he is working as the Properties Artisan at Barrington Stage Company Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Congratulations to the winners of the second annual SPAM Grants!

The Society of Properties Artisan Managers (S*P*A*M) has just announced the winners of their first grants. Congratulations to Jeffery Bazemore and Lucy Briggs, winners of the Jen Trieloff Grant and Edie Whitsett Grant respectively. I wrote about these grants previously on this blog; they are awarded to individuals wanting financial assistance with transportation, housing or other necessities during an internship in theatrical properties. You can find out more about these grants and other resources at the S*P*A*M website. You can also “like” their Facebook page to stay up to date with news and announcements.

Jen Trieloff Grant – Winner – Jeffery Bazemore

Jeffery Bazemore recently finished the second year of his MFA in Properties at Ohio University where he’s been studying with Tom Fiocchi, Properties Technologist. While at Ohio, Jeffery acted as the Graduate Assistant Properties Master on 2 shows, including As You Like It, and as Graduate Assistant Properties Artisan on 7 shows, including The 39 Steps, Cloud 9 and Metamorphosis. Prior to his time there, Jeffery accrued a wide range of properties experience after graduating in 2012 with his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Berea College, including working in a Properties Assistantship with S*P*A*M members Jim Clark, Properties Director at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Tim Hogan, Properties Director at Pacific Conservatory Theatre as a Properties Artisan. This summer he will be returning to PCPA to study with Tim Hogan once again, this time in a properties internship, after which he will be heading back to Ohio University to finish up his graduate degree.

Edie Whitsett Grant – Winner – Lucy Briggs

Lucy Briggs recently graduated the University of Michigan with a BFA in Theatre Design & Production – Set Design, where she studied with S*P*A*M member Patrick Drone, the Theatrical Properties Manager and Sarah Tanner, the Associate Theatrical Properties Manger. During her time at U of M she was a paid Properties Artisan on 20 shows over two years, and was able to learn and refine skills working with metal, soft goods, finish carpentry, set decoration and faux finishing. She spent the summers of 2012 and 2013 as a carpentry intern and then a carpenter for Williamstown Theatre Festival and then she took her carpenter skills to the Spoleto Festival for the 2014 season where she worked as a Carpenter Apprentice. Lucy can currently be found at the Guthrie Theater as the Properties Intern working with S*P*A*M members Patricia Olive, Sarah Gullickson and Seán McArdle. From there she will move to Louisville to be the Properties Journeyman at Actors Theatre with S*P*A*M members Mark Walston and Joe Cunningham.