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.