Junior theater major Sarah Sharos was awarded the Society for Properties, Artisans and Managers award for her set design work for the UCA Theatre’s production of “A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur,” by Tennessee Williams.
UCA Resident Scenic Designer Gregory Blakey said Sharos is a true theater person.
The award was given at the Region VI Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KC/ACTF) in Shreveport, La.
KC/ ACTF Region VI is one of eight regional festivals nationwide that leads to an annual National Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. during mid- April.
The festival was held Feb. 25-March 1 at Centenary College.
“The festival was fabulous,” Sharos said. “It’s a whole week dedicated to something you love and want to do for the rest of your life. What’s not to love?”
The festival was filled with performances from other colleges in the festival and workshops to help teach the students valuable lessons on various topics in theater.
Sharos said the festival was educational and inspiring.
“I feel really revived after getting the chance to talk to professionals and other people who share my passion,” she said.
The entire cast and crew of “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” wasn’t able to go to the festival because only one scene was recognized, so only the actors in the trial scene at the end of the play were invited to attend.
A seven-minute skit of the original show was performed.
Sharos said she originally questioned taking her design to the festival, but after feeling slightly overwhelmed due to a packed schedule, she talked to her professors about it and they encouraged her to take it, which she did.
“It had a lot more props than I was originally expecting, but I made it all work,” she said. “It was a really fun process.”
Sharos said she has participated in theater for as long as she can remember.
Whether performing or behind the scenes, Sharos likes to be part of the productions. She credits her older brother and sister as her inspirations to start doing theater.
Her advice to students interested in the theater department is to do as much as they can.
“Our department is fantastic,” she said. “It gives anyone the opportunity to educate themselves in any area of theater. The quicker they experience the area, the faster they will know where their passion truly lies and can start to hone in on those skills.”
Sharos plans to go to graduate school to further her education in theater and take advantage of every opportunity she can.
“I think I have more to learn and grad schools have different opportunities than undergraduate,” Sharos said.
Sharos worked as an assistant stage manager at Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre in summer 2012.
She is known for stage management but also works as a “Props Mistress” for the theater department and has gotten into sound design while acting in the spring show, “A Doll’s House.”
“A truly remarkable and talented person, Sarah is an organizer who likes to bring sense out of chaos,” Blakey said.
“It is telling that she is focusing her career path toward Stage Management and I cannot help but think she will do well in the profession.”
Sharos said the best advice she’s ever received is “Never stop trying to fix the problem.”
While that was intended for stage management, Sharos said it still sticks with her today and she tries to use it in everything she does.
“I can’t be thankful enough of all the education and experiences I have had because of this department,” Sharos said.
“I know I’m going places because I have the experience and my peers and professors believe in me.”
