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Lycoming College’s Evelyn Stong ’26, double major in history and theatre technology and design with a minor in German, recently brought home the highest recognition in the scenic design discipline for Region 2 at the American College Theater Festival (ACTF). Stong earned the National Finalist ACTF Award for Theatrical Design Excellence in Scenic Design for her exceptional work on Lycoming College’s production of “Rumors.”
This prestigious honor qualified Stong to present her design work to two professionals in the field. Jay Duckworth and Charlie Calvert — artists whom Stong greatly admires and respects — provided Stong with feedback on her work, which is currently displayed on ACTF's virtual national gallery.
Stong will also receive the University Resident Theatre Association (URTA) Candidate Award, which provides free registration for the URTA Auditions and Interviews, including free admission to continuing education sessions and other programming.
Her success at the festival didn't stop there. Stong received another recognition for her participation in the Devised Theatre Workshop for ACTF Region 2, in which small groups of students from different colleges were given themes, necessary music/sound bites, and required props. Amid participation in other festival activities, the groups created a short theatre piece from scratch around these things and put it on in within three days.
For Stong, the journey to this national recognition began before college. “The first time I really did theatre was in high school and the community I experienced there as well as the outlet it gave me for both creative and analytical problem solving made me certain I wanted it to play a major role in my future,” she said.
When looking for a college, Lycoming’s approach to theatre education stood out. “Lycoming College's theatre department was attractive to me because of the way it encouraged students to learn all parts of the theatrical world instead of just drilling them in the chosen specialization, allowing space for experimentation and figuring out what aspects of theatre suit you best, as well as fostering a respect and understanding between theatrical departments and roles,” Stong explained. “The small department size and the fact that it only taught undergraduates also allowed for a more personalized educational experience and provided more roles and opportunities to create and realize projects.”
During her time at Lycoming, Stong has taken advantage of the diverse curriculum. Her favorite class, Costume Design, allowed her to design and construct a costume of her choosing. “Not only did it provide me an outlet for creativity with the help of a very experienced professor who helped me realize it, but the way it was set up also taught me a lot of new techniques and practices in the hands-on way I learn best with,” she noted.
The mentorship from the theatre faculty has been instrumental in her development. “The theatre faculty have given me lots of opportunities to grow as a person and as a theatrical designer, both in classes and on various theatrical projects,” Stong said. “They have taught me so many different skill sets – dramaturgy, costume design and construction, circuitry, light programming, digital design rendering, CNC machining, and how to portray my design and myself to an audience, to name a few – that I feel that even if my career path changes, they will still have helped me reach success. They have all been very encouraging, providing numerous book recommendations and insights into the theatrical world that have been indispensable for my growth in the field.”
Stong’s Lycoming experience extends beyond the theatre department. With the help of a Wertz Scholarship, she is currently spending a semester studying abroad in Germany. “I wouldn't have even considered studying abroad without it; it's been a great help in making this semester a reality,” she said. While in Germany, she is taking classes in German language, European art history, and rebellion and revolution in post-World War II Germany, while also taking full advantage of student discounts to visit as many shows and museums as possible.
Looking ahead to her life after graduation, Stong plans to work professionally as a theatre properties artisan, bringing the diverse skills and experiences she gained at Lycoming to the professional stage.