Thesis Helps Theater Major to Put Education to Use

By Purnell T. Cropper | May 4, 2010

By Dave Reale ’09

For Robin Stamey ’10, completing her senior thesis included a welcome surprise. For her role as lighting designer for the production of Home, Stamey was named a Region II winner of a National Barbizon Award for Theatrical Design.

As a Theater Arts major she enjoys the challenges of creating a new world to share with the audience. Obtaining her degree proved to be invaluable as she was well prepared to meet the demands of the project.

“Without my classes, I would not have had the knowledge to do my thesis. I learned about collaboration and how to express myself well.  That is something I didn’t learn through homework or theory, just interaction with professionals in the field and guidance from my professors.”

During her four years at Arcadia, Stamey was involved in nearly every production from helping to hang and focus the lights to building the sets and other various roles.  She also was the sound board operator for The Heidi Chronicles, assistant stage manager for Carnival, interim stage manager for The Misanthrope, stage manager for Waiting for Lefty and Wind in Willows, run crew for Three Sisters and Anton in Show Business, assistant technical director for The Princess Rescuers, assistant set designer for Beyond Therapy and assistant lighting designer for The Woman.  She was the lighting designer for The Stonewater Rapture, A Visit to a Small Planet, Criminal Hearts and Home as well as acting in The Tempest.

“By designing Home for my thesis, I was able to finally put my education to practical use and apply what I have learned to a situation I will approach in my career.”

After Graduation Stamey plans on staying in Philadelphia to do freelance design and stage-managing.

(Photo by Matthew Wright, Fig Tree Photography)