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Heather Graff and Richard Peterson
Heather Graff
Age:
32
Title: Actor, Scenic/Lighting Designer
University/Training: I spent a year at a theatre conservatory. I then started working in Chicago theatre: acting, stage managing, typing programs, gathering props, assisting designers, building, serving as an electrician, teaching–anything to learn more about theatre by actually doing it. I spent a good deal of time at Latino Chicago, Chicago Theatre Company and Mary-Arrchie early on, because I found people who’d let me hang around and help.
Recent/Current Projects: Design: The Crucible, Timeline Theatre; Wings, Spokane Interplayers Ensemble; Blood Wedding and Rhinoceros, The Hypocrites; La Vie Ennui, Theatre Building Chicago; Wizard of Oz and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Chicago Shakespeare; and, coming in August, Polaroid Stories, Flush Puppy Productions. (All with Richard Peterson.)
How has your training/college education helped prepare you for a theatre career?: My training has basically been home-schooling and hands on. By setting goals for my acting and design careers, then seeking out projects that challenge me, I’m constantly re-tooling my skills. I attended various classes and workshops, including "Artists as Educators" with the Kennedy Center and spent a month in Greece with University of Detroit, Mercy’s Classic Theatre Program. I found that assisting other artists is a great way to find mentors and expand my range as a theatre artist.
Why did you choose to ply your craft in Chicago?: There are so many diverse theatres and opportunities here, and this is where I’ve always had work. Chicago is a great home base and a wonderful springboard. And where else can you go from rehearsing in someone’s living room to singing and dancing on the Haunted El to chatting with Peter Brook while hanging lights–all in one day?
Richard Peterson
Age:
30
Title: Lighting/Scenic Designer
University/Training: BS in Electronics, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb; Lighting Design, Columbia College Chicago; Rock Light at The Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts.
Recent/Current Projects: The Crucible, Timeline Theatre; Wings, Spokane Interplayers Ensemble; Blood Wedding and Rhinoceros, The Hypocrites; La Vie Ennui, Theatre Building Chicago; Wizard of Oz and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Chicago Shakespeare; and, coming in August, Polaroid Stories, Flush Puppy Productions. (All with Heather Graff.)
How has your training/college education helped prepare you for a theatre career?: I worked in the corporate world for three years after Northern, troubleshooting and repairing CNC machines. It was not fulfilling. I was extremely good in ceramics in high school, and I grew up with a hammer and saw in hand. So I knew I had an artistic side. I needed to figure a way to utilize my degree but to do something fun. I called up Columbia College and asked if they teach classes in how to light rock 'n’ roll. Their response was 'Lighting Design.’ So I went there part-time and studied under Margaret Nelson while working as a field service tech for Chicago Spotlight.
Why did you choose to ply your craft in Chicago?: There are so many theatres in Chicago that it’s like a little playground, and opportunities are abundant.