Katherine Stepanek is a dynamic scenic and lighting designer, hailing from diverse theatre landscapes. Holding an MFA in Scenic Design from the University of Tennessee and a BFA in Lighting Design from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, Stepanek creates immersive experiences that transcend traditional stage boundaries.
Her design journey spans acclaimed venues including the Clarice Brown Theatre, Shawnee Theatre, Clarice Smith Dance Theatre, Summit Theatre Group, and the Jack Aldrich Theater. These projects infuse storytelling with visual brilliance, transporting audiences into captivating worlds.
Stepanek's passion extends beyond the theatre, having contributed her talents to the art department of Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War. Collaborative and innovative, she continuously pushes creative limits.
In the realm of teaching, Katherine's instructional approach combines practical knowledge with artistic insight, enriching students' understanding of scenic and lighting design. She shares her knowledge in scenic and lighting design through a variety of projects and pushes students to explore the technical aspects of design and theatre.
Stepanek believes a passionate educator leads to positive energy in the classroom and her classroom is for creativity and the expansion of knowledge, which ultimately leads to self-awareness and personal growth. She teaches the techniques needed to design, but also skills like conceptual thought processes, eloquent presentation, and collaboration. These are all vital parts of the projects in her classes, as they are concepts that can not be taught individually, only practiced. Her aim is to guide students as they work through these skills in creative projects, such as model building or design collaborations, more so than through lectures and seminars. Hands-on experience and tactile learning are how most artists and designers absorb knowledge best, and this is reflected by the projects in her classes. In order to prepare students for a professional career and studio practice in the competitive job market, Stepanek provides a well-rounded education, including everything from the technology students need to thrive in the field to develop different ways of thinking.
Katherine Stepanek's Curriculum Vitae
Published Work
The Creative Resistance: Combating prejudices through the use of the theatrical and visual arts (2021)