Recent West Virginia University theater graduate Amanda Lawson wanted a career as a set designer. She’s moving toward that goal, just not in the way she planned.

Lawson earned a degree in Theatre Design and Technology with emphasis in scenic design from the WVU College of Creative Arts last May. Following graduation, she was headed to French Woods Festival of the Arts summer camp in the Catskill Mountains to work as a counselor and scenic paint/stage craft member before moving to Los Angeles in the fall to pursue a career in theater design.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t work out,” Lawson said.

“I woke up one morning a couple of days after graduation with my left leg and arm feeling as if they were asleep. A couple days later, I was feeling worse and having some vision problems and coordination issues.”

Several doctor visits and two MRIs later, Lawson was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an illness that hampers nerve function.

“My initial thoughts were of panic,” Lawson said. “Did I just waste four years of my life studying and training for something I’ll never be able to do again? What can I possibly do if I can never paint again? Will this make it impossible to move away and have a life?

“It was a stressful time, but after research and talking to doctors, I realized that MS isn’t as scary as I thought. The best-case scenario is that I get a ‘flare up’ of symptoms once a year or even longer. I’m trying to remain positive.”

A native of Stephens City, Va., near Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley, Lawson spent the early part of the summer at home. Her symptoms faded away after a few weeks and a five-day IV infusion of corticosteroids.

“While I was feeling better and able to draw again, I was getting cabin fever,” she said.

So she drove to the historic Wayside Theatre in the Shenandoah Valley to ask about a job. One of the set workers was going on leave, so Lawson was able to work painting scenes and making props.

“I was so happy and confident—take that, MS!” she said.

The Wayside Theatre, located in Middletown, Va., and known as “The little theater with the big heart,” is the second oldest professional theater in the Shenandoah Valley. It opened its 50th anniversary season this summer with the Civil War sesquicentennial “Reunion?A Musical Epic in Miniature.”

Lawson said she took a great interest in scenic painting and props construction while at WVU.

“I ran wild with paint!” she laughs.

“During my time at the Creative Arts Center, I tried to paint on every show, either as the scenic charge artist or scenic artist or just helping out.”

Lawson assisted other WVU scene designers for several shows, including “Dracula,” “The Love of the Nightingale,” and “Guys & Dolls.” For her senior capstone project, she designed the set for “Dead Man’s Cell Phone.”

“I loved the experience, but it made me realize that my true passion is in the actual creation and painting of a show and not just designing,” she said.

Two of her most influential professors at WVU were Jaime Winsor and Robert Klingelhoefer.

“I always got incredibly honest feedback and critiques from them and have always appreciated it, even if at the time I didn’t think so,” she said. “I have been thinking back to my freshman stagecraft class recently with all my carpentry work here at Wayside. Slowly, but surely, I am feeling more comfortable in building scenery.”

At the Wayside she’s been able to create food props, making artificial macaroni salad, Beef Wellington and green beans.

Lawson still plans to move to Los Angeles in early November, with her boyfriend, Dean Wright, also a WVU Theatre alum. Right now they don’t have any connections on the West Coast, but hope to contact other WVU alums out there.

“I would love to work in a production studio painting sets and/or making props for theaters and movies, but I am not opposed to working in a restaurant or store until I land a job in my field,” Lawson said. “But I know I have to get out there, or companies won’t even consider me.

“Even with so much work at the Wayside, I’ve still had time to draw and enjoy my summer,” she said. “All this while looking for work and apartments in L.A.—it’s so exciting.”

-WVU-

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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