Mike Reese
Faculty/Staff profile
8-9 AM MWF
or by appointment
Michael Reese is the resident Scenographer and Technical Director for Nebraska Wesleyan University Theatre. Mike came to NWU in 2003 after teaching at Augustana College and Kansas State University. Michael teaches courses in Technical Theatre, Scenography, Scenographic Techniques, Software Tools for Theatre, Approaching Scenography, Theatre Appreciation, Scene Painting, Stagecraft and other design/technology related courses.
Michael has designed professionally for Utah Festival Opera Company, Theatre in the Park in Kansas City, Children’s Theatre Company of Sioux Falls, Emmy Gifford Children’s Theatre, The Carlson Center and Ohlone Summerfest. His scenic design work has been exhibited at the Kennedy Center as well as internationally at the Prague Quadrennale.
In addition to designing for the theatre, Michael collaborated with noted Czech scenographer Jaroslav Malina on an exhibit of a digital landscape of the American southwest. Images of the Southwest was installed at Kansas University, San Francisco State University, and DAMU in Prague. In 2000 Michael collaborated with Mark Reaney, founder of the Institute for Exploration of Virtual Reality (ieVR) at Kansas University, in creating virtual reality theatre art as part of the Virtual Reality Halloween at the Rialto hosted by the Internet II consortium.
MFA Scenography - University of Kansas
BA Dramatic Arts - University of Nebraska - Omaha
My teaching philosophy is colored by a number of wise people - Here are a couple:
“There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.”
- Will Rogers
“Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.”
- Albert Einstein
Active and engaged learning is essential in the process of acquiring a curious nature. I don't know of anyone who learned to swim or play piano by just reading a book.
Stagecraft
Approaching Scenography
Scenographic Techniques
Scenography Studio (Scenography I, II, III, IV)
History of Period Style
Scene Painting
Scenery & Props Design
LIghting & Sound Design
