July 2, 2026

On June 30th, theater directors, tech directors, and set builders from Hermantown to Mankato, Rogers to Red Wing, gathered at Monkey Wrench Productions in Golden Valley (and later at Perpich Center) for an intensive, hands-on workshop day focusing on a myriad of facets of theatrical design and technology. Participants chose from session topics including set building on a shoestring budget, scenic painting techniques, the use of projections, sound, lighting, lesson planning, and a new addition to this annual workshop: BYOLB (Bring Your Own Light Board) to get hands-on support from the experts.

Scenic Artist Angelique Powers demonstrates scumble and spatter painting techniques for creating brick patterned backdrops or flats.

Dr. Stephanie Lein Walseth, Theater Education Specialist at Perpich Center, reflected on the importance of providing technical theater educators with opportunities to expand their skills and connect with industry professionals. “While some K-12 schools are lucky enough to have highly experienced technical directors to spearhead the tech elements of their productions and performance spaces, more often than not, Minnesota’s theater educators are one-stop-shops, responsible for every aspect of their programming and curriculum,” said Lein Walseth. “As such, we aim to deepen and enhance educators’ and directors’ tech/design skills with professional development like Backstage Center Stage. We were so grateful to be able to partner with Monkey Wrench Productions again this year, as they are a vital part of the theatrical production ecosystem here in the Twin Cities. Their experts, along with the entire outstanding slate of presenters this year, brought such specificity to their teaching, alongside an understanding of the K-12 context. All in all, it was a fabulously rich and productive day!”

Minnetonka High School Technical Director Austin Adler shares insider strategies for how to build a theatrical set with little to no budget. Drawing upon your network of theater educators is key, and workshop days like this one aim to strengthen and grow those networks for future support.

Participants left with excitement and renewed energy to reinvigorate their theater spaces and classes with their learning. One participant raved, “Such an amazing day. My mind was blown several times today in the best ways possible.” Others noted a desire and intention “to incorporate more construction and artistic instruction in my theater classes” and “to spend a whole day in my space just to change the things I’ve learned today.”

Special thanks to Monkey Wrench Productions, and especially co-host and co-facilitator, Kristine Iverson, for partnering with Perpich to host this workshop day.

Stephanie Lein Walseth, Ph.D. is a theater educator, artist, administrator, and scholar with over 25 years experience working with students and artists of all ages. She has served as an affiliate faculty member at Augsburg University since 2011, and as an instructor and curriculum developer at the University of Minnesota and Penumbra Theatre Company. In the professional theater realm, she served decade-long tenures with Full Circle Theater and Penumbra, worked in leadership roles with Theater Mu/Mu Performing Arts and Mixed Blood Theatre, and served in artistic and/or administrative roles with Sod House Theater, Playwrights’ Center, Guthrie Theater, Native Voices at the Autry, Portland Stage Company, and Oakland Theater Project, among many others.

Participants work together to create the layered effect.

Stephanie received her Ph.D. in Theatre Historiography from the University of Minnesota, and her research focuses on African American, Asian American, and Native American theater, and the institutional politics of relationships between theaters of color and predominantly white institutions. Her writing has appeared in HowlRound, Theatre Topics, e-misférica, The Baylor Journal of Theatre and Performance, and the Palgrave anthology Theater, Performance and Change. In her role at Perpich since 2018, Stephanie is pleased to support K-12 and College/University theater educators across the state, as well as all educators interested in using the tools of theater in their pedagogical practice.