Alumni Spotlight: Kendall McKasson

Kendall McKasson of Muscatine, Iowa, graduated from St. Ambrose University in the Spring of 2019 with degrees in Theatre and Arts Administration. In her time in the Theatre Department at St. Ambrose, she was extremely valued and had several on stage roles, ample backstage experience, and she was a member of the tech team. McKasson was also a member of the Theatre Appreciation Club, a writer for the Theatre Newsletter, and had work-study positions in both the scene shop and costume shop.

One of her favorite productions she worked on while at St. Ambrose was Cabaret, where she was an Assistant Stage Manager.

"Cabaret has such a strong message that is still, unfortunately, relevant today," McKasson said. "Getting to be a part of director and Professor Cory Johnson's take on the production was such an incredible learning experience, and it helped me when I began really reading into plays to find their message."

Another favorite of hers was St. Ambrose's production of Rumors, where she was the Stage Manager. Not only was this a production McKasson got to work on with her best friends, but it was also the show that helped her decide that she wanted to go into stage management as a career!

"Rumors was really the first show I stage managed at SAU," explained McKasson. "Since I was a transfer student and had done quite a bit of stage management/tech work at my community college (Muscatine Community College), I didn't have to go through the normal process of being an Assistant Stage Manager and Stage Manager in the Studio Theatre before I stage managed on the main stage. Although, I would have loved to do a show downstairs!"

Immediately following graduation, McKasson was hired as the assistant stage manager at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island, Illinois. At the same time, she was also given the opportunity to design the set for Time Stands Still, directed by Luke Peterson ‘21, in the Studio Theatre right on campus. At the moment, McKasson is still at the Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse as the Resident Stage Manager and has had the opportunity to work with so many incredibly talented artists on shows such as Holiday Inn, Singin' in the Rain, Kinky Boots, BEEHIVE, and Saturday Night Fever, as well as many others!

What is McKassons next project? It just so happens to be Circa 21's production of Disenchanted, where she has the opportunity to work with Johnson again!

"It is always a pleasure to get to work with my professors and peers from St. Ambrose in a professional setting," McKasson said. "It is very nostalgic, but working with people in different environments and under different circumstances is also very interesting to me!"

"My time in the Ambrose Theatre Department taught me so many valuable lessons about life and my field that I still carry with me today," said McKasson fondly. "I truly believe that so much of the professionalism and work ethic I have today was formed in the St. Ambrose University Theatre Department!"

McKasson is a wonderful example for students in the theatre program. She shows that you can achieve a whole lot if you put in the hard work, become determined, and receive a spectacular theatre education provided by St. Ambrose University!