Craig Choma

General Interests
"I am a theatrical designer, and my art is the art of making the story visible, meaningful and resonant with an audience. I am a storyteller. The set, or environment, the lighting and the costumes, become their own characters; physical manifestations of the themes, ideas and metaphors contained within the story, with a visual language designed to evoke empathy in its viewers. When functioning properly, the audience gives in to the willing suspension of disbelief, allowing themselves to be fully immersed in the story being told. Everyone in that room is on a journey, in real time, through a series of events that will be "discovered" together as the story unfolds. There is a relationship that develops, crucial to the communal nature of theatre. Making an audience laugh or cry is a profound experience of shared humanity, being present together in a shared empathetic moment.

In addition to designing productions at Knox College, I also frequently design in Chicago and elsewhere. This increases my awareness of current trends and cutting-edge technologies, affording me a glimpse of the current state of my art, which then enables me to better educate my students by referencing my real world experiences. I try to involve my students in my professional productions when possible, through the construction and painting of certain elements of the set that I build at Knox. This provides students with unique opportunities to work on professional Chicago productions while maintaining their studies at Knox."

Years at Knox: 1996 to present

Education
M.F.A., Scenic and Lighting Design, 1996, Carnegie Mellon University.
B.A., Theatre and Philosophy, 1993, Knox College.

Teaching Interests
Design & technology for stage & screen, scenic design, lighting design, scenic art.

Full Curriculum Vitae - (DOC)

Selected Professional Accomplishments

Presentations
"Dance & Design: Fostering Collaboration through Curriculum." National Dance Education Organization Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2011.

"Collage, Metaphor & Fusion: Collaborating Across the Disciplines." International Conference on the Arts & Humanities, Hawaii, 2009.

Scenic Design
Call to Rise (dance concert), New Orleans Fringe Festival, Louisiana, 2012.

Under Construction, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2012.

Twelfth Night, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2012.

The Ghost is Here, Vitalist Theatre Company, Chicago, Illinois, 2012.

A Lie of the Mind, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2011.

Medea, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2010.

The Serpent, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2010.

Angels in America Part I: Milennium Approaches, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2010.

Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2010.

The Night Season, Vitalist Theatre Company, Chicago, Illinois, 2009.

Intimate Apparel, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2009.

A Passage to India, Vitalist Theatre Company, Chicago, Illinois, 2008.

Rosa and Blanca, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2008.

Working, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2007.

Mother Courage & Her Children, Vitalist Theatre Company, Chicago, Illinois, 2006.

As You Like It, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2006.

Noises Off, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2005.

Anna Karenina, Vitalist Theatre Company, Chicago, Illinois, 2005.

The Skriker, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2005.

The Grapes of Wrath, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2003.

Lighting Design
Call to Rise (dance concert), New Orleans Fringe Festival, Louisiana, 2012.

Heroine (dance piece), Midwest RAD Festival, Michigan, 2012.

Twelfth Night, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2012.

you are wrong (dance piece), Dance Chicago Festival, Chicago, Illinois, 2011.

Connective Tissue (An Evening of Dance), Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2011.

Exit The King, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2011.

A Lie Of The Mind, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2011.

The Raven (dance piece), Dance Chicago Festival, Chicago, Illinois, 2010.

Medea, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2010.

Deja Vu (An Evening of Dance), Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2010.

Angels in America Part I: Millennium Approaches, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2010.

Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2010.

Intimate Apparel, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2009.

Specimens (An Evening of Dance), Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2009.

Passage (An Evening of Dance), Minnesota Fringe Festival, Minnesota, 2009.

What Girls Are Made Of..., Dance Chicago Festival, Chicago, Illinois, 2009.

Without Care (dance piece), Dance Chicago Festival, Chicago, Illinois, 2008.

(re)Action (dance piece), Dance Chicago Festival, Chicago, Illinois, 2008.

(re)ACTION (dance piece), Avignon Festival, France, 2007.

Sight/Unseen (dance piece), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2007.

Exhibitions
Trial Exhibit Federal Court, Wisconsin, 2011 & 2001.

Trial Exhibit, Federal Court, Madison, Wisconsin, 1999.

Capital Campaign Kickoff Dinner, Knox College, 1998.

What Students Say
"Craig is everything a design student / theatre technician could wish for. His passion for design along with a plethora of stories from his own experiences makes his classes and conversation a pleasure to participate in. Outside of his work as both professor and scene shop supervisor Craig continues fine tuning his own craft by designing professionally in Chicago. Craig is always there for his students willing to listen; with him a quick question can turn into a thirty minute chat."
-Ryn Flynn, Theatre Major