ABOUT & CONTACT
People ask me where did I learn what I do? I grew up making models, paper mache-ing with the family, painting ocean rocks, carving drywall for school projects - it seemed like there were always art projects going on: Mom needle-pointing or making ceramics, dad painting or taking photographs, the family making holiday paper-mache sculptures. Having traveled across the country at an early age, attended symphony orchestras, walked through countless museums, lived in Japan for 2 years, and saw any number of plays and musicals, going into theatre art seemed an obvious combination of interests and skills. There have been countless bosses, teachers and mentors along the way who taught me better ways to do things, be it in the shop, studio, classroom or office space.
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Read my articles from Stage Directions Magazine:
RESUME
JAY LASNIK
Props & Crafts Teacher, Supervisor, Designer, Fabricator
Current:
Penn State University, Props Dept. Supervisor, School of Theatre. State College, PA 6/2017 – present. 8 main stage shows per year: list creation, budgeting shows, management, teaching students, shop organization, bringing the shows in under budget.
Highlights:
American Conservatory Theatre, Assistant Properties Supervisor
San Francisco, CA 2012-2015: 8 shows per year, professional LORT Theatre. Lead Artisan, small team management.
Cirque du Soleil: “Criss Angel: Believe” Lead Props Technician Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas, NV 2008-2010: Worked from load in until one year after
opening night. Revised & rebuilt many props and puppets, worked with PM, TD, HODs and star of show to make new props and effects. Created MSDS files, shop space in Luxor trap room, wrote daily inspection sheets for day crew. Made budgets for new props and maintenance sheets.
Cirque du Soleil: “KA” Props & Puppet Technician
MGM Hotel, Las Vegas, NV 2006-2008: Ran the puppet track for 2 years, performed maintenance and acrobat training in puppets.
San Francisco Opera Costume Shop: Senior Crafts Artisan 1998-2005
Built new crafts including armor, helmets, jewelry, masks and wings. Revised or repaired existing costume crafts.
Other Props Management Experience:
Copa América Centenario Opening Ceremony, Levi Stadium, Santa Clara CA 2016 California Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley, CA 2006
San Francisco Opera/ Western Opera Theatre National Tour 1996-1998
The Mountain Play, Mill Valley, CA 2011, 2012
Eureka Theatre, San Francisco, CA 2002 Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera, 1992
Props & Costume Craft Artisan Experience:
Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley, CA Props Artisan 2015
ODC/ Dance Co: San Francisco, CA Props & Crafts Artisan 2011-2016 Teatro Zinzani, San Francisco, CA Props and Crafts Artisan 2006-2010 Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA Props Artisan 1997
Magic Theatre, San Francisco, CA 1994-1996
Shop Skills:
Small team management, budgeting, shopping, teaching and mentoring. Soft-goods, upholstery, machine & hand sewing, molding and casting, sculpture, carbon fiber, adhesives, painting, puppets, foams, thermoplastics, repairs and maintenance, crafts, wood.
Professional Associations:
IATSE Local 720 Las Vegas, NV, (Member), Local 16, San Francisco, (Referent)
S*P*M, The Society of Props Managers, (Former Education Committee Chair and Producer of the "SPAMinar" webinar series.)
SFAD, The Society of American Fight Directors
USITT
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