Welcome back to Throwback Thursday: Rose Edition, where we talk to Rose employees about their first experiences with theater! This week, we have the pleasure of talking to Devon Denn-Young, the Rose Properties Mistress. For those of you who don’t know, a Properties Mistress or Master is someone who is in charge of finding, fixing and creating different items that the actors use and interact with onstage. Whether it is a sign that is created, a fake piece of chicken or an umbrella jellyfish, the properties mistress/master is the person who takes care of that.
Devon has been doing theater for the majority of her life and has joined The Rose Theater staff within the past year, and we are glad to have her!
When we asked Devon to share what her first experience with theater was, she had a lovely one to share. She said:
“My mother was a non-traditional student for college and had already had me. Her work study job was in the costume shop as a stitcher and she would often bring me along to work. At about 2 years of age, I would sit on the floor in front of the sewing table and play while she put together costumes for the productions. The costume shop looked down over the house of the theater and I could watch the rehearsals from there. It began a lifelong love of performing arts for me.”
It’s amazing that she got such an early start with theater. Not everyone is so fortunate. When we asked her to tell us how theater has changed and impacted her life, she told us that:
“Theatre has literally been a major component of my life every step along the way. From my first speaking role in my church’s Christmas Pageant as the Angel of the Lord, all through school, with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Theatre and a Masters in Visual and Performing Arts, into my career as a theatre professional. Theatre is truly a way of life for me and my husband. The art form influences my life on a daily basis.”
Devon’s love for the art of theater definitely shines through with each show that she works on. Her creativity and dedication to the art is unquestionable. We can’t wait to see what creations she comes up with the season!
Thanks for all that you do for the shows and for sharing your experience with us, Devon!