KCPA TD: SCENIC TECHNOLOGY @ ILLINOIS
SCENIC TECHNOLOGY FACULTY AND STAFF
RYAN SCHULTZ
Krannert Center Technical Director
and Chair of Scenic Technology
Ryan is the Technical Director and the Chair of Scenic Technology for the Department of Theatre at the U of I. Prior to joining the Krannert Center in August 2016, Ryan was Technical Director at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. There, his credits include the annual production of A Christmas Carol, Disney’s The Jungle Book adapted by Mary Zimmerman, The Iceman Cometh at the Brooklyn Academy of Music starring Nathan Lane & Brian Dennehy, Robert Fall’s & Seth Bockley’s massive interpretation of Roberto Bolaño’s 2666, and the Broadway production of War Paint starring Patti LuPone & Christine Ebersol. Ryan received his education from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
TATSUYA "TITO" ITO
Krannert Center Associate Technical Director and Scenic Technology Faculty
Tatsuya “Tito” Ito is an associate technical director at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and a member of the Scenic Technology faculty. Tatsuya started his career off freelancing in the greater Boston area working for companies like Bent Productions, Company One, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, and Suffolk University amongst many others. He would go on to work his way from an over-hire carpenter to Technical Director at Stoneham Theatre. Looking for a change of pace, he was fortunate to become the shop foreman at Brandeis University, where he discovered his love for working in educational theatre. In grad school he had the pleasure of spending his summers in New York to work for Productions on Point, a layout and survey company focusing on live events, as well as Los Angeles to work for Center Theatre Group. In 2011 Tatsuya received his BFA from Salem State University in Massachusetts and is currently finishing his thesis to complete his MFA in Technical Design and Production from the Yale School of Drama.
Bobby Reynolds
Scene Shop Coordinator
Bobby joined the Shop staff full time in 2022, where he uses his extensive background in carpentry and welding to help build sets for various Krannert Center productions. He graduated from Wittenberg University (Ohio) in 2014 with a BA in Theatre, then came to Illinois and earned an MFA in Scenic Technology in 2019. He’s been with Krannert off and on since his grad student days. Outside of work, Bobby enjoys exploring, seeing the world through camping, hiking and kayaking adventures.
Kayley Woolums
Krannert Center Theatrical Scene Shop Assistant
Kayley Woolums is a Scene Shop Assistant at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Kayley graduated from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois in May of 2020 with a BFA in Theatre with an emphasis in Design and Production. After graduation, they toured with FELD Entertainment's production of Jurassic World Live. They started working at KCPA scene shop in 2023, and enjoy teaching students in the shop and being a part of implementing incredible scenic builds.
When not at KCPA, Kayley can be found enjoying a 3D wooden puzzle, or hanging out with their cat, Walter McGee.
Anna Atkinson
Krannert Center Theatrical Scene Shop Assistant
Anna Atkinson graduated with a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology from the University of Arizona with an emphasis in Technical Direction. Her curiosity about various crafting techniques and disciplines has led her to working in many states and in many different positions ranging from costume run crew and props artisan to the occasional Assistant Technical Director role, and most recently as the Stage Supervisor for the University of Delaware. With a love of teaching and creating, she hopes to pass on her varied skills and help guide students to finding paths they are passionate about too.