Jessica Secrest

Jessica has worked professionally in theater for over  25 years and as Scenic Designer, Props Manager, Puppet Creator and Scenic Charge Artist.
She received her undergraduate degree in Theater Production from The Ohio State University in 2002 and worked with many Ohio based organizations in a variety of roles.
She then began to focus on Scenic Design and Scenic Art and received her MFA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2007 in Scenic Design.

In Milwaukee, she severed as the Scenic Charge, Puppet Artisan and Props Artisan at First Stage Milwaukee where she contributed to many world premier productions including Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer. She has worked for several Regional Theaters including The Kansas City Repertory Theater and Playmakers Repertory Company as Associate Charge and Scenic Charge.
She has lead workshops, mentored apprentices, and taught Graduate and Undergraduate classes for over a decade in Milwaukee, Kansas City, University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, and University of Cincinnati- CCM.
She still designs occasionally when an exciting project arises. Her most recent design was The Drowsy Chaperone at Playmakers Repertory Company in 2022.
Aside from her full-time work as a Scenic Charge, she has been commissioned to create many murals and decorative finishes for residential and commercial interiors.



 

MFA: University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Missouri, 2007 (Theatre: Scenic Design)

BA: The Ohio State University Columbus Oh, 2002 (Theatre production)

Peer Reviewed Publications

Laura Pates and Jessica Secrest (2019. ) No Objection to No Projection! Reinventing Multi-Image Scenery .” Tech Expo, Theatre Technology Exhibit, , 30