Curtis Trout
Curtis Trout was the Professor of Theatre Arts and Professor of Scene Design Emeritus at Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU), where he has been a faculty member since 1990. He specializes in scene design, teaches in the Theatre Design and Technology Program, and has received the 2024 Kemp Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence for his passion and scholarship in teaching.
Career & Recognition
- Teaching at IWU: He has been a professor at Illinois Wesleyan University since 1990, teaching a range of subjects including scene design.
Kemp Award Winner: In 2024, Trout was honored with the Kemp Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence, recognizing his dedication to his students and the field of theatre arts. Director of School of Theatre Arts: He also served as the Director of the School of Theatre Arts at IWU.
Artistic & Professional Work
- Scenic Design: Trout has designed scenery, lighting, costumes, and sound for more than 100 productions at Illinois Wesleyan and over 30 professional venues.
Professional Residencies:
He has also worked as a scenic artist at places such as the Santa Fe Opera and Peabody Institute.
Architectural Design:
Trout also worked as an architectural designer, designing interiors and receiving awards for his work.
Notable Contributions
- Aphrodite Head: He created the large, iconic Aphrodite head sculpture for the 2002 production of Big Love, which became a well-known campus feature for many years.
The university is developing a digital archive of his work, the Curtis Trout Collection, due to the extensive nature of his designs.
Curtis Trout has retired from IWU however he is bringing his talents and skill set to a world wide audience now
Come back soon, as the website is just beginning.