Performance Production: Post Grad with Anna Simmons
Performance at The Creative School focuses on preparing our graduates with a range of skills they can use to succeed in any industry. For Performance Production + Design students explore production management, creative technologies and design applications for live entertainment, and build the technical, creative and leadership skills necessary to produce large-scale productions. They also explore all facets of production design — from costume and scenery, to lighting, projection, and audio — and gain hands-on experience by participating in live shows and industry collaborations. Following convocation, we are focusing on the different paths our students take upon graduating.
This week Performance Production grad Anna Simmons shares some of their favourite moments from the Production program! 
I currently have a few options for next steps after graduation ranging from full-time work in theatre to going back to school to get my Bachelors of Education but am not concrete on my next steps at this point. My ultimate dream is to work in theatre education at a higher level whether that be teaching in a university classroom or just simply being able to teach/coach people in theatre. I truly just want to keep combining my passions for teaching and theatre as they make me the most fulfilled in life.
I entered the program wanting to pursue management primarily, and leaving the program I have really dove into tech with a focus on audio design. As for calls I have done a variety of things from Stage Management for Dance to Sound Design for a large-scale acting show. Outside of the classroom I spent my years working in extracurricular theatre projects as well as spending the past year as the Vice-President of the Performance Student Union.
Picking a single favourite memory from the past four years is incredibly difficult so instead I would say my favourite thing about my time at Performance is the people. I have made so many strong friendships through this program and built incredibly solid connections with my peers. Additionally the guest artists and mentorship opportunities this program has given me has inspired me to keep building my own artistic practice.
Keep learning everything you can. The resources and tools at the school are vast and really take advantage of all it has to offer. Trying new things is how you become a well-rounded professional so step out of your comfort zone, take that class you know nothing about. Remember you are here to learn, don’t limit yourself!
