TO: David Franke, Chair of Fine Arts and Humanities Sub-School Personnel Committee
FROM: Deena Conley, Chair of Performing Arts
DATE: 2/27/2023
RE: Continuing Appointment for Scott Holdredge
Since joining the faculty in 2016, Professor Scott Holdredge has displayed strong teaching methods, vibrant creative activity through his design work, and valuable service to the department and university. I agree with the Personnel Committee in Performing Arts and endorse Professor Scott Holdredge’s continuing appointment.
Teaching:
Professor Holdredge regularly teaches THT 240 (Technical Theatre) and THT 100 (Introduction to Theatre) for the department. Whether in large, general education classes, or smaller, hands-on courses, he is highly adept at gauging student progress and what modifications he needs to make to enhance classroom learning. Specifically, in THT 240, Professor Holdredge creates an educational environment in which students are comfortable asking questions and taking risks with their own design work. He stresses that process is as important as the final product. Within the past couple of years, student interest in taking independent studies with Professor Holdredge has significantly increased. Those who take his class, want to continue learning from him and create their own opportunities to do so. Professor Holdredge is a reflective instructor who is amenable to adjusting course syllabi and expectations while still ensuring student learning outcomes are achieved.
This past fall, the department needed to replace an instructor, mid-semester for THT 100. Professor Holdredge did not hesitate when asked if he could cover the course. He remarked that he’d been thinking about some new assignments and alterations he’d like to pursue if he had the opportunity to teach the class again. He excelled at this challenge and received positive CTE’s from that course.
Scholarly/Creative Activity:
Professor Holdredge is a talented designer. His scenic designs are evocative, thoughtful, and stylized to fit the mood and/or style in which the musical or play is set.
Since 2016, he has scenically designed all of the department’s productions. This is a substantial accomplishment; the Performing Arts department produces four fully realized productions per year. Professor Holdredge is adept at designing in disparate venues utilizing different techniques. Whether he’s working on a production of Lysistrata, a Greek comedy that demands space and farcical grandeur or Proof, a modern play necessitating a realistic touch, Professor Holdredge easily vacillates between modes, no doubt his deep understanding of art and theatrical history assists him in crafting effective set designs for any period.
Professor Holdredge has successfully continued to design professionally for opera and theatre. His ongoing design work with Franklin Stage and Anchorage Opera is impressive. He does not shy away from challenges. For The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, he designed the set, lights, and projections for the play.
Earlier reviews commented on Professor Holdredge’s time management skills and encouraged him to work on which aligning projects into a hierarchy that would assist successful completion. He has definitely improved in this area.
As a designer, Professor Holdgredge is a true collaborator. He presents his concepts for a design, while also striving to make a director’s vision come to life. He is approachable, and similar to his teaching style, will amend his ideas and work with the creative/production staff to make sure the production, as a whole, is successful.
Service:
Professor Holdredge has served on several departmental committees since 2016. In the fall of 2022, he chaired the department’s Musical Director search. This was a challenging position, as the search needed to be completed by December; he was successful with the aggressive timeline. Also in the fall of 2020, Professor Holdredge served on the Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee. The Chair of that committee, Professor Werner, commented that he, “…hit the ground running as an active contributing member.”
Currently, Professor Holdredge has a full complement of advisees, and is knowledgeable of the new BFA curriculum. Future plans do include a potential concentration in design, and to facilitate the creation of those courses, Professor Holdredge has consulted with the Art and Art History department, which is another example of how much he values collaboration.
Since joining the Performing Arts faculty, Professor Holdgredge has become a very involved member of the faculty. He is always willing to assist with on campus recruitment events, has volunteered his time and expertise to assist with student-led performances, and is always willing to mentor majors who have an interest in theatre design.
Due to his strong teaching, compelling creative work, and notable service, I endorse Professor Scott Holdredge’s continuing appointment.
Respectfully,
Deena Conley
Chair, Performing Arts
To: Professor Kevin Halpin, Chair, Performing Arts Department
From: Professor Edward Moore, Chair, Personnel Steering
Committee
Date: February 15, 2021
Re: Reappointment recommendation for Scott Holdredge, Assistant Professor, Performing Arts Department
The Performing Arts Department Personnel Committee is pleased to recommend Assistant Professor Scott Holdredge for a three-year reappointment. His strong teaching, exemplary scholarly/creative work, and good service to the department and college, clearly establishes him as a real asset to the Performing Arts Department and the college.
Professor Holdredge has proven himself to be a strong and effective teacher. Course Teacher Evaluations from a wide variety of courses taught indicate overall very favorable scores. Holdredge strives to reach all his students where they are. He uses real-world examples by using actual costumes, lighting and sound equipment, and musical instruments. In classroom observations, I have been especially impressed with Holdredge’s masterful teaching when he invites students to participate in class by touching objects and playing instruments, allowing them to make a real connection with the subject matter. Additional colleagues observing Holdredge’s teaching state, “His teaching is substantive and offered in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. He is an engaged instructor and communicates both artistic and practical concepts clearly to students.”
Professor Holdredge’s scholarly/creative activities as a designer are exemplary. A colleague who collaborated with Scott in a department production of Lysistrata, fall 2019 comments on that collaboration stating, “To date, I believe this has been our most successful collaboration. Scott brought many exciting and well-developed ideas to the scenic design of this production. It was very obvious that he had a thorough understanding of the script.” The colleague also acknowledges Holdredge’s attributes as a knowledgeable designer by stating, “Having a deep knowledge of ancient history and art, Professor Holdrege was able to infuse the visual picture with needed traces of engaging images that the comedy requires.” Additionally, in collaboration as scenic, lighting, and projection designer, with a colleague in a production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time from the 2019-2020 season, Professor Holdredge “Met requested adjustments with an open-mind and successfully incorporated them into the design.”
Since his last reappointment, Professor Holdredge has been active as scene and lighting designer for regional theatre productions such as “Possessing Harriet” and “Billy Bishop Goes to War,” both produced at Franklin Stage Company, July-August 2019.
An area of concern addressed by colleagues regarding Professor Holdredge’s scholarly ability/creative activities is Holdredge’s time management. Colleagues expressed concerns about “Design pieces that didn’t work and impeded actor movement, a piece on stage produced sound that hindered smooth transitions, and considerable time spent in rehearsals trying to fix an issue that couldn’t be resolved without making cuts to the design.” Colleagues also acknowledged Professor Holdredge’s ability to problem solve, “Scott did eventually cut some of the pieces that weren’t conducive to the overall design.”
Another area of concern expressed by department personnel committee members of the whole is Professor Holderege’s visual posts of design work in his portfolio. Committee members recommend that Holdredge include more detailed and descriptive annotations for the visuals provided.
Colleagues who work with Professor Holdredge in department productions also observe Holdredge’s constant teaching via rehearsals and technical rehearsals, commenting, “Scott excels in this area. He is always very thorough when explaining his ideas and designs. The students always have copious questions for him about his research, ideas, and inspiration. He always takes the time to communicate with them about how and why he arrived at his final product.”
In the area of service, Professor Holdredge has made valuable contributions to his department and the college. Since his last reappointment, Holdredge has served as a member of the School of Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee, a member of the Personnel Steering Committee of the Department of Performing Arts, and a member of the search committee the Musical Director candidate in the Department of Performing Arts. Professor Holdredge also serves as faculty advisor for Musical Theatre majors in the department. With Art Department chair Jeremiah Donovan, Holdredge has also taken an interdisciplinary approach in his continued work on ways to share resources and cross-listed courses.
Lastly, Professor Holdredge’s dedication to dynamic and effective teaching, exemplary scholarship, and service contributions to the Department of Performing Arts and college warrant his reappointment. The committee unanimously recommends him for reappointment at SUNY Cortland.
Teaching Evaluation
Scott Holdredge
2/9/23
On February 9th I observed Scott Holdredge’s Technical Theatre class (THT 240). This class was split into two segments: the first took on place on the Dowd Fine Center’s mainstage and the second was in the theatre’s scene shop.
During the first section of the class, Professor Holdredge brought all of the students onto the theatre’s stage where the set for the musical, Seussical, was nearing the final end of the construction phase. Scott referred to the ground plan (bird’s eye view of the stage) and compared it to the actual scenic properties that were now on the set. Professor Holdredge’s tour of space and use of the ground plan was very successful as students could see how important the initial drafting of the set was paramount to a successful structural design. After examining the set from the audience’s point of view, he then took students behind the platforms (walls) and explained how the mechanism for the doors would work, the spacing needed for set pieces/properties, how the band would be configured, and the area required for instrumentation. One element that Professor Holdredge always addressed was safety; he would relay how the capacity of the theatre and all the elements needed, must first be considered in reference to the safety of the actors and technicians who would be working on Seussical.
During the second part of the class, the students were in the scene shop working on their individual assignments. Again, protection was paramount, as students wore the appropriate safety goggles. Student projects were in various stages of completion. Some were sketching, others were using power tools to cut and/or sand their projects, while some were painting. Professor Holdredge gave individual instruction to each student. This was very difficult considering that all of the assignments were at different stages. However, Scott easily refocused from one project to the next, providing detailed notes to the students. It was obvious that those in the class were very comfortable in this environment, as many asked Scott questions. Professor Holdredge would finish with one student’s project and quickly begin working on the question posited by the next student.
Professor Holdgredge had a great rapport with this class. Many students were also encouraged to view the work of others and see what they could glean from their projects. He was knowledgeable of his craft, receptive to all questions asked by the students, and created a space in which students were free to express their creativity.
Respectfully,
Deena Conley
Chair of Performing Arts
Class Observation: Scott Holdredge, Assistant Professor of Performing Arts
Deena Conley, Associate Professor and Chair of Performing Arts
On October 3rd, 2017, I observed Assistant Professor, Scott Holdredge’s Introduction to Theatre class. This is one of the department’s general education courses, and often has an enrollment that exceeds fifty students.
Professor Holdredge explained that the topic of the class would be costume design. In this course period, students would learn how the general public, consciously or unconsciously, makes choices about apparel that reflects their personality, how costume selections reveal character traits, and also gain an understanding of clothing/costume practices from a historical perspective.
A particularly interesting and successful section of the class was when the professor used himself as an example. The instructor wore approximately four layers of clothing that day. As he removed each piece, he asked the class how their images/ideas about him evolved or shifted based on his clothing choices. The students were very active during this segment. Professor Holdredge called on the students, by name, and they were very vocal and responsive.
During another portion of the class, Scott asked for volunteers to wear costume/clothing pieces that he had brought to class. A third of the class raised their hands to participate. Members of the class were asked about their perceptions of their colleagues based on what they were wearing. Again, the class was eager to share their observations.
During the final part of the class, Professor Holdgedge utilized a PowerPoint demonstration to illustrate the historical evolution of costume design. Scott was very successful in explaining how clothing evolved/changed due to various external demands and how theatre/film practitioners use costumes to stylistically delineate a character’s mood, function, and role in a play/film. After using various print examples from history, Professor Holdgredge then presented a clip from STAR WARS to synthesize all the information that he’d presented to the students.
Overall, the pedagogy utilized in this class was strong. Professor Holdredge was very effective in actively engaging over fifty students. The change of instructional delivery from exercises involving student participants, a PowerPoint demonstration, and clips from films, created a good rhythm and held the attention of the students.
In addition to teaching, Professor Holdredge is the set designer for the Performing Arts department; this work dovetails into both teaching and creative activity. Scott’s designs are visually interesting, detailed, and provide a thought-provoking visual narrative before an actor even steps on the stage. Working with him as a director is creatively fulfilling because he is an attentive collaborator. The overall improvement to the department’s scenic designs, since his arrival, is overwhelming positive. I strongly recommend that Professor Holdredge be re-appointed.
TO: Department Personnel Committee
From: Edward Moore, Chair, Personnel Steering Committee
DATE: October 12, 2017
RE: Classroom Observations of Scott Holdredge
On Tuesday October3, I observed the Costume Design class for non-majors taught by Professor Scott Holdredge. The class began at 1:17pm, and ended at 2:37pm. The topic for the class was Costumes: Prejudices and Stereotypes. Professor Holdredge began the class with announcements about upcoming events and due dates for papers.
Holdredge began the lecture with general observations about prejudiced behaviors and stereotypes evoked by clothing. Holdredge then continued the lecture with great examples of class participation by he himself sporting certain clothing, and then soliciting a general response from the class. Professor Holdredge then had four student volunteers come up in front of the class. He then polled the class with several questions about which of the students would they buy certain items from, and also which specific occupations the volunteers would potentially have based on their appearance. This was a great example in getting students involved in identifying prejudiced and stereotyped responses.
Professor Holdredge continued with a power point presentation which featured data and visuals to enhance the lecture. The presentation included visuals of counter-culture groups in various settings from protest rallies to social gatherings. Holdredge skillfully explained the psychological effect of clothing in these various settings. Professor Holdredge also included counter-culture costuming found in various films such as “Star Wars.” Holdredge explained the contrasts between the characters (“good,” and “evil”) based on the costuming for these characters.
The Final section of the lecture focused on costuming from early historical periods ranging from the 17th century to the 19th century. Holdredge used visuals and data in the power point presentation to explain how clothing styles separated people by class and economic status. The use of the visuals were an excellent way to portray the excess of the aristocracy, and also the impoverished clothing styles of the peasants.
In all, I found Professor Holdredge’s lecture to be informative and engaging. The students seemed to be interested in the material, and were also eager participants. Holdredge has a natural and relaxed teaching style, and is a fine teacher.
To: Edward Moore, Chair
Personnel Steering Committee
Department of Performing Arts
Re: Observation and re-appointment for Scott Holdredge
I confidently and wholeheartedly recommend that Scott Holdredge is re-appointed for a as a member of the Performing Arts Department, as a step toward Continuing Appointment. In his first year as a member of our faculty, and continuing onto the current semester, Scott has demonstrated exceptional skill as a designer, a great capacity for teaching, a clear commitment to the Department and program and proven to be a wonderful colleague working on productions as well as being a colleague in the machinations of the Department.
My observation of his teaching was during a session of his course Introduction to Theatre this Fall 2017 semester. This course is often challenging for an instructor, because, since it is a GE 8 course, the majority of students in the class are not strongly interested in, or excited about the material. Scott seemed to take this fact in stride, and approached the material with a style and from a viewpoint that seemed to connect and capture the interest of the class. The material for that day’s class was costuming and costume history. Using active visuals from a rack of costumes, he peeked the curiosity and focus of the class from the start. Then moving to images from current events and modern political groups, he explained and examined how a costumer would approach creating the various ”scenes” captured in the photos. Then, seguing into clips from popular films, he discussed costume theory, how time period, color , line, shapes, fit and coverage all impact audiences’ response to a particular character. This was an excellent way to demonstrate the nature of costuming and its specific considerations and value as part of the creative process in the theatre. He then moved forward in continuing (clearly having begun in an earlier class) following a historical timeline of fashion and costume, both social and theatrical. Having used these strong visual examples, the students then had clear reference points from which to discern the similarities and cycles of costuming.
As a scene designer, his work on all the productions since his joining us has been wonderful. His set designs for The Laramie Project, Crazy for You, Urinetown, Kindertransport as well as Little Women currently in process have all been wonderfully successful. As a collaborator, he brings strong and compelling ideas to each project, but is always open to the input and ideas of his fellow creative artists. The attention to detail and his strong commitment to serving the play and accomplishing the directors’ vision, results in theatrical environments that are beautiful and truly elevate the audiences’ involvement and experience.
I completely support Scott Holdredge ‘s re-appointment .He is a wonderful asset to our program, department and institution
Respectfully
Kevin T Halpin
Coordinator of Musical Theatre
SUNY Cortland
TO: Edward Moore
Chair, Personnel Steering Committee
Performing Arts Department
FROM: David Neal
DATE: October 15, 2017
RE: Scott Holdredge Observation
I observed Scott Holdredge’s Theatre 100 class on October 10, 2017, in the Lab Theatre. I arrived several minutes before class started. Mr. Holdredge talking informally with students at the lighting console, answering their questions about the technology. The atmosphere was friendly and students were quite engaged in the conversation.
At the beginning of class, Mr. Holdredge invited the students to walk the Kindertransport set, and fielded questions from the students. He asked for volunteers to go onstage to stand in the spot of a particularly striking lighting effect from the show. It was impressive that, in a large class, Mr. Holdredge was able to call the student by name.
After collecting papers from students, Mr. Holdredge opened the discussion to feedback on the Kindertransport production, which had just closed the previous weekend. Students indicated that they thought the play was “powerful,” “well written,” “intense” and fascinating in the way that it unfolded in different time periods. Mr. Holdredge then discussed the set and lighting design in greater detail, focusing on how the two periods were defined on stage by both the set and the lighting. Discussion also focused on how details of the design were achieved (the window reflections, e.g.), how different textures were created, and the effect these had on the actors. Mr. Holdredge explained how colors were created on the light board, and the importance of considering skin tone in lighting design, having students stand in different colors of light to demonstrate how this can also help define character. There was also a very interesting discussion about the use of projections in the show. More general information about light found in nature, how the eye perceives light, the spectrum of light, polarization, and other related topics, were covered with ample technical detail, as well as the history of lighting in theatre.
Mr. Holdredge was an engaging instructor, with a clear command of the material. Technical information was conveyed clearly, as well as the expressive effects of different choices in set and lighting design. Mr. Holdredge’s set designs have been superb, creating the world of the play and providing flexible spaces for the actors to inhabit.
I highly recommend him for re-appointment.