Q & A with Fountain School of Performing Arts graduate Lucas Arab
Lucas, what degree are you receiving?
B.A. with Honours in Stage Design & Technical Theatre
Tell us a bit about yourself and life before you started university.
I’ve always considered myself to be a “Professional Make-Believer” with the goal of creating immersive and visually intriguing storytelling spaces for all. I was most certainly a theatre-loving student in high school, and I remember attending NS Dramafest at the Dal Arts Centre which led me to studying at the Fountain School. Garrett Barker taught me a workshop in lighting design during Dramafest, which opened my eyes to the world of technical theatre I never knew much about. Garrett is now the Production Manager at Neptune Theatre where I work with him professionally on a daily basis.
What led you to your major?
I always knew that I wanted to create transformative spaces, but I was never sure how I would get there. I thought maybe engineering or architecture, as I’ve always wanted to work with Disney as an “Imagineer” but after entering the Fountain School, I learned that I could study stage design and actually become a scenic designer. I was hooked from my first week at the Fountain School. It was simply everything I wanted.
What is a memory from your time here that brings you joy?
It sounds a bit silly now, but I was completely blown away when I got to use the stage elevator for the first time. I had always wanted to explore the backstage of the Dunn Theatre, and when I got to operate the lift to bring scenery from the shops to the main deck using the elevator, the joy I felt was uncontrollable.
Describe a difficulty you've overcome.
The pandemic forced myself and many others to study stage design and technical theatre online for an entire year, and though it was incredibly challenging at first, it allowed for a lot of one-on-one discussion time with my instructors where we overcame the fact that we were separated in a field where togetherness is crucial. In the end, I truly valued our time together and it made for a lot of learning through conversation.
Tell me about a big accomplishment during your time here.
Studying at the Fountain School has allowed me to branch out and study well beyond the Halifax community. The school has always been extremely supportive alongside the incredible generosity of our donors, when it comes to international experiences. During my four years, I was able to study set design in London, UK, for a week where I attended Central of Saint Martins at University of the Arts London, and experienced live theatre in London’s West End every night after class.
The Fountain School was also able to support me completing an internship at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, where I worked as an Attractions Cast Member in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. There, I experienced scenic design on a scale unlike any in the entire world. I gained a deeper understanding of the possibilities my field of study offers on a global level.
What does the Fountain School do uniquely well that has contributed to your success as a scenic designer?
The Fountain School has allowed me to work with many different designers over the past four years, each with a unique perspective and approach. It’s rare in an undergraduate degree to emerge with as many connections as I have. Only the Fountain School can offer the one-on-one mentorship students receive from some of Canada’s best creatives.
Favourite class/faculty while here and why?
I have to list two of my favourites classes… One was taught by Dr Roberta Barker called “Stars and Stardom” where I studied the history and creation of stars and celebrities from stage and screen. The class was delivered in a way unlike any I had experienced, and Dr Barker's enthusiasm for the material was extremely contagious.
Another one of my favourite classes I took was “Dramaturgy” taught by Dr Dawn Tracey Brandes. Though not directly aligned with my field of study, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of theatre text and how to analyze material in an extremely detailed way, which has already proven to help my design process tremendously.
How did the program arm you with the practical skills you'll need to start inventing your future?
Half of my time in the program was dedicated to hands-on practical skills. Especially in the fourth year, my instructors were able to cater my labs so that they were suited to my exact needs as a designer. I spent in-depth time learning model making, sketching, and drafting. I feel not every undergraduate student has the opportunity to learn one-on-one in the field they are most interested in.
Most rewarding part of your time here at the Fountain School?
In my final year at the Fountain School, I was able to complete a professional mentorship where I was chosen to be the Assistant Set Designer on the Neptune Theatre and Mirvish production of Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, starring Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, working with set designer Andrew Cull. I had worked with Andrew at Neptune previously, and he was generous enough to trust me with such a large-scale assistantship. I had the opportunity to oversee every element of the “page to stage” process, and even design a few small elements of the set myself. The show played in Halifax and Toronto, and was the most rewarding experience I have ever had working on a production. The opportunity was unique, challenging, fulfilling and put plainly, the coolest.
How have you changed during your time at the Fountain School?
Especially since completing my final term, I now have so many new skills I never knew I would acquire in four years.
What's next for you?
I am currently designing the set for Dear Rita opening this summer at Neptune Theatre. Dear Rita is the 2024/2025 season opener playing on Neptune’s Fountain Hall stage. I am thrilled to be working with so many iconic Canadian theatre artists such as Samantha Wilson, Leigh Ann Vardy, Avery-Jean Brannan, and so many more.
I was offered the job the day after my last class at Dalhousie. And so there hasn’t been a moment where I’ve stopped doing what I love most as I transition to the professional world.
What's your dream job?
My dream job would be to either open my own design firm and continue designing for theatre across the globe, or work with a company like Walt Disney Imagineering to continue to design new and innovative ways to transport audiences into immersive worlds.
Any advice for those starting the program this fall?
My advice to new students would be to never stop doing what you love most. Even if you don’t know how you will create an entire career out of what you love, as long as you are passionate about what you do and be your most authentic self, the opportunities will follow.
3 adjectives for your Dal experience?
Bold, Skillful, Imaginative.