Her Story
About Nora
I've been working in theater since 2012, and my journey to this field was really about finding where my passions intersect. When I was in college studying literature and fine art, particularly painting, I couldn't really choose between the two. Then I ended up taking a class in set design, and I discovered that there's a place where literature and art meet each other, and it's the stage. That discovery felt like the universe opened up and showed me my path. Throughout my career, I've worked almost exclusively in theater, though I did work for a couple of fine artists and as a barista when I first finished college. One of my most notable achievements that I feel really proud of was working on a world premiere of a new opera based on the life of Alan Turing a few years ago. It was just a really beautiful way of retelling and reclaiming his story and his journey. I currently work as a set designer and also teach design at Adelphi University. I'm a member of the American Association for University Professors and the Wing Space Organization, which is a non-profit design collective in Brooklyn. When I'm not working, and the weather is nice, I love to go out to the water in New York, and I am a very active birder. There's great birding on the bay side of New York City, over in the Rockaways and in Jamaica Bay, with great shorebirds.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nora
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was from my teacher and friend, Gina Seepal, who said if you want to keep getting hired as a freelancer, you have to aim for two out of three of these things, but if you can be all three, great. Be good at your job, be nice, and be on time. I think that's really solid advice that has served me well throughout my career.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would probably say the same thing - if you go to your job, be on time, or if you can't be all three, be at least two of those things. But I also think it's important for people in fields that are not always made for them - set design is a very male-dominated field - to know that even if you don't see a space for you, you can make a space for you. And find other people who will share that space with you. I think that's really important, especially in male-dominated industries.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest challenge right now is funding and support, and censorship. The Trump administration cut arts funding almost completely. Thousands of theater organizations lost most of their funding within the last couple of years from the NEA grants that were cut. Theater is a public gathering of storytelling, and there are stories that need to be told that oppressive powers don't want to hear and don't want getting those messages out there, so I think that's a big challenge being faced right now. But I deal with this by knowing that for thousands of years, people have been saying theater is a dying art, but it's been around for thousands of years and it's never going to die. The collective power of storytelling and gathering is something that is fun to do when you have a bunch of money to make everything you want, but it's also possible to do with very few resources.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think women uplifting women is a value of mine. I went to a women's college for undergrad, and I really think that a rising tide lifts all boats kind of thing. When we have organizations that are uplifting women and women's stories, it's really special and empowering, and it's great for young women to see that these supports exist. As a teacher, I'm interested in sharing with my young students that there are these organizations out there that are supporting underrepresented voices.
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