Colorado Mesa University’s film and animation and theatre programs have teamed up for an exciting collaboration that’s bringing creativity front and center to the 2025-2026 theatre season. As part of a year-long initiative, animation students are producing promotional videos for each production in the theatre department’s lineup. The collaboration blends artistic disciplines and gives students a chance to gain hands-on experience in a real-world, professional setting.
The first animated promo, created for the upcoming production of Tartuffe, was developed by animation students Grace Venn and Raeanna Humphrey. Working throughout the summer to meet early semester deadlines, the pair brought the show’s themes to life through humorous, engaging animation.
“My favorite part of this project was getting to work as a team,” said Raeanna. “I enjoyed working with Grace and combining our skills, as well as collaborating with the theatre marketing department to bring their vision to life. The way we approached this was that each of us did a different stage in the animation process. This turned out to be an effective approach, providing us with much-needed experience in collaborative animation.”
Grace echoed the enthusiasm: “What I really enjoyed about this project was the theatre and animation departments coming together to support one another. I love the artistic community at CMU and am so happy to be part of it.”
The collaboration doesn’t stop with Tartuffe. Additional animation students are lined up to produce videos for the rest of the season, including:
- Lynn Melson for Fall for Dance
- Hailey Horn and Nathan Warner for Spring Into Dance
- Bella Garwood and Sierra Stribling for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Katelynn Bertram for The Marriage of Bette and Boo
Each student works closely with the production’s director, CMU’s Manager of Performing Arts Marketing, and Associate Professor of Art & Design Evan Curtis. From initial brainstorming and character design to storyboarding and final production, students work comprehensively through a production pipeline while also navigating the collaborative dynamics of working with another creative team.
This cross-departmental initiative not only highlights the wealth of talent within CMU’s arts programs, but also gives students tangible, portfolio-worthy work that reflects the kind of professional collaboration they’ll encounter in the industry.
With each show receiving a unique animated spotlight, audiences can expect to see CMU’s performing arts season promoted like never before — through the eyes and artistry of the university’s next generation of animators.