nicOlas Bartleson
Prop Maker & Designer - Theatre Management - Artist
Hi, I'm Nick Bartleson-
Photography by Kaleb J. Jackson
I am a theater artist specializing in properties design, theatre management, and everything in between.
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I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ohio University in 2022 with two degrees: a B.F.A. in Production Design/Technology & a B.F.A. in Stage Management.
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I've been fortunate to work with numerous theatric companies including: Northlight Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Glimmerglass Opera, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Citadel Theater, Drury Lane Theatre, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Tantrum Theater, New Vision Dance Company, and others.
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I am a transgender man who identifies as queer and uses he/him pronouns. In whatever position I hold I always lead with clear communication, understanding, and creativity.
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Awards & Acknowledgements
SETC 2022 Design Competition (Memphis, TN) Judge: Matthew Leckenbusch, 1st place in Properties Design/Construction
Peggy Ezekiel Award of Distinction 2021 (denotes a score between 6.5-7.9) for Anubis Sculpture Website Page
Peggy Ezekiel Award of Outstanding Achievement in Scenic Craft 2021 & Board Choice 2021 (denotes a score of 8.0 or greater) for German Mantle Clock Website Page
Story Feature from Utah Shakespeare Festival Read the feature here!
Pictures of Proppin' in action
Outside of theater you can find me in Chicagoland. I love nature, the outdoors, and a good farmer's market, mostly due to the fact I work in lowlight-dark places for theater.
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I have a cat named Ziggy (After the Ziggy Stardust) who is 17 pounds of attitude and energy. My girlfriend Erin Galvin and I spoil him whenever we can, but he's usually content with a paper bag or a cardboard box. (typical)
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I'm a lover of zombies and any apocalypse media, The Walking Dead was my gateway. And I also enjoy a good fantasy series, such as Game of Thrones (excluding that last season). I play story based video games, my current favorite being The Last of Us.
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I originally found love for the arts with drawing and painting and always try to find time and energy to continue that passion when I have the opportunity.
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Erin and I are big cooks, we say our love language is food. We try to cook together as much as possible, with our impossible schdules. If you want me to like you just provide any baked good and I'm your best friend.
Clear Communication - Communication is essential for successful productions and working relationships. I strive to be clear and concise with my communication. I aim to have everyone who is involved to be informed and feel comfortable with what's happening.
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Understanding - Compassion and understanding is a core value in my management style. We are working with people, for people. Mistakes are a part of theater, while we can pursue perfection, it is impossible to achieve with live theatre. And that's the beauty of it! Things will go wrong, and people will mess up. What's ultimately important is that we give grace and understanding when those moments occur. And then try to find a pathway to success for the next go around. Reacting with anger and being combatant gets no one nowhere.
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Creativity - We are in a profession where we pretend a piece of paper is a pound of gold. Creativity is essential in every aspect. I love being challenged to create "impossible" pieces and wacky brain children. It pushes my limits as an artist and helps me discover new methods and techniques. There are 100s of ways to do one task, the trick is figuring out what works best for your moment with the given circumstances.
Photography by Kaleb J. Jackson