Jason Allyn-Schwerin

Jason Allyn-Schwerin has served as Technical Director for the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance since July 2015. Jason has an MFA in Technical Production from the University of Texas - Austin and a BA from Grand View College in Des Moines, IA. Prior to joining the team at the U of MN Jason was Technical Director for Penumbra Theatre Company for 13 seasons. Some highlights from 50+ shows include: I Wish You Love presented at Kennedy Center for Performing Arts (Washington DC,) as well as The Amen Corner and Gem of the Ocean presented at The Guthrie Theater. From 2008 - 2015 Jason turned Penumbra's scene shop into a for-hire, full-time professional scenic studio and served as Technical Director and supervised the builds of another 40+ shows/and projects produced in venues from the Minneapolis/ St Paul metro area to Tokyo International Forum and the Sydney Opera House. Other professional Tech Director credits include productions by: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Theater Latte Da, Opera Omaha, and Mill City Summer Opera. Jason also served as Head Carpenter for 30 Saints Productions/Broadway Asia Tour of Joseph ... Dreamcoat presented in Tokyo, Japan. Building off the experience gained while managing the Professional For Hire Scenic Studio at Penumbra, Jason has helped create a similar version here at the U of MN, giving undergraduate and graduate students and employees the opportunity to gain professional theatre credits while working in Rarig Center. Jason’s teaching / lecturing credits at the University include:  Structural Design and Engineering for the Stage, Stage Rigging, Technical Management, Problem Solving for the Technical Designer, and Stage Technology.