Jessica Hightower
Assistant Professor of Performing Arts
Department: Performing Arts
Email: jhightower@elon.edu
Links
News & Notes
Education
- MFA in Scenic Design from The Ohio State University
- BFA in Theatre, emphasis in Scenic Design and Technology from Sam Houston State University
Employment History
- Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA (2023-2025) - Adjunct Faculty, Staff Scenic Paint Charge
- Freelance and Summerstock Fabrication & Design: Shenandoah Summer Music Theater (Winchester, VA), Cortland Repertory Theatre (Cortland, NY), Bigfork Summer Playhouse (Bigfork, MT), Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre (Bigfork, MT), Houston Shakespeare Festival (Houston, TX), Main Streat Theatre for Youth (Houston, TX), Unity Theatre (Brenham, TX), Little Theatre Off Broadway (Grove City, OH), Columbus Children's Theatre (Columbus, OH), Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute (Hilton Head, SC)
Current Projects
2025-2026 ELON PERFORMING ARTS PRODUCTIONS:
Scenic Designer - An American in Paris, Love & Information, Romeo & Juliet
Projection Designer - An American in Paris
Properties Supervisor/Lead - An American in Paris, Echoes & Currents, Love & Information, RENT, First Daughter Suite.
Properties Mentor - Romeo & Juliet
Presentations
2024 - Virginia Theatre Association, Richmond VA
- Presenter: Create Your Own Gobo Workshop
- Presenter: Creating & Painting with Custom Cut Rollers Workshop
- Co-Presenter: High School Senior Portfolio Reviews
2023 - Virginia Theatre Association, Richmond VA
- Presenter: Creating Easy Physical Bark Textures Workshop
- Co-Presenter: High School Senior Portfolio Reviews
- Co-Presenter: University and College Design Panel
2023 - USITT National Conference, Baltimore MD
- Co-Presenter: Designing Theatrical Projection Surfaces
- Exhibitor (Poster): Design Expo
- Co-Presenter: ASTC-USITT Venue Renovation Challenge
2022 - Graduate Theatre Syndicate Annual Research Colloquium, Pedagogy of the Elements and Principles of Design
2022 - Ohio Valley Section USITT Conference, Virtual
- Poster Presentation: Scene Design for The Seagull
- Poster Presentation: Scene Design for Sweat
2020 - Southwest USITT Symposium
- Poster Presentation: Scene Design for Sweat
- Poster Presentation: Scene Design for Everybody
2019 - Region 6 KCACTF Conference, Poster Presentation: Media Design for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time?
2019 - Southwest USITT Symposium, Poster Presentaion: Media Design for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
2018 - Region 6 KCACTF Conference, Poster Presentation: Unrealized Scenic Design for The Elephant Man
Professional Activities
ACTIVE PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
- United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), Standing Member since 2016
- Guild of Scenic Artists, Standing Member since 2025
INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS:
2025 - OSHA 10 Certification Training
CONFERENCES ATTENDED:
2025 - USITT National Conference, Columbus OH
2024 - Virginia Theatre Association, Richmond VA (Presenter)
2023 - Virginia Theatre Association, Richmond VA (Presenter)
2023 - USITT National Conference, Baltimore MD (Presenter, Exhibitor)
2022 - USITT National Conference, St. Louis
2022 - Graduate Theatre Syndicate Annual Research Colloquium (Presenter)
2022 - Ohio Valley Section USITT Conference, Virtual (Presenter)
2021 - USITT National Conference, Virtual
2020 - Sam Houston State Unniversity Undergraduate Research Symposium (Moderator)
2020 - Southwest USITT Symposium (Presenter)
2019 - Region 6 KCACTF Conference (Presenter)?
2019 - Southwest USITT Symposium (Presenter)
2018 - Region 6 KCACTF Conference (Presenter)
Service Activities
SERVICE OUTSIDE OF ELON:
United States Institute for Theatre Technology
- National Member - Standing
Shenandoah University
- Costume Faculty Search Committee (2025)
Virginia Theatre Association
- Board Member (2024-2025)
- Member (2023-2025)
The Ohio State University
- Colloquium Planning Committee, Committee Member (2022-2023)
- Season Selection Committee, Graduate Student Representative (2022)
- Design/Tech Area, Graduate Student Representative (2021-2023)
- The Graduate Theatre Syndicate, Vice President (2021-2022)
- The Graduate Theatre Syndicate, Member (2020-2023)
Southwest USITT
- Committee on Communication, Regional Student Representative (2019-2020)
- Regional Student Director at Large (2018-2020)
- Member (2016-2020)
Sam Houston State University USITT Student Chapter
- President (2019-2020)
- Secretary (2018-2019)
- Member at Large (2017-2018)
- Member (2016-2020)
Professional Development
2024 - The Science of Corresponding with Busy People (Harvard Kennedy School Webinar)
2023 - P.O.P Off Workshop- Power, Privilege, and Oppression (OSU Center for Belonging and Social Change)
2023 - Power and Potentials: Justice, Equity and Advocacy in the Arts (Barnet Center for Integrated Arts and Enterprise & Dept. of Arts Administration, Education and Policy)
2023 - Source Evaluation Myths: Evaluations by Domain Mini-Workshop (OSU University Libraries)
2022 - Beginning Steps of Course Design (The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching And Learning)
2022 - Contemplative Pedagogies for an Inclusive Classroom (The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching And Learning)
2022 - Teansparency in Learning and Teaching Framework (The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching And Learning)
2022 - Inclusive Teaching (The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching And Learning)
2022 - Effective Presentation Skills (The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching And Learning)
2022 - Facilitating Classroom Discussions (The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching And Learning)
2022 - Active Learning in the Classroom (The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching And Learning)
2020 - Lets Do the Work: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training Series (OSU Dept. of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts)
Awards
- ASTC-USITT (National) Venue Renovation Challenge "Edgar L. Lustig Award" (2023)
- USITT Ohio Valley "Ezekiel Award of Distinction" for The Country Wife (2023)
- USITT Ohio Valley "Ezekiel Award of Outstanding Achievement" for The Seagull (2022)
- USITT Ohio Valley "Ezekiel Award of Distinction" for Sweat (2022)
- Southwest USITT "Honorable Mention in Scenic Design" for Everybody" (2020)
- Southwest USITT "Excellence in Media Design" for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" (2019)
- KCACTF National "Distinguished Production of a Play" for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" (2018)
- KCACTF National "Outstanding Projection Design" for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" (2018)
- KCACTF Region 6 "Excellence in Non-Realized Scenic Design" for The Elephant Man
- Girl Scout Gold Award (Equivalent of Eagle Scout) for the creation of a recurring free 2 week summer sports camp focused on creating a safe & educational environment for local k-12 children with physical and mental disabilities to experience team sports.