Throughout his time at the Wichita State Music Theatre Company, senior Leopold Porcaro has certainly made an impact.
“I think he’s just a very wonderful performer,” Porcaro’s friend and co-worker Pashence Adkins said. “I mean, he writes and performs his own music. He’s a great singer, and I think that he’s been through a lot and does a lot very well and is good at keeping on.”
Performing isn’t Porcaro’s specialty, however. His concentration is in scenic design, which he describes as building and designing anything to do with the set of a theatre production. Some of his credits for design include productions of “Spring Awakening” for Wichita State’s School of Performing Arts and “Trail to Oregon” for WSMTC. Porcaro also acted in the WSMTC’s recent production of “Ride the Cyclone.”
“I really enjoy acting, but it’s very competitive in a way that design and tech theatre isn’t,” Porcaro said. “There’s always going to be someone more talented than you in acting, whereas in design, maybe in one specific area you’re like the best scenic designer.”
Porcaro also works as a technical director with the WSU Empty Space Theatre.
“Technical direction is … basically the person who’s in charge of scenic and lighting and sound mostly, and so they are the person that these people report to when there’s issues,” Porcaro said. “Like if (the scenic team) needs something built, then the technical director will draft it so the scene shop can build it.”
Porcaro said he likes student organizations like Empty Space and WSMTC because of the space they give theatre students to develop their skills.
“Student organizations in general give a lot of freedom to the students to be creative, to overcome these obstacles like budget or timeline,” Porcaro said.
Overall, Porcaro has been deeply passionate about theatre for most of his life.
“I guess I’ve been doing theatre since I was a kid,” Porcaro said. “I was in musicals at my church when I was younger, and in high school, I started doing musicals as well. I was predominantly an actor throughout high school, and then I got into carpentry.”
Through this passion and skill, Porcaro was led to a unique internship opportunity after college.
“I currently have an internship coming up this summer with the Croswell Opera House in Adrian, Michigan,” Porcaro said. “I’ll be a technical intern there. I did it last year as well. I’ll be doing a bit of carpentry, painting, a lot of hauling furniture and even designing for (them). They have children’s summer camps, and last year I did a lighting design for them. So I’m hoping — I’m really looking forward to scenic designs out of everything else.”
Alongside theatre, Porcaro intends to get into library work.
“He’s going to go and become a librarian,” Adkins said. “He’s going to go get a master’s in library sciences. I’m very sad to see him go. I’m proud of him for graduating and stuff, but I just wish that we had more time together because he will be leaving Wichita immediately.”
Adkins will always remember Porcaro’s positive energy and support on set.
“Leo’s been a very, very good friend to me,” Adkins said. “During shows and show weeks, he’s been there to support me when I’m frustrated or learning or going through an experience I haven’t had before.”
