Theater, art open professional doors for award-winning Weber State grad
OGDEN, Utah — When Porter Lance has an idea, he uses every ounce of artistry and research to bring that vision to life.
Lance made headlines last year for his award-winning scenic design of Weber State University’s production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, earning top prize at the national Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Washington, D.C.
Lance said he’s always been curious and creative. As a boy in Texas, he would explore, paint, and perform community theater. When he reached college age, he felt his hometown in the Lone Star State didn’t have a big enough art scene to maintain his artistic momentum.
“After I moved to Utah, I met someone who went to Weber State,” Lance said. “She was incredibly smart, incredibly motivated, and that kind of put it on my radar. I could see that they were going to help me become the best student and artist that I could be.”
Lance was also drawn to the low cost of WSU following some financial barriers at a prior university: “Weber State was a much more affordable choice, a much better deal. The theatre program here has so many scholarships.”
Most valuable, though, was Lance becoming part of a collaborative community that learns from one another and cherishes art.
Lance got involved with prop design for a WSU production of Something’s Afoot in 2021, and soon developed an interest in scenic design. He took an on-campus job at the Browning Center scene shop where, for three years, he honed skills in carpentry, painting and more.
“Professors were really excited to give me the opportunity and help me grow my talents,” he said. “I've always had a love for visual art, and this brought that love into the world of theater.”
Lance notes how scenic design involves artistic ability, yes, but also extensive research as he immerses himself in a production’s historical and cultural setting: “I have to become a little expert on the world of the play. And I dive in and I learn about myself, and I learn about my world, and I learn about other people,” he said.
His holistic approach to scenic design helped him earn the prestigious award for Sweeney Todd in 2023, besting seven talented finalists from across the U.S. But Lance has also lent his talent to productions such as The Amphibians, a set made up entirely from recycled or secondhand materials, and Red Days, an Adjusted Realists production recently performed in New York City.
“I grew a lot through the design process,” Lance said. “My favorite part about the process, though, is probably the collaboration with other artists. I’m constantly working with other people who push me further, push my art further, and really just make the whole process worth it.”
Lance, who graduated from WSU in April 2024, said he’s excited about the world of opportunities that scenic design has opened.
“There are so many reasons to study the arts and humanities. Theater, specifically, is a combination of so many different practical skill sets,” he said. “You learn collaboration, communication, working under pressure, on a deadline. You also learn technical skills, from carpentry to digital modeling programs.”
But before Lance jumps into his career — ultimately aiming to become a full-time professional scenic designer — he’s headed to Seattle to earn a master of fine arts in scenic design at the University of Washington.
Although he would one day love to teach scenic design and mentor young artists, Lance will forever be a student of life.
“The most important thing about studying theater and studying the arts in general is just understanding the world,” he said. “Even when you’re watching TV or listening to a podcast, you’re learning through storytelling.”
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu- Contact:
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu