Theatre Students Place at SETC Design Competitions

Wake Forest’s theatre talent took center stage at the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) Awards this month, where Zac Anderson (‘25) placed second in Undergraduate Lighting Design, and Vir Gupta (‘25) earned third in Undergraduate Projection Design.

From March 19-22, theatre students traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, for SETC’s annual convention—a premier event for networking, masterclasses, and design and tech competitions. The conference provides emerging theatre artists with opportunities to showcase their work, attend auditions, and connect with industry professionals.

The annual design competition recognized Anderson’s striking lighting design for Radium Girls by D.W. Gregory, a production he also directed earlier this year. Gupta was honored for his mesmerizing projection work in Nick Payne’s Constellations last November.

Gupta, a double major in Critical and Creative Media and Theatre with a minor in Economics, has refined his projection design skills through hands-on experience in theatre, drawing from past sound design projects and working with QLab software. This is not his first success at SETC—he previously placed second in the 2024 Sound Design Competition for Sense & Sensibility and received an honorable mention for his work on This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing the same year. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in theatre and film production.

Anderson, a Marketing major with minors in Theatre and Entrepreneurship, honed his lighting expertise in his junior-year Lighting Design course. Reflecting on the experience, he shared that receiving in-depth, constructive feedback on his award-winning design at the conference was even more rewarding than the award itself. Looking ahead, he hopes to work in theatre and entertainment while also exploring opportunities in marketing, production management, and event planning.

Postgraduate Teacher-Scholar Fellow of Design Kaylin Gess praised both students for their dedication and talent.

“Vir’s consistent achievements at SETC over the past several years speak to his commitment to the department and his prowess as a multidisciplinary designer,” said Gess. “He is already an accomplished technician and designer, and his placement this year further affirms that.”

“Zac is always looking for ways to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and his showing at SETC was no different,” Gess continued. “Although this was his first entry into the design competition, his bold ideas and polished presentation shone brightly, earning him well-deserved recognition.”

Both students serve as executive members of Anthony Aston Players, Wake Forest’s student-led theatre group, and are dedicated contributors to the university’s theatre community. As they prepare to graduate, their achievements at Wake Forest mark just the beginning of their journeys in the world of theatre.