The Green Room

With more than 35 years of experience in stage management and lighting design, George Hommowun takes the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) to the next level as our director of theater event operations. He’s honed his talents managing upwards of 400 events annually in performance venues in Virginia, Minnesota, and Michigan and has been an incredible addition to our team since July 2023.

While he usually flies under the radar – assisting patrons, managing calendars, and streamlining the events experience – we pulled him into the spotlight to share a bit more about the man who helps make such wonderful events in Wisconsin Union Theater spaces possible.

How did you find WUT?

I was searching for an opportunity to leave the 200+ inches of snow that occur annually in Houghton, Michigan!

What is your favorite part of your job?

At the end of a show, seeing the reactions on the faces of patrons as they exit a theater, or the joy and gratitude from the performers. Knowing that our small parts of the job have made an impact, that is what makes the job special. 

And that does not change while working in the office! Hearing about the successes from all our staff is the reward that drives the work. Never underestimate the gift of gratitude or recognition for a job well done. Without a doubt, it is the people that make working in the performing arts rewarding – especially the people you work with every day.

How did your passion for the arts begin?

I grew up singing in choirs. During college, I thought I would be a business manager, get my MBA. While an undergrad, I worked as a student leader in student activities and our student programming organizations – yes, I was one of the student leaders just like we have in in the Wisconsin Union Directorate [our student-led programming board, also known as WUD]! During my senior year, I decided I wanted to go into arts management as a career, helping to run a performing arts center as a presenter. However, I was lacking any of the technical skills. So, I chose a program where I spent two years as the graduate assistant to the technical director. 

I fell in love with lighting design (Thank you, Dance Department at American University!) and realized that in most performing arts centers, the technical director position was filled with theatrically-trained technical staff that had limited knowledge in the business side of the arts. So, I made the decision to create my niche working as a technical director focusing on the importance of the business side of the operation. 

With my work as a presenter, I eventually connected with Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, where I served as its freelance lighting designer for 10 years. To this day, if you give me a chance to create a lighting design for a dance production, I will jump at the opportunity!  

Do you have any advice for anyone pursuing jobs in this industry?

Working in the arts is a career of passion. Find what brings you the most joy at work. Accentuate that joy and surround yourself with other people that also enjoy working together. Like any really good job, in any industry, having a great family of fellow employees is vital to your professional and personal happiness.

What have been some of your favorite artists/shows that you have been a part of making possible?

I have always said that I try never to have favorites. The best thing we do is make sure every performer is treated the same – whether that performer is Bob Hope, Howie Mandel, the CEO of Volkswagen, the chancellor of UW-Madison, the 4-year-old mouse in "The Nutcracker," or the student in the acting 1 class. If you treat them all as friends or family, they will treat you the same way. 

My favorite performance moments include seeing performers watch your lighting in the middle of their show and complimenting the technical team from the stage. Or creating a lighting change that perfectly times out a saxophone solo that helps elicit a standing ovation in the middle of a song. 

But perhaps the biggest lasting memory happened during the rehearsal/performance for an acting class. One of the students had Down syndrome and was very shy to go on stage to perform for her classmates. We put the microphone on her and had her stand behind the curtains so that nobody could see her. The joy on her face when she finished her monologue and heard the emotional cheers from her classmates will never leave me. 

What do you like to do outside of work at WUT?

My hobbies include walking and hiking, running, puzzles, board games, golf – any activities that keep me outdoors and traveling! When traveling on vacation, I am always looking for locations with historical sites, small art galleries, displays of public art, and historical architecture. 

What are your favorite bands/musicians/artists to listen to?

My go-to music is traditional Celtic – Chloe Agnew from Celtic Woman is a favorite. In reality, I have listened to almost anything, except rap and heavy metal. 

While most people listen to music for enjoyment, when I listen to music, my lighting designer brain usually turns on – I see music in stage colors, lighting effects, modern dance movement, imagining how I would light that song on the stage. I find myself listening to the nuances of the music and predicting which instrumentalist might be a featured soloist on or after the next verse. 

You’ve worked with several educational institutions – what is the importance of mentoring students and the importance of arts in higher education?

As arts professionals – we are all educators, including staff that never teach in a classroom – we never know when our work or actions will influence or inspire those students or staff that work with us. On numerous occasions, former student employees have sought me out to thank me for the way they were treated and for the knowledge they gained. Some changed career fields and are now professional technicians or educators, always remembering that initial professional experience.

I believe that in our lives, if we can positively influence one person, we are successful in our careers. If we can inspire one person each year, that is 30-40 people whose lives are better because of us. We have the opportunity to change dozens of lives each year just by doing our jobs professionally and being willing to help others with opportunities and sharing information. We never know who that one person is, sometimes it is a random stranger that we take a few minutes to have a conversation with. 

What is the importance of live in-person performing arts experiences?

The arts are a social experience. When we gather together, the experience is stronger because it is shared by others. All of the senses of the patron are enhanced when enjoying live music, theater, or going to an art gallery. Seeing a performance on your computer or television is never as impactful. 

In our world, we never know what event could become life-changing or be the spark that opens a person’s mind to other future possibilities!

If you would like to learn more about renting a Wisconsin Union Theater space and the opportunity to work with George and our other talented team members, visit https://union.wisc.edu/visit/wisconsin-union-theater/theater-event-planners/.