Director, Helmerich School of Drama
Professor - Costume Design
yuanting.zhao-1@ou.edu
Native of Jinan, China. Before coming to the United States, Yuanting received a BFA in Acting from Shandong College of Art. Upon graduation, she started teaching acting and makeup at the same institution. In addition to teaching, she was frequently invited by Shandong Provincial and Jinan City TV stations to host various TV shows. She also acted in several motion pictures and TV films.
In 1991 Yuanting came to the US to pursue a better education. The following year, she entered the MFA program to study costume design at the University of Arizona. As soon as she graduated, she was hired by Nazareth College (now Nazareth University) in Rochester, New York, as an Assistant Professor and a Costume Designer in the Theatre Arts department. She worked her way to an Associate and a Full Professor. In 2013, Yuanting took on the department chair rule. During the ten years as the chair, she has built new majors and significantly grown the existing programs. Nazareth University Theatre and Dance Department started to gain notoriety. She also facilitated the partnership with Finger Lake Musical Theatre Festival (formerly known as Merry Go Round Playhouse, now the REV Theatre Company), and doubled the enrollment. Many NYC-based practicing artists and agents came on campus to direct and design productions and conduct master classes and workshops. Students had the opportunity to work with practicing theatre professionals and established connections.
As a costume designer, Yuanting has designed more than 90 productions, ranging from drama, and musicals, to dance concerts. She also supervised student designers for about 20 productions. She also designed costumes for Rochester City Ballet’s original production of Blood Countess, and Nine Parts of Desire for Geva Theatre Center. After 27 years at Nazareth University, Yuanting is thrilled to join the School of Drama at OU and become a Sooner!