Name: Mary Jungels Goodyear
Job: Associate Teaching Professor in Theatre Arts
Hometown: Port Byron, Illinois, a Mississippi River town along the Iowa and Illinois border
Hobbies: Hiking, running, swimming, gardening, playing music and enjoying local organic cuisine with family, friends, and Bubbles, our beagle.
Research Focus: Critical approaches to set design in theatre and film, Mid-Century Modern and Scandinavian design, and Japanese art and architecture.
— Mary Jungels Goodyear, Associate Teaching Professor in Theatre Arts
Mary Jungels Goodyear, MFA ’05, may be a new theatre arts professor in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), but her skills and interests go well beyond her role in teaching scenic design. She’s also a performer and musician, a published children’s book illustrator, a professional studio artist working in oil, acrylic and watercolor, and a Duck. Prior to her return to Eugene, she was an instructional assistant professor at Illinois State University.
As the newest faculty member in the theatre arts department, Jungels Goodyear took time to answer some questions so those in CAS and beyond can get to know her better.
What was appealing to you about taking a job with University of Oregon and CAS's Theatre Arts department?
Having the opportunity to return to Eugene, Oregon, and collaborate in Theatre Arts as an associate teaching professor in scenic design at the University of Oregon is a dream come true. I lived in Eugene for about 13 years from 1998-2011, working as a professional makeup artist when I first arrived. A few years later I enrolled in theatre arts courses full time at the UO as a post-baccalaureate student. The department was flourishing with design and technology courses, and their devised performances inspired me to apply for the graduate teaching fellowship program where I completed my master of fine arts in 2005. It's great to be here 20 years later, working with an incredible team of talented faculty, staff and students amidst endless creative possibilities for personal and professional growth.
What are you working on right now?
Scene designing and working on “Much Ado About Nothing” for the re-opening of the Robinson Theatre. Next up are “Radium Girls” by D.W. Gregory and “Los Dreamers” by Mónica Sánchez. Both shows have powerful scripts written by women playwrights with strong female central characters seeking justice and equality.
What have you researched/worked on in the past?
A series of original oil and acrylic paintings based on the cosmos and creating abstract compositions of color, movement and light.
What classes are you scheduled to teach?
Scenic Painting, Introduction to Design, Scenic Design, Properties Design and Construction, Multimedia Rendering for the Stage, Digital Rendering and Mechanical Drafting
Why should students consider taking your classes or classes generally in the Department of Theatre Arts?
Theatre arts courses provide experiential learning opportunities in creative design, technology, multi-cultural histories, playwriting and literature. Theatre contains multitudes of skill sets that can be utilized across a wide range of creative disciplines. Students who demonstrate enthusiasm and dedication in their coursework gain a wealth of knowledge and confidence, preparing them for production design or acting opportunities in a variety of performance spaces. Working and collaborating on fully realized productions prepares them for professional careers in the entertainment industry.
Do you have a core tenet or philosophy that you return to that inspires or motivates you professionally and/or personally?
Keep doing what you love doing and breathe.
As a UO alum, what drew you to want to teach here?
I was deeply influenced by the close connections I made with the theatre arts faculty during my graduate studies at the UO. Eugene has always been a second home to me. I connected with the environment, the organic farming culture, and my son was born here. It was exciting to apply and interview for the position knowing I’d be closer to friends and family who still live in Oregon, even though it meant leaving Illinois. I love the proximity we have to the Cascades and coast, the great local hikes, and the cultural arts scene within the verdant Willamette Valley.
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