Freese Brings Professional Experience to Central Campus Theatre

Long before a San Jacinto College audience takes their seats, Liz Freese has already spent weeks shaping what they'll see. 

As the Central Campus technical theatre professor and the department's scenic and costume designer, she's the one turning a script into a reality one build at a time. 

Freese joined the College in 2023, bringing decades of professional experience to the role. She has designed more than 120 professional theatre and opera productions, and her work has been featured in national publications. In 2018, she received the Houston Press Best Scenic Design award. 

From Kansas to the main stage 

Growing up in Kansas, Freese planned to run her own theatre company. While studying arts administration at Butler University, she discovered scenic design. 

"That led me to work in London before earning my Master of Fine Arts at the University of Missouri-Kansas City," Freese said. "I eventually moved to Houston to be with my husband, where I've built my career as a designer while raising my family." 

No two days at San Jac look the same. Freese teaches technical theatre along with film appreciation, but much of her time is spent alongside students, budgeting, building, and problem-solving for upcoming productions. 

"I'm meeting with student designers and stage managers, drafting plans or working in the scene shop," Freese said. "It's a very hands-on job, and that's one of the things I enjoy most." 

Building a production, staying connected 

Every production begins with the script. Freese considers what the audience needs to understand the story, then researches the setting, characters, and time period before organizing every detail. The design and construction process takes about two months and begins well before rehearsals start. 

Budget is always part of the equation. The department reuses and adapts pieces whenever possible, and Houston's theatre community has become a valuable partner in stretching those resources. 

"The theatre community in Houston is incredibly supportive, often lending furniture and props that help us create productions our students might not otherwise have access to," Freese said. 

Freese also designs at least two professional productions each year, which keeps her connected to the industry and creates meaningful opportunities for her students. 

"I bring them to technical rehearsals, where they observe professional designers and stage managers at work, and several students have already found jobs through those experiences," she said. 

That philosophy shapes the technical theatre program, where students begin creating from day one. They are building sets, designing costumes, running lights and sound, managing productions, and solving real-world challenges.  

Watching students succeed 

For Freese, the greatest reward is watching growth take hold.  

“Theatre is collaborative by nature, and I want students to leave the classroom knowing how to communicate, solve problems, and work as a team, along with a stronger sense of confidence in their own abilities,” she said. 

Three years into her time at San Jac, Freese is already seeing those efforts pay off as her first students graduate from four-year universities or begin professional theatre careers. 

"Seeing them succeed reminds me why this work matters and why investing in students is so rewarding," Freese said. 

A technically ambitious fall 

This fall, San Jac audiences can look forward to “The Play That Goes Wrong,” one of the most technically ambitious productions the department has tackled since Freese joined the College. The award-winning comedy features a set designed to fall apart throughout the performance, with collapsing walls, breaking props, and sword fights. 

"In many ways, the technical design becomes another character in the show," Freese said. "That makes it an exciting challenge for both our students and our audiences." 

 

"The Play That Goes Wrong" at Central Campus

When:

Wednesday through Saturday, Sept. 23-26, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2:30 p.m.

Where:

San Jacinto College Central Campus
Slocomb Auditorium (C12)
8060 Spencer Highway
Pasadena, Texas

Tickets:

Tickets are $10 for general admission at the door. A discounted rate of $8 is available for tickets purchased by Tuesday, Sept. 22.

---

About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than 1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020 and 2026. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.