Craig Toquam, alumni parent, is the talent behind a key part of what makes our recent theater productions shine: set design.
All that is seen on stage—the look and feel of a production—has stemmed from the mind of Craig Toquam.
Having initially not been very interested in art growing up, Mr. Toquam learned that he had a real passion for building and creating things. Craig's first real project came from an idea his son, Michael, had years back: a full-on Master Chief costume for a church costume contest. Unfamiliar with who Master Chief was, Craig asked Michael for a picture—he knew that if he could see a picture of it, he could "build anything" if he had the time to do it. "I'll just figure it out," Craig smiled.
After a few trips to the store for random materials and some feel-it-out-as-you-go craftsmanship, Master Chief was brought to life. Michael's costume ended up being the talk of the costume contest, and Craig's interest in building was officially sparked.
"I like to see people's reactions when they see something that's come to life," Craig shared. "A vision becomes a reality. I love that."
His passion for building has since transitioned into stunning set designs at MCA. These designs help bring productions to life in ways that transport audiences to entirely new worlds.
