Lucas Granholm (Theater 2008) Encourages Students to Build Their Own Path in Theater

September 28, 2026

What does it take to build a life in theater? For Lucas Granholm (Theater 2008), the answer is a combination of curiosity, persistence, flexibility, and a willingness to put yourself out there.

Granholm, now an assistant professor of Theatre and Dance at Winona State University, returned to Perpich Arts High School on September 25th to speak with Theater and Musical Theater students ahead of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) Northern Boundary Section Annual Fall Conference which was hosted at Perpich. Drawing on his experiences as a theater artist, designer, and educator, he encouraged students to think beyond a single career path and explore the many ways to build a life in the arts.

Lucas Granholm (Theater 2008) from Winona State University met with Perpich Theater and Musical Theater students on September 25th. Granholm (left) is pictured with Tory Peterson, Theater Instructor (right)

“Don’t think of it like a straight line,” Granholm said of pursuing an arts career. “I get this degree and then I get this job, because it’s not going to be that way.”

He also emphasized the importance of being a versatile artist. Understanding different aspects of theater, from acting and directing to lighting and set design, can open doors and help artists become valuable collaborators.

“You’re being the person in the room people want to work with,” he said, pointing to reliability, effort, and a willingness to learn as qualities that matter throughout a career.

For students considering college, Granholm encouraged them to look beyond program names and degrees to find a school where they feel at home. He described the importance of connecting with faculty, exploring different interests, and finding a community that supports their growth.

He also urged students to take initiative, make connections, and not be afraid to approach people in the industry. He invited the students to attend the USITT conference and to let him know if they wanted any introductions. “You can’t be afraid to ask strangers or people in positions that can help you,” he said. “Ninety-five percent of the time, they’re impressed that you even ask them, but it does come with a number of nos.”

Returning to Perpich brought Granholm back to a place that helped shape his artistic journey. He credited Perpich and Tory Peterson, Theater Instructor, for the experiences and opportunities he encountered as a student. Those opportunities gave him an early start, including exposure to plays and ideas he later discovered other college students had not encountered. Doing that work in high school gave Lucas an advantage.

For current students preparing to take their next steps, his message was clear: Stay open to possibilities, build relationships, and remember that a creative career can take many forms.

Lucas Granholm attended Perpich Center for Arts Education, graduating in 2008 with an emphasis in theater. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota Morris and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Design and Technology, with an emphasis in Lighting Design, from the University of South Dakota. Granholm is currently an Assistant Professor and Production Manager in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Winona State University, where he teaches courses in theatrical design, technical theatre, and theatre appreciation. In addition to teaching, he works as a designer and collaborator on departmental productions and helps support the department’s production program. Prior to joining Winona State, Granholm served as an Associate Professor of Theatre Arts and Coordinator of the Theatre Program at the University of Minnesota Morris.

As a designer and educator, Granholm’s work is rooted in collaboration, storytelling, and the belief that theatrical design should do more than make a production visually compelling; it should actively shape the way an audience experiences the story. His professional and scholarly interests include lighting and scenic design, sustainable theatre practices, arts education, and creating meaningful opportunities for students to grow as artists, technicians, and collaborators. Granholm remains active in the broader theatre community across the midwest serving as former Chair of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology Northern Boundary Section and as Program Director of the Minneapolis Green Theatre Alliance. His work has been presented throughout the United States, including at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and he continues to work professionally as a freelance lighting designer. Selected design credits include Peter and the Starcatcher, Beehive!, and Cinderella at Prairie Repertory Theatre, The Drowsy Chaperone at the Black Hills Playhouse, Home, I’m Darling, and Significant Other at Lyric Arts, Romeo and Juliet at the University of Minnesota Morris, and Terminator: The Musical at Fallout Theatre.