Alumni Spotlight: Natalie Sparks

Natalie Sparks graduated from KU in 2024 with degrees in Theatre Performance and Illustration and Animation. She worked as the prop maker for the University Theatre from 2021-2024, which means she had a hand in most things prop-related for many of our shows! One of her favorite KU Theatre memories is when she created custom-made leather holsters for our production of Measure for Measure. She also created and curated a mixed media, immersive horror exhibition focused on Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower (the KU Common Book that year) for the Kansas Union Gallery. 

Currently, Natalie lives in Orlando, Florida and works at the Universal Orlando theme parks on the Art & Design team as a set dresser for Marquee events. “One of the big projects I worked on recently was being a part of building, installing, and striking the decor for Universal’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, for its very first Christmas. I mainly did a lot of scenic work on ornaments that we custom built.” 

Natalie’s advice for incoming and current KU Theatre and Dance students: "Utilize your time wisely! We all live in the same 24 hours and how you choose to spend it can be a huge difference when you’re applying to jobs. Building skills that can get you a leg up in whatever job you want after college is super important, second only to networking with people doing the job you want."