Wichita's Unsung Theater Props Heroes Bring Magic to the Stage

From severed heads to floating paper, these prop artists create the visual wonders that bring theater productions to life.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:55pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered theater prop, such as a broken stage light or crumpled piece of scenery, captured in dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting to create a glitzy, high-fashion aesthetic, focusing purely on the material and light rather than any literal objects, stages, or people.The intricate textures and dramatic lighting of a shattered theater prop symbolize the meticulous work of Wichita's unsung prop artists, whose creativity and technical skills bring productions to life.Wichita Today

Prop artists are the unsung heroes behind the scenes in Wichita's thriving theater community, working tirelessly to create the visual magic that brings productions to life. From crafting realistic props like severed heads and floating paper to repurposing everyday items in creative ways, these artists play a vital role in transporting audiences. The article profiles seven of Wichita's top prop designers, exploring their passion for the craft and the challenges they face in delivering the impossible on stage every night.

Why it matters

Props are an essential, yet often overlooked, component of live theater. These artists use their creativity, resourcefulness, and technical skills to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, elevating the overall production and immersing the audience in the world of the story. Their work is a crucial, yet underappreciated, part of the collaborative effort that makes Wichita's vibrant theater scene possible.

The details

The article features profiles of seven prop artists who have made significant contributions to Wichita's theater community over the past six decades. These include Tim McGill, a veteran prop master who has loaned his extensive collection of historical items to local productions; Louise Brinegar, who has designed props for a variety of Wichita companies and is known for her meticulous research and attention to detail; Tom Mittlestadt, who has worked on films and local theater productions, often incorporating unique and unexpected elements; Aaron Profit, the associate producer of The Forum who designs props and environmental elements; Kathy Woodward, who took on the challenge of creating a severed hog's head and other complex props for a production of 'A Man of No Importance'; Ben Rogers, a self-proclaimed 'rogue artist' who specializes in electronics and micro-soldering for props; and Amy Saker, who has tackled the seemingly impossible, like creating a piranha-filled aquarium that had to break and reassemble perfectly every night.

  • Tim McGill began loaning props to Wichita theaters periodically in the 1960s, after working in the film industry in California.
  • Louise Brinegar was introduced to theater as a child in the mid-1960s through the Wichita Children's Theater and later joined her mother backstage at Music Theatre of Wichita.
  • Tom Mittlestadt discovered his passion for props while attending Butler Community College in 1984 on a theater performance scholarship.
  • Aaron Profit began working with props as a high school student in the late 1990s, hired by Tom Mittlestadt to work in the Design Center warehouse.
  • Kathy Woodward took on her first major props project for the 2017 Signature Theatre production of 'A Man of No Importance'.

The players

Tim McGill

A veteran prop master who has loaned his extensive collection of historical items to local Wichita theater productions for decades, becoming a sort of 'grandfather of props' in the city.

Louise Brinegar

A props designer who has worked for a variety of Wichita theater companies, known for her meticulous research and attention to detail in bringing productions to life.

Tom Mittlestadt

A props designer who discovered his passion for the craft while attending Butler Community College, and has worked on both local theater productions and films, including winning an award at Cannes for his work on 'Mystery Train'.

Aaron Profit

The associate producer of The Forum theater, who designs props and environmental elements for numerous productions and events in Wichita.

Kathy Woodward

A props designer who took on the challenge of creating complex props, including a severed hog's head, for the Signature Theatre production of 'A Man of No Importance'.

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What they’re saying

“If a vocational class teacher asked them to get 'screws or bolts or something, they'd leave campus and wouldn't come back until the next day, no matter what time they left. But if theater people asked them to get something, they came back right away. When they did something in theater, they could sit in that audience and know 'these people are enjoying what I built.'”

— Tim McGill

“It's a different experience, because it's an untraditional stage space, the props form a pattern or groups of playing areas that the audience sees from above, so what you choose is important. Often, it is the set.”

— Louise Brinegar

“I just fell in love with doing props. I thought, 'this is what I love doing.'”

— Tom Mittlestadt

“I've never chased the money. I chase my happiness, and everything else will be supplied on down the line.”

— Aaron Profit

“When we were doing 'Waitress' last season, we were making pies that were like literally being thrown around as people are driven around stage. It made me think about the balance between props and scenic and costumes, because everything in theater is so collaborative.”

— Ben Rogers

The takeaway

The unsung prop artists of Wichita's theater community are the creative visionaries who transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, using their resourcefulness, technical skills, and collaborative spirit to bring productions to life and transport audiences. Their work is an essential, yet often overlooked, component of the city's vibrant performing arts scene.