A conversation with Jill Carter

Originally published on The JOLT News on January 20, 2026

Have you ever been to a Ballet Northwest production and thought that the graphic and set designs were lovely? Maybe you have seen a promotional poster for a show at the Olympia Family Theater and thought it was particularly clever and whimsical?

Ah, here is something I know we have all seen: the lovely designs displayed during wintertime on the Goldberg Building in downtown Olympia. All of these are works by the incomparable Jill Carter.  

Our conversation  

A true local, Carter is a The Evergreen State College graduate and has lived in Olympia for about 35 years, and been involved in the theater scene in one way or another for about the same time with her passion residing in set and graphic design.  

 “I’ve always done art all through (my K-12 education and time in college). One day, there was a position for a scenic artist, and I thought, ‘Oh that sounds fun! I could do my painting, but do it bigger!' What an exciting challenge and opportunity for an artist to grow. The part I really liked about theatre was the creative aspect and the collaboration,” Carter said.

“I think what made me excited about and successful in technical theatre was being able to collaborate with such a huge variety of people on always evolving and changing projects.” 

Society is much like theatre in its consistent fluctuation of changes, enhancements and challenges. It also requires collaboration and an open mindedness to new ideas and a variety of people.

All art and society is a mirror that reflects exactly what is going on across from it. Thus, the audience can feel the energy shift when there is a self-focused individual in the cast and crew, and it tarnishes both the view and reality. With that said, I hope we can all be a bit more like Jill Carter.  

At one point in our conversation, I asked Carter what her favorite show was from her resume in theater. Carter shared that when she first started working in technical theatre, she was asked if she wanted to work backstage at Ballet Northwest’s "The Nutcracker."

“I said 'yes,' and I loved it and ended up working on that production annually for many years with Bud Johansson," she said.

That led to doing scenic design for "The Nutcracker," which she has done a few times now.

“That’s the production that is very near and dear to my heart,” Carter said. “I just love the music and that ballet.” 

These are the moments that show us how much collaboration can enhance our lives. Friendships are created, doors opened and memories collected. Sure we can fly solo, and I think there is a reasonable time, place and season for that, but our lives and our art are enhanced by people.

Being the victim of the “group project” phenomenon many times, I understand the hesitation to trust and to work with others in fear of disappointment and having to do other people’s work for them. Unlike academic group projects, the nature of collaboration in the arts can be much more fun and open. Volunteer or join the cast and crew of a show sometime and see what I mean, I dare you!  

Toward the end of our conversation, we found ourselves discussing the COVID-19 pandemic and the ripple effects it has had on arts and society. The stay at home slogan has become a way of life and has remained such far past necessity.

Granted, there are dear people who do still need to remain at home for a variety of reasons, and I fully support and respect them, but I wonder about the rest of us who isolate by choice. 

I hope that this column and our arts community inspire you to venture out, explore and support our community. Some of life’s most precious memories are made in the audience, on stage and behind the scenes, but we cannot do it unless we are all in this together. So dear readers, I invite you to collaborate with the arts.  

Click here to explore Jill Carter’s website, learn more about her work, and show you support.  

 A little announcement  

The anniversary of this very column, “In the Audience,” is coming up along with another significant marker: the 100th column. In celebration of both events, I will be publishing a column sometime in February celebrating the time we have shared, looking ahead, and answering some of the questions you might have.  

 I invite you to submit any questions you might have for me here. 

https://thejoltnews.com/stories/a-conversation-with-jill-carter,27879