<p>I suppose technically I would be a Tech Theater, Theater or Drama Major, but does ANYONE know of a University that would let me emphasize or major or something along those lines in Props? Like Properties? Like for Theater?</p>
<p>I've seriously been searching like a madwoman for some time now. I currently attend PCPA as a student and would love to transfer to a four year if possible.</p>
<p>So, if anyone knows of a decent school that would let me be a Props person please let me know.</p>
<p>What exactly do you mean by “props person?” What do you see yourself doing in such a job? Maybe you should do some research and find an actual job title used in the theatre world for such a person (I can think of a couple).</p>
<p>Depending on what you really want to do with this, this could come under a number of the more standard degree paths in theatre.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>I would start by looking for very strong Technical Theatre Departments. You then might need to delve deeper into their programs by either calling the department to discuss or further research online about their department focuses, courses and graduates. Or you may also check into Playbill biographies for “Props” “Properties Designer or Manager” “Props Mistress,” etc. (Sometimes Props managers DO get their bios published) Off the top of my head I recall University of Maryland, University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon offering specialized programs in the area of “Props” design, construction, management. Though I can’t remember if these are under-grad or graduate level. UNCSA offers an Undergraduate Stage Properties program. There are more schools out there and a few do have a focused area like UNCSA. You just have to do some second/third level research. You might also search the CC Boards here for “Technical Theatre” as there are a number of discussions on Tech Theatre Programs–this might at least get you started with a broad list of schools.</p>
<p>Properties are generally seen as a subset of scenic design in tech theater. Conservatories tend to be somewhat rigid in their curriculum but some will allow you to specialize after the first two years and there are always summer internships in properties.</p>
<p>My son’s acting coach, who is a local director, thinks props is a great specialty and says good props people are much in demand.</p>
<p>TheRealKEVP I’ve heard it referred to mostly as “Props Artisan” or “Props Artist”. This is what I want to do, maybe in the distant future I would want to move on to being a Props Mistress or something along those lines.</p>
<p>AdaQuince Thank you!</p>
<p>I think these are new titles to me, except for “Prop Master/Mistress”.</p>
<p>My question is really do you see yourself as the person who makes props, needing woodwork and metalwork skills, or the person who goes out and begs/borrows/steals props, needing a different set of skills, or the person who during the performance runs the “prop table” and keeps track of props as they go on and off the stage? Or a combination of these?</p>
<p>A props person generally does both makes and buys props. Or sometimes they buy and then alter the items so they’re doing both at one time. The job takes different skills but does not involve different people. You need to like and be good at both.</p>
<p>A property master (not usually the gender-specific mistress) is a member of the backstage run crew who tracks the props. They do not necessarily have anything to do with the making of props.</p>
<p>definitey the one making and altering props to make them meet the shows requirement. so that would require, wood and metalworking skills as well as sewing, painting, molding and casting, and alllll that other stuff</p>
<p>i’ve heard prop mistress before, but definitely the general term is master.</p>
<p>and the property master is generally, as far as i’ve ever heard, the person who runs the actual Prop Shop. the person backstage has always been run crew or an assistant stage manager taking care of props during a run.</p>
<p>but what i want is to be the person in the shop making and altering things for shows.</p>
<p>There may be a school with a major in props but I’ve never heard of it and I don’t think you want to choose your school just because they are the only ones to offer it. I’d second AdaQuince’s advice to look for schools with strong Tech Theater departments then look for theaters that offer props internships. You’ll learn both craft and design at school and you can use those skills making props as an intern.</p>
<p>Not sure if this is remotely close, but your description makes me think of the two guys on the TV show “Mythbusters” that create all kinds of things (background in props, special effects, etc). You might research what sort of training and background they have. Of course they’re doing work for movies/TV, not stage, so this might be way off base.</p>
<p>On Mythbusters, the female build team member (Kari?) has a background in sculpture.</p>
<p>I think I would advise the OP to look at programs in Scenic Design, also called “Set Design”. That’s probably the major that emphasizes actually “builiding things” in a shop.</p>