Techinical Theater Portfolio?

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>So I went through high school not expecting to pursue theater in college. I started as an assistant stage manager my freshmen year and have been involved in my school's program since. I've worked as a stage hand, lighting designer and technician, full stage manager, writer, and directed my school's spring production where all proceeds went to Relay for Life.</p>

<p>Maybe it's needless to say, but I'm now considering the option of pursuing theater into college. The problem is, most (if not all) of the better programs require a portfolio. I, being stupid and not keeping my options open, saved little to nothing in regards to examples and materials of my work. Very few photos, and - if I'm being honest - my school does very little when it comes to professional design techniques, so I really don't have set designs or anything like that to begin with.</p>

<p>I'm fairly confident in my resume, but I'm worried now a weak portfolio is going to do me in. I guess I'm just looking for advice on how to continue from here so I have a shot come application time.</p>

2

<p>I think all you can do is:</p>

<p>Create an incredible, kickbutt resume.</p>

<p>Put what you DO have together into a “portfolio”. This can be more like a “scrapbook” if that is all you have. Maybe you could ask others if they have anything you could copy to put in? Include things like programs, any press coverage, anything you have from backstage such as photos, any sort of cue sheets, etc. Prompt book? Also include the script you wrote, anything you have from directing (including actors notes). ANYTHING you have. Organize it nicely (with the understanding that some of this stuff is not going to look neat if it has actually been used practically in the theatre).</p>

<p>Get some folks to write letters of recommendation, explaining what you did on these shows. If you are short on stuff for your portfolio, then try to get a couple more letters of recommendation than the school requires, and get letters of recommendation from folks who worked with you on shows.</p>

3

<p>Are you considering BA programs where you would be admitted based on academics and could major or participate in theater without the portfolio being an issue? There are plenty of great schools where you can learn tech & stage management without an extensive background. I’m assuming you’re a rising senior. It’d be helpful to hear about what schools you’re looking at for college. But don’t worry–there are many paths to your goal!</p>

4

<p>There are two good strategies for this problem. </p>

<p>The first is to recreate what you did. To show what you did as a stage manager and director, mark up a script as you did (or should have done) originally. Keep in mind that you are going to show the portfolio at an interview, not mail it in to be read. You need only prepare show a scene or two for each play to give them an idea what you know. For your lighting design, recreate the plot. </p>

<p>The other strategy is to produce a portfolio piece of two that shows how you would direct or design for a show that you are only imagining doing. For this, you can use photos, sketches, even fabric samples that convey how you want your play to look.</p>

<p>I suggest you use both of these ideas. They will do much more to convey your ideas and show off your strengths than the photos you didn’t take.</p>

<p>A good portfolio is just a starting point for the conversation you have to have with your auditors. As a high school student, it is perfectly acceptable for you to say, “I didn’t really save anything from the work I did in school so I did this when I put the portfolio together.” You will be evaluated for your potential rather than what you already know.</p>

5

<p>Great advice from theater mom. Many BFA programs have areas of specialization that will allow you to choose your major, so think about if you would like to major in lighting design, stage management, scenic design, costume & makeup, etc. Is one of these your passion? </p>

<p>If you have never done set design, for example, or costume, but would love to-- that’s not really a barrier so don’t worry. Your experience working on productions will be counted. As will anything you can use to show your drawing and design talents. My S2 used many pieces from his AP Studio Art portfolio in for his Scenic Design portfolio, along with architectural drawings (from a summer program) as well as research work for a large-scale themed resort design. The interviewers flipped through the portfolio and each element allowed them to have a conversation on what he was trying to convey, his sense of style and aesthetics. He had no stage set designs in his portfolio, actually, but was admitted to many top colleges for BFA Scenic Design. I hope this encourages you to look through your own sketchbooks, art projects and other creative work, as well as your theatre work, too.</p>

<p>Best of luck on this journey.</p>

6

<p>Good idea, madbean, I forgot about other kinds of artwork. </p>

<p>@allshewrote: Read what each school says about the portfolio. Some are very specific. It’s good to have a modular portfolio so you can change the elements to match the school. This allows you to apply for both specific and general programs if you’re not sure about your specialization yet.</p>

7

<p>Allshewrote. If you are preparing a portfolio for review I would have to assume that you are not attending a BFA program until the fall of 2013 - since most BFA programs have finshed their reviews for the 2012-2013 school year. This means that you will not have to present your portfolio for review until the end of 2012 or beginning of 2013. This gives you plenty of time to gather examples of what you are currently working on or will be working on this fall. Don’t worry - you will be fine.</p>

8

<p>This is an incredibly late reply, and I apologize for that! (Note to self: don’t post questions just before going on vacation.)</p>

<p>TheRealKEVP: resume I can do. Letters of recommendation might be a little thin (pretty sure I only have the drama club sponsor and the auditorium manager… maybe the music director), but I’m confident they’ll be strong reports. Thanks a bunch. :)</p>

<p>Times3: I should have included this at the beginning, but better late than never: I will not hesitate to say I have strong academic credentials. 3.9 GPA, IB/AP/honors student all four years, 33 ACT, 2100 SAT (hopefully SAT will go up in the fall). I’ve been looking at top universities (Columbia, WUSTL, UChicago, CMU, etc.) and LACs (Kenyon, Barnard, Reed, etc.) for months, mainly for humanities programs. It was only when I took a closer look at CMU’s theater program that I realized I could be in trouble in terms of portfolios. (Actually, this discussion is making me ponder another question, but I’ll save that for the end.)</p>

<p>So, long answer made short, I’m pretty sure some of the schools I’m looking at would meet that criteria. </p>

<p>theater mom: Okay. I really don’t have much comment except for thank you for that excellent advice–I had never thought of the second option, and that actually sounds like it would be fun to do. :)</p>

<p>madbean: I definitely consider my strongest interest to be in stage management and/or directing. I might consider lighting, but my passion is in overseeing the big picture. I’ve been doing it for three years - I enjoy it and I think I excel at it. Confession: I actually can’t draw worth anything. Floor plans on graph paper, sure, but… I have little-to-no artistic talent outside of the written word. </p>

<p>TechnicalMom: Yes, I’m a rising senior that will enter college in the fall of 2013. I just feel like I have a million other things to do by the time applications are due, and then this issue arose and I wanted to prevent a freak out by asking around. There’s just a lot of pressure on me right now to get things done. So, thank you: that’s more reassuring than you realize. </p>

<p>Now a related question: at the schools recognized for theater excellence and selectivity of their programs (eg. CMU), do you know if there is a chance I could get involved with the theater program without majoring? Or would I be shut out in favor of the theater students?</p>

<p>Again, thank you all so much! This was all very welcome and heartening information I was sorely lacking.</p>

9

<p>Seconding theater mom and madbean’s suggestions. I remember being in a bit of a panic when I was applying to schools because I used to throw my a lot of paperwork out in HS (until I realized I wanted to go to college for technical theatre. Oops!). I retroactively recreated a lot of the paperwork I had, small samples of different kinds (blocking, calling script, run sheets, sign in sheets, contact sheets, etc.). I also know a few of my friends included non-theatre related work in their portfolios, such as photography work. As theater mom said, interviewers (who are almost always faculty members of the program) are looking for potential, not for someone to be already perfect in the field.</p>

<p>Any school with a recognized theatre program will have at least one student run theatre group, where you could volunteer (or get paid if you’re lucky!) to stage manage. Depending on the city where the college is, you might also be able to work with community theaters. Main stage productions put on by the theater departments usually limit their stage managers to students (if a technical theatre program exists) or professionals. That’s my experience. :)</p>

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<p>@allshewrote (great name, by the way): CMU has a theater club but it has nothing to do with the drama department. To get involved with the department, you have to major in the subject. Double majors are possible, however. </p>

<p>[CMU</a> School of Drama | BXA Interdisciplinary](<a href=“http://www.drama.cmu.edu/173/bxa-interdisciplinary]CMU”>http://www.drama.cmu.edu/173/bxa-interdisciplinary)</p>