Technical Theater

<p>hughesmove-I am a current Sound Design major at UNCSA. When it comes to the sound portfolio it gets trickey, for everyone. All of my classmates and I talked one day about what we all had in our portfolio, and to be honest, most of them were quite different. I personally had done more of my own work with video relating to sound, rather that theatre. I, personally, made a DVD portfolio with all of the movies I had made, along with the programs I made for our shows. I did also include the few sound effects I made as well as the cue sheets I had created for my shows. I also included my resume with all of the specifics of what I had done over the years relating to sound. I wasn’t sure if my portfolio would suffice for the programs I was applying to, but I was accepted into every program I applied, Emerson, UArts, SCAD, UNCSA, and SUNY Fredonia. When I got to UNCSA after I was accepted, I talked to David Smith, the head of the sound department, about my portfolio, and he said that the way I presented my portfolio and the work I had done was what got me accepted. He also told me that he was very impressed with my organization and the way in which created my sound effects.
I also must say that a fantastic GPA isn’t as important as the skills you have and the potential you have. I had a similarly high GPA as your daughter in high school, but the other 3 in my class had B- and lower GPA’s. Academically, I would think that your daughter will be accepted at any her choices.
UNCSA is also another school to consider for Sound Design.
If you or your daughter have any questions about going into sound or anything, feel free to ask or PM me, I’d be more than happy to answer questions.</p>

<p>studentfor2011-UNCSA’s stage management program is getting better, like a lot better. We just hired Frank Lombari as our head of the stage management department. The department hasn’t been bad by any means, but with the addition of Frank, all of the SM students feel like they will learn more from Frank’s experiences in drama, rather than JCB’s experience in Opera. We don’t have a set number of spots for each class, but rather, those applicants who show they have both talent and the ability to help shape the experience of others for the better. The program is competitive, in my class (2013) there were about 15 who applied, but only 6 were accepted. If you have any question about UNCSA, feel free to ask me or PM me.</p>

<p>I agree with thelilodance that there is no one “right” way to put together a sound design portfolio. S had a very strong music background (mainly vocal, but some instrumental) when he applied to schools for sound design. He included a fairly extensive music resume in his portfolio. He also included an acting resume, photos and drawings from sets he had designed and constructed, drawings from an art class and documentation of some sound design work he had done. Actual sound design work probably made up the smallest part of his portfolio. He does well in an interview situation and his knowledge and enthusiasm come across very clearly. I felt that his portfolio (combined with LOR’s) showcased his strengths and he used the interview to explain how those skills would transfer to being a successful sound designer.</p>

<p>thelilodance - my daughter is interested in costumes and or make-up. One of the schools that she is looking at is UNCSA. What can you tell me about their programs. Also, do you have any suggestions to help her with putting together her portfolio?</p>

<p>dmg12345-Let me just say that I do not know a whole lot about either the costumes or wigs and make-up programs at UNCSA, but I will give you as much information as I can. From what I have been told about the costumes faculty, they are fantastic. Even though Bill Brewer seems intimidating at times, he is a really sweet guy who has a wealth of knowledge that he is more than happy to share with his students. He primarily teaches design and millinery, I believe. Christine Turbitt is also on the design faculty and is amazing. She is really nice and always there for anyone to talk to, as are most of the faculty. All of the upperclassmen who take her classes love her and learn so much from her in short amounts of time. Pam K, the costume tech teacher, is the costume teacher all freshmen get know and she is very good when it comes to building on everyone’s current skill level, even if the skill level of the class is greatly varied. I know that the costume freshmen take a costume tech class, which has been compared to drafting for the rest of the freshmen, along with fundamentals of tech theatre, drawing, and color and design. Starting in 3rd year, the costume majors declare if they are design or technology. Although the students are able say which track they would prefer, at the end of 2nd year the faculty informs each student which track they would do better in and that becomes their track of study. Even if a student is deemed a design major, they have ample time to do technology work and vice versa. Also included with costume major is millinery, fabric dying and crafts. All costume students spend time doing everything as well usually having some sort of leadership position in crafts or fabric dying. We also have an extensive stock of costumes from all periods that are altered, if needed, for shows as well as fully creating some new costumes for each show.
So I guess I actually know more about the costume program than I thought I did.</p>

<p>We do not have a dedicated make-up major, but a wigs and make-up major. During the freshman year the wig and make-up majors take drawing, color and design, fundamentals of tech theatre and 3 one-term classes relating to both wigs and make-up. I know that during the final term the final project involves styling multiple wigs and applying make-up to models. While working with make-up for different productions, the students work with prosthetic for a variety of uses. During the wigs and make-up rotation of fundies, freshmen have the opportunity to make a face cast, as well as learning the basics of applying stage make-up and basics of wig making and applying a wig. Throughout the wig and make-up program, the amount of experience with wig making builds up to tying full wigs with varying thicknesses and lengths, as well as varying materials and techniques. There are two wig and make-up faculty, Martha, who is very into showing her dogs for competitions, and Andre, who is knowledgeable, but not very visible to first year non-wig and make-up students. The wig and make-up majors support all drama shows, all opera shows, and some dance shows. </p>

<p>That’s what I can think of off the top of my head. If you have any more specific questions about the program, let me know or PM me, if I can’t answer your question, I’ll ask someone in the department.</p>

<p>Also, regarding the portfolio, especially for costumes and wigs and make-up, including drawings of any costume, wig or make-up renderings would be good. Including pictures of anything that you have been involved in making, or designing. If your daughter did any painting for sets, include pictures of those. Any artwork that your daughter considers her best in the past 2 or three years would be good. Pretty much anything involving theatre, art, movies or music that your daughter feels are examples of her strengths.</p>

<p>I hope that helps some. Let me know any other specifics.</p>

<p>thelilodance - thanks for posting. My daughter is also interested in the costume program as well as the wig and make-up program. The information you shared was very helpful. She has an older sister that currently attends UNCSA - so of course - it is her top choice right now. Any additional thoughts on the portfolio piece would be appreciated. I feel comfortable with what should be included in the portfolio, but I am more curious about your thoughts on how to present the information. How to organize it, etc. Thanks!</p>

<p>TechnicalMom-What program is your other daughter in?</p>

<p>Let me just say that the students who graduate from the Wig and Makeup program are in higher demand than the costume students because there are always so few WAM students and they are easily adaptable to the world of television and film. I’m not saying that the costume program is not as good as the WAM program, it’s just that more people enter the costume program. Many students on the costume design track opt to go grad school, while the students on the technology track usually go straight to work after school. WAM students usually go straight to work because there are so few WAM programs in the country.</p>

<p>When it comes to organizing the portfolio, most people tend to organize their work chronologically. Another way to go is to organize it by type. Either way is fine, but when we have our portfolio reviews, we are told to organzie our work chronologically to show our improvement over the year.<br>
When it comes to presentation, some people put copies of their work, NEVER ORIGINALS!!!, in the black plastic portfolios in what ever order they choose. Some people take 4x6 pictures and put them in photo albums. If technologically inclined it is possible to make a DVD portfolio essentially with a slide show with all your work. Since your daughter is looking at costume and WAM programs, it would be a good idea to bring hard copies of her work to the interview, just to be able to show the interviewer a larger copy of the work. Also when preparing her portfolio, your daughter should include short paragraphs about each piece of work and photograph.</p>

<p>Was that helpful?</p>

<p>thelilodance - My oldest daughter is in the Stage Managment Program. Thanks so much for your thoughts on the portfolio. We hope to start putting it together in August.</p>

<p>Hi All –
For those of you with students in tech theatre conservatory programs, here’s a question. How important is a fourth year of science in high school? My daughter is applying to mostly conservatory programs and we are having a tough time fitting a science into her course load for senior year. She has a lot of AP classes (her choice, not mine) and is contemplating not taking science this year. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks so much in advance -</p>

<p>Lisa</p>

<p>My D wanted to take Physics but her high school had other ideas. Instead, she wound up taking Precalc and a third year of foreign language. Thankfully, this is in the past now. None of the colleges even mentioned it—including CMU where she will have to take Physics of Stage Machinery eventually. </p>

<p>She took a generic but rigorous program of college prep classes, mostly honors rather than AP, focusing on extra English classes each trimester of her last year. Not only was it enough for the theater schools, it was enough for the UCs as well.</p>

<p>I think most schools will not required 4 years of science, 3 at most.</p>

<p>Hey guys! I’m actually an engineering major but I’ve always had a very strong interest in theater. I’m not the greatest actor in the world but I like the whole “behind-the-scenes” aspect. Would it be worth it to pursue a theater minor or would it just be a waste of time, especially considering the workload of an engineering major? Also, would a theater degree be required if I wanted a tech job sometime in the future? I’m only a freshman so engineering is definitely not set in stone yet.</p>

<p>pyroza - Sorry I can’t give you any specific information about your question but I thought you might be interested in this link to a local Seattle story. Several years ago when the doors to the Seattle monorail were damaged, the best repair option turned out to be the Seattle Opera scene shop!</p>

<p>[The</a> Seattle Times: Local News: Unlikely monorail-door maker: the opera](<a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003004449_operamonorail19m.html]The”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003004449_operamonorail19m.html)</p>

<p>I don’t think I have ever seen any discussion in this forum about design/tech for opera, but given the large scale of most opera sets, I think it would be a really interesting area and require some very advanced skills.</p>

<p>@SoundMom: What a great story!</p>

<p>@pyroza: It is possible to talk yourself into a job in tech theater without a degree. You may need to work without pay for a while, however, and the right education can get you further faster. If nothing is set in stone yet, why not give it a try?</p>

<p>Hi All,</p>

<p>Thx to theater mom for getting this thread started - I’ve learned lots that I’ve passed along to my S who will be Freshman in Fall 2011. He’s interested in Lighting Design, and serious (so far) about the following college candidates (no particular order):
SUNY Purchase
CMU
UofIll/Champaign
Webster
CCM
Virginia Tech
Shenandoah U.
Wayne State</p>

<p>AFAIK, a number of the programs involve a formal in-person portfolio review, many which are based on assigned schedule. Do prospective LD students ordinarily travel to each and many such reviews (racking up lots of driving or airline expense)? Are there “backdoor” informal reviews that can be/are arranged individually that satisfy the formal requirement (i.e., one can do a round-robin across several states in one shot, rather than a trip every week). Or if logistics are a constraint, must one simply focus on a few programs and bite the bullet on the logistics?</p>

<p>Welcome, PhotonPreak:</p>

<p>CCM and Webster are National Unified Auditions schools while CMU and SUNY-Purchase are part of the Consortium of Conservatory Theatre Training Programs. These organizations arrange auditions for their member schools within a few days of each other at the same or nearby hotels in the same cities. The schedule is available on the Unified Auditions website and on the department websites for each school. Most schools schedule portfolio showings interchangeably with auditions although sign-up schedules differ.</p>

<p>[National</a> Unified Auditions](<a href=“http://www.unifiedauditions.com/]National”>http://www.unifiedauditions.com/) </p>

<p>I don’t know about the other schools but I would ask the departments directly.</p>

<p>Best.</p>

<p>Hi, I’m a senior from Nevada. I’ve been in my school’s theater company for almost three years now and participated in every show each season (so roughly 18 so far.) I’ve been both lead roles and crew positions but I really like the technical aspect of theater. I’ve been Assistant Director, various crew heads, etc. I was thinking of a minor in technical theater because my other major will be some form of biochemistry because I’d like to become a doctor, but if the MCATs don’t work out having a career in theater wouldn’t be a bad option AT ALL. Does anyone know about the technical theater departments in the schools I’m looking at? </p>

<p>Yale
Brown
Georgetown
Harvard
Pomona
Holy Cross
Boston College
Duke
Dartmouth
Rice</p>

<p>PhotonPreak - our son is a lighting major and we did lots of driving when he was deciding on schools. The schools were very accommodating and he was invited to sit in on classes and shows. Depending on the show schedule it could have been a tech rehearsal or an actual performance. It was a wild experience - he met one professor at his condo (we were there too), another on a Sunday and another came back in after a tech rehearsal to talk to him. One was in town for a touring show and had dinner at our house. He got great advice on his portfolio and worked on incorporating the suggestions for some time.</p>

<p>We actually started visiting when he was a sophomore so he visited his top schools twice. The second visit was the actual interview and it was a requirement.</p>

<p>Its all been worth it - he works really hard and loves what he does. He’s had amazing internships and has taken advantage of everything. If he had more time I think he would do more!</p>

<p>His school list was pretty short - some of his schools are on your list. He wanted a conservatory model which was a good fit for him.</p>

<p>One school I don’t see on your list is UNC School of the Arts - any reason?
Good luck to your son.</p>

<p>My son is a senior at a performing arts high school and wants to major in technical directing. He has a strong B average and has taken a lot of AP classes. However, he did not score very well on the SAT. He is applying at UNCSA, CCM, DePaul, and Webster. How important do you think SAT scores are? He’s a very hard worker, but not a great test taker. We are very nervous about it. Any thoughts?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>We had this problem too but my D was still widely accepted. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. All of the colleges told us they weighted grades and curriculum over test scores.</p>