Technical Theater

<p>Hi Theatre Tech folks,</p>

<p>I have been lurking for a while, but now that my son is a junior I am ready to post! Son would love to study design tech/stage management in college, so we are starting the looking and thinking process. It make me very happy that he has an idea of what he wants to do - it sort of takes us out of the rat race of the same stressed out 200 families I know fighting for the same spots at the same schools.</p>

<p>Some stats - please let me know your thoughts and if there are any schools I have not thought of. He likes cities or cool college towns. Does not care about football games or fraternities. Would prefer BFA but would be OK with BA w. Tech concentration. I prefer East Coast or close by.</p>

<p>Also, in your opinion, how much weight is put on portfolio for tech students?</p>

<p>Son has worked on stage productions the since freshman year (crew, lighting, scenery, sound and Asst Stage manager of big spring musical last year).</p>

<p>Summer job as a tech at local children’s community theatre. New member of Thespian society. Takes Tech as a class in school and is licensed by county so he gets paid for working chorus, band, etc. productions.</p>

<p>Core courses mainly Honors, AP and IB courses. GPA probably 3.6ish (and rising). Founded a social justice club, but most activities he is in are theatre related. PSATs were good. Took mock ACT this weekend (no results yet). Will take SAT in March.</p>

<p>So far we have visited Ithaca, Syracuse and Virginia Commonwealth (in state for us). Liked Ithaca and VCU. Hated Syracuse.</p>

<p>Others on the list: Emerson (dream school), BU, Ohio U (I went there), James Madison U (in state), Pace, Univ. of Vermont, Univ. of Colorado (the last two just because he likes them - not even sure about their theatre programs).</p>

<p>Welcome, Virginia. My D is a senior and following the same path as your son. She only wants a BFA and would prefer a conservatory. Her GPA falls 3.3-3.5 range with honors classes but no AP. She has a disability in math, ADD, and anxiety, and as such her test scores are unmentionable. Financial aid is a huge concern for me, so I really haven’t limited her schools because it will all boil down to the package she gets as far as where she actually goes. We are in GA, so she has concentrated on the East Coast, mostly. </p>

<p>Her schools (in no particular order):
UNCSA
University of Central Florida
Webster
Evansville
Point Park
Carnegie Mellon
DePaul (test optional route)
Coastal Carolina
VCU
Shenandoah
Purchase
Otterbein</p>

<p>In State:
Columbus State (the best our state has in theatre)
Valdosta State
Brenau/Gainesville State/Gainesville Theatre Alliance</p>

<p>Hope that helps!</p>

<p>I teach at James Madison University. Please feel free to PM or email me at <a href=“mailto:arecchkm@jmu.edu”>arecchkm@jmu.edu</a>. I can help arrange a time for your son to visit when he would be able to see a mainstage production and/ or tech rehearsal meet with technical and design students and tour the facility with technical and design faculty. </p>

<p>For schools that require a portfolio review the portfolio and interview are primary with admission to the program. How much pull the department has on academic admissions will vary from school to school. </p>

<p>:-) Kate</p>

<p>PS. for other OOS schools he may want to look at Penn State (public), CMU (Private), CCM (public).</p>

<p>Thanks UGADOG99 and KatMT -</p>

<p>UGA - I should mention we are going to need some kind of grant as well. We have a bit of $$ - enough to cover an in state school - but we will fall into “too much income for financial aid” but we could still use a merit grant. That is why schools like CMU and NYU are not on our list (and BU will likely be bumped off). Too pricey!</p>

<p>KatMT - Thanks! We just might contact you when we are ready to visit Madison.</p>

<p>I am an AEA stage manager and former theatre faculty at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Please feel free to PM me with any questions you may have regarding technical theatre and stage management curriculum.</p>

<p>I’m interested in people’s perception of SUNY Purchase. We are in state, so the price is fantastic.</p>

<p>You might also want to think about CCM at the University of Cincinnati. I have a S there in his second year. He applied and got excepted at UNCSA; Webster; DePaul; SCAD; LIPA; and CCM. I have older children that went to college for acting, technical theater is much less competitive.</p>

<p>Bumping and hoping to revive this thread a bit for all the designers and techs.</p>

<p>Im a junior in highschool. And im not sure whether i want to be a designer or production student. Ive applyed to Carnegie Mellon summer programs for diversity for their design and ptm class. Not really looking for any other summer program. I am heavily involved in my highschool backstage theater, community youth theater, and the two adult theater companies in my town. I mostly do set construction while the rest of the time I’m stage managing. I feel myself leaning more toward studying to become a tech director but i like the idea of designing the sets, costume. Does anybody have suggestions on colleges? Could i double major in drama at Carnegie Mellon (my current dream school).</p>

<p>Welcome finkila:</p>

<p>Most BFA programs, including CMU, begin with a core curriculum that includes some of everything. I think you get a year and a half before you have to choose. My daughter was also indecisive when she started but a year and a half made a big difference. CMU also used to allow students to major in more than one technical area, such as set design and technical direction in your case. But they’re dropping the option for a 4-year degree. I think you can still do it but you have to stay in the program longer. </p>

<p>BU, DePaul, and probably others too, offer BFA degrees in Theater Arts that will give you more flexibility than you can get at CMU or other straight-ahead technical programs. You should probably take a look at these programs. They are good for students who want the freedom to do something really original.</p>

<p>But the bottom line is that you can’t opt for both breath and depth without taking more time. It’s a trade-off.</p>

<p>Anyone with kids currently working on their undergrad, going into tech or design or production, who have started attending USITT events? Other than me? :)</p>

<p>Trying to bump this thread. Would LOVE to hear where other tech/design kids are going this year and what the criteria were that helped them make their final decisions.</p>

<p>I would definitely look into the Mason Gross School of the Arts. We happen to be there today for the admitted students day for my daughter who is actually a prospective for the BFA acting program. We sat in on the info session for the design/stage management BFA program within the theater department and spoke with some of the students. The program is quite impressive. Their opportunities and faculty seem to be top notch. The students were very enthusiastic and we spoke with a graduating senior from the design end who is already booked in a job after graduation. It’s an MFA type program for BFA students so the professional training seems really on par with the industry. Just one to add to your research.</p>

<p>Thanks very much Actingmom18 and huge congrats to your daughter! I agree it’ a terrific program!</p>

<p>Hi Everyone,</p>

<p>I am glad to find this thread. I’m still in high school and gleaning all sorts of needed information from this thread and board! Can’t wait to get a little further in my college search by touring another 5-6 tech strong schools this summer!</p>

<p>I am going to Marymount Manhattan College for Theatre design and tech. I fell in love with the school and it is upper east side Manhattan - a great location. I am double majoring with communications. Besides the school itself, I think they have amazing internships available. I was also told that many tech students get to work on theatre festivals during breaks for actual pay!<br>
This thread was very helpful to prepare me for my interview/portfolio review, and I got a nice competitive scholarship in the program.</p>

<p>So I haven’t seen that much about the NYU Tisch Tech Track posted and per a request I wanted to give a rundown of my knowledge of the program. I don’t have a ton of knowledge about other programs; so I am in no way comparing the Tisch program to other schools. I’ll also preface all this by saying NYU is very expensive, but despite the large amount of student debt I now have, I still stand by my choice to go there. </p>

<p>I started out at NYU as an actor/director in Playwrights Horizons studio. By the end of my sophomore year I knew I wanted to do directing and stage management, instead of acting. I was able to continue my directing focus at PHTS while taking Tech Track classes in stage management. This is not the normal rout, but this kind of flexibility is one of the great aspects about Tisch. So I had lots of contact with Tech Track kids through both my own classes there and collaboration on shows together. </p>

<p>First year of Tech Track is probably the hardest. Most kids know which two focuses they are going to choose, but you still have to do a little bit of everything your first year. This is good because knowing how other tech/ design fields work will make you better at your own. Drafting is the dreaded course first year, it’s a LOT of work, but maybe the most important class you get in your time there. First year ALL Tisch students do a crew assignment, but Tech Track kids often have a larger role or the ability to work in a supporting/assistant role on a couple productions. </p>

<p>By second year you declare your two focuses. You take advanced classes in these areas, as well as continuing graphic study and script study. The goal is to give you not only technical skills, but to also teach the artistic side of design. Occasionally a student will chooses to focus on directing or ask to sit in on directing and collaboration classes at PHTS. ( PHTS has its own Design program, but they teach almost entirely artistic aspects of design, and then their students can opt to take a few technical classes in Tech Track.) Second year students start to assist third and fourth years on main stage productions. They can also assist on or be the main designer/ manager on other productions going on. </p>

<p>Third and Fourth year there is one on one instruction/advisement with mentors. The rest of their time students are required to have a professional internship. They also design the main stages. NYU main stages are incredibly well financed so the production value is very high. Budgets can run anywhere from a couple hundred thousand to upwards of a million dollars for the main stage musical. (if you cringe thinking “this is where my tuition money is going!” I agree. You could have great production for less, but its nice for the designers)</p>

<p>Beyond all this, the biggest pro I think Tisch has going for designers is the sheer number of productions. There are four to six Department run main stages a year, but there are hundreds more productions done between studios, independent student productions known as Shop Shows, and even non-Tisch shows done through Steinhardt or student clubs. These shows may not have the same kind of budget, but they tend to be really great placed to learn and create, because it s really down to the students to get them done. Some of my favorite designs have come from these smaller black box shows. </p>

<p>As far as doing outside shows, nothing specifically forbids it. Obviously you will work on some via your internship, and there are plenty of summer opportunities, and some kids make it work during the school year. That said, Tech Track is extremely demanding. None of the other studio kids will admit it out loud, but we all know that Tech Track kids put way more time in then anyone else. So many just don’t have the time to work on anything outside of what they are assigned to. Anyone going into this program has to be prepared to juggle studio assignment, studio hours (three days a week 8-6) academic classes and work, and multiple productions. There is lots of support, but it is not easy. </p>

<p>Overall I would say if you come into the program with a lot of knowledge and experience then they are going to build on that and start utilizing it right away. If you come in as a blank canvas then they are going to fill you up really fast. You will get lots of production experience, and some professional experience. And more then any of the other programs/studios at Tisch you are going to make professional connections. </p>

<p>By the time I graduated I had about 10 or so educational SM credits and about a half a dozen professional ones form NY theaters and festivals. I’ve been working as an Stage Manager and Production Manager since I graduated, and I have never gone a month without having some theater job. Hope that give you an idea of the program.</p>

<p>^^SM2010 Thank you so much- this is exactly the info we’ve been looking for. This was enormously helpful! One more question, how does it work in terms of the MFA students. One of our concerns was we hear the graduate stude to receive the bulk of the design responsibilities, at least for the main stage shows? Was this true? Also, what stages/theatre spaces are used for the main stage shows? Thank you again!</p>

<p>While I was there, and from what I hear from friends who are still there, main stages are primarily designed by undergrads. MFA design students tend to work on MFA acting projects. In general there isn’t a lot of overlap between the MFA and undergrad programs. That said, it is possible for a really big production or if the director knows one of the MFA students personally they might have them take lead, but even still undergrad students will be immensely involved. Assisting on a project really is about artistically assisting, not just being the person who helps focus something. (thats what crews and freshman are for!)</p>

<p>Tisch has a variety of spaces that they use depending on the project. The Burrows and Loewe are the two large black boxes in the Tisch building that get used for most of the main stages. I know a lot of people hear black box and think dinky, but these space are great and are chosen a lot because of flexibility they offer to productions. At least one show is normally done either at Skirball, NYU’s large proscenium 800 + seater, or at a professional theater in the area like Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater. </p>

<p>Shop Shows, which are independent student productions sponsored by Tisch, are done in the Shop Theater, which is a smaller black box. ETW shows often go up there too. </p>

<p>PHTS third year directing projects get put up in the smallest black box at Tisch, the Studio Theater, and their 4th year projects go up in of of their Studio theaters, usually the Bob Moss Black box.</p>

<p>I don’t really know anything about other studio’s theater spaces. </p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>SM2010. Thank you very much- immensely helpful info. and wonderful to hear how busy your professional life has been post-graduation. Congratulations and best wishes for continued success!</p>