Design & Technical Production

Are you interested in design, set construction, costume construction, lighting, sound, properties or stage management? From your very first semester at Coe, you can participate behind the scenes of our productions by working in one of the shops or on run crew for a show. You can earn credit for your involvement and there are work-study positions in the shops, too. It is very likely that, as you gain experience, you will have the opportunity to supervise a crew, assist a faculty designer, or even design a production.

Courses in theatre design and technical production areas are open to all students. If you are interested in pursuing a theatre major with an emphasis in design/tech production you will receive a solid academic background through the core theatre classes along with choices from many advanced courses. Practical experience is also necessary—active involvement is encouraged in all aspects of production work outside the classroom.

Coe students have many exciting opportunities for internships and off-campus study (usually in the spring of your junior or senior year). We work with you to develop a design or technical internship position in New York, Chicago and other locations. Summer theatre work is highly recommended too—our resume/portfolio reviews help you to be prepared for interviewing for summer stock design/technical positions.

Design/Tech courses offered at Coe:

• Technical Production I
• Design for the Stage
• Make-Up
• Computer Assisted Drafting & Design (C.A.D.D.)
• Technical Production II
• History of Dress
• Dress and Gender
• Scene Design
• Costume Design
• Lighting Design
• Advanced Projects in Design/Technical Production

Your chances of working in the professional theatre will be greatly enhanced if, following graduation from Coe, you continue your preparation in a conservatory or graduate school environment. For this reason, much of our focus, particularly in the upper-level courses, is aimed at preparing you for that next level of training.

For example, one of our recent graduates, Jackie McCarthy, designed lighting for two mainstage productions (Danny and the DeepBlueSea, fall 2005/Gypsy spring 2006) and scenery for her senior honors project (A Month in the Country, fall 2006). Check out Jackie’s website highlighting her impressive theatrical experiences.

To see how other students are using their Coe Theatre experience, check out the Successful Careers page.