The Top xxx College Theatre Design and Tech Programs for 2019-2020

Baldwin Wallace University

At the offset of each new school twelvemonth, we hither at OnStage Blog like to announce what we experience are the best performing arts for the coming year. For those of y'all wondering how we select these schools, information technology starts in the previous spring.

Starting in April, we tasked a commission of just over 20 people to research these programs. They consisted of theatre educators, students, alumni, and parents. We wanted people who knew how to evaluate a performing arts program and what questions to ask. This is what we feel separates us from every other college ranking article, these folks know what's of import in theatre education.

This year nosotros based our criteria on a number of factors including Cost vs. Scholarships, Quality of Facilities, Performance/Production Opportunities, and Post-Graduate Support. We also asked questions about the diverseness of students as well equally the kinesthesia.

Each year, we also like to include a new category that factor into our rankings - on/off-campus condom. We feel this is a cistron that is oft non made a priority. And so in addition to cold-calling the schools, we also took a look at their Clery Reports and asked questions near how proactive these schools are when information technology comes to safety.

This year nosotros also decided not to rank the schools 1-thirty. When looking at the scores, often these schools were separated by 1 to two points. And so rather, this year nosotros're simply naming who we experience are the best, in no particular society.

Nosotros must as well preface this by saying that while these are some smashing schools to start your search with, ultimately the best college theatre program out there is the 1 you feel most confident and comfortable attending.

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The entertainment industry is constantly being impacted by the development of technology. Because of this, higher theatre design and tech programs have to evolve with information technology. Programs are offering new classes, bringing in innovative guests and implementing the newest stage technology into their productions. Needless to say, it's an exciting time to be in theatre blueprint and tech.

Here are 30 programs we feel are doing some amazing things onstage and backside the scenes.

Betoken Park University - Pittsburgh, PA

Why we love it: Theatre production students will take a professional preparation class to develop resumes, portfolios and interviewing skills. These students too have an opportunity for sponsorship to the USITT or SETC conferences for networking, career exploration, and task interviews.

Ball State Academy - Muncie, IN

Why we dear it: Esteemed faculty include Kathryn Rohe. A prolific designer across the country, she has been the Resident Costume Designer with Transport Theatre in New York since 2002. She has also worked on several Broadway shows including The "Lion King," "Mamma Mia!," "Hairspray," and "Thoroughly Modernistic Millie."

UNC School of the Arts - Winston-Salem, NC

Why we love information technology: Alums have worked with world-renowned organizations like Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Berkeley Ballet Theatre, Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre, and The Walt Disney Company.

Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University - New Brunswick, New Jersey

Why we dearest it: Each semester there is regular shop fourth dimension and focused assignments in construction, profitable a technical manager, audio design and electrics that develop theater practice. The final semester includes advanced classes, including a professional person development seminar and career transition study. Training is completed by serving as a technical managing director on a Rutgers Theater Company production.

SCAD - Savannah, GA

Why we love information technology: Production design alumni are employed around the world at 20th Century Play a trick on, Discovery Communications, Food Network, HBO, HGTV, MTV Networks, NBC Universal, New American Shakespeare Tavern, Nickelodeon and the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.

Carnegie Mellon University - Pittsburgh, PA

Why we beloved it: With equally many every bit 25 annual productions in the Schoolhouse of Drama—amongst them, The New Works Series, devised work, traditional theater, musicals, opera, dance, television, and flick—students take aplenty opportunity to blueprint. Partnerships with professional person theaters in Pittsburgh provide additional experiences for advanced students.

University at Buffalo - Buffalo, NY

Why we honey it: BFA students in Pattern and Technology receive comprehensive training in all aspects of product including Scene, Lighting, Audio, and Costume Design too Stage Management, Technical Direction, Live Result Production, and more than.

Emerson Higher - Boston, MA

Why we love it: As a student in a design plan focused exclusively on undergraduates, y'all'll accept unique access to the Higher's performance and production spaces, which include five theatres ranging from the seating-flexible Jackie Liebergott Blackness Box to the 1,186-seat Cutler Majestic Theatre.

DePaul University - Chicago, IL

Why we love information technology: Technicians are trained in scenery and props construction, rigging, drafting, welding, lighting technology, sound technology, pneumatics, hydraulics, automation, problem-solving, and project management.

LIU Post - Brookville, NY

Why we dearest information technology: The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Design and Product is a pre-professional degree that combines a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of theatre with concentrations in costume, scenic, lighting or sound pattern; technical production; and stage management.

The University of Arizona - Tucson, AZ

Why nosotros beloved it: Theatre productions are supported with large well-equipped store spaces. The scenery store includes a steel working area, large assembly space, and dedicated paint store with movable paint frame for both frame and floor painting. The costume area has split up education labs and costume production labs which include fitting rooms and laundry as well equally a separate costume crafts shop and dye room. Backdrop has its ain store for both soft and constructed props.


Ithaca College - Ithaca, NY

Why we dear it: The bachelor of fine arts degree in theatre production and design is an intensive pre-professional program that combines conservatory-style training in theatre pattern and engineering with a broad liberal arts instruction. The theatre technology concentration is for students interested in the areas of technical direction, scenic carpentry, sound technology, audio mixing, properties, scenic art (painting), or lighting technology. Students take intensive studio classes in all aspects of technical pattern and production. The theatrical design concentration is for students interested in scenic, costume, lighting, and/or sound design.

Baldwin Wallace University - Berea, OH

Why we dearest it: BW faculty are practicing professionals with contacts at Cleveland'south Nifty Lakes Theater, Cleveland Public Theatre, Beck Heart for the Arts and Dobama Theatre, too equally Idaho Shakespeare Festival and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.

Kent State University - Kent, OH

Why we love it: Lighting design kinesthesia include Jakyung Seo. She has worked equally a professional lighting designer and banana lighting designer in USA regional theatre including Steppenwolf and Congo Square Theatre (Chicago), Center to Soul (NYC), CATCO (Columbus), Prothouse and Lodestone Theatre (LA).

Pace University - New York City, NY

Why we love it: Courses include "Acting for Production and Design". This grade covers the basic principles of interim for designers and technicians to provide them a practical and easily-on understanding of the role player's process and tool kit. Students learn theatre games, character evolution, techniques to explore locations and environments, scene study methods and analysis.

Auburn Academy - Auburn, AL

Why we honey it: Second-year courses include "Costume Construction". This course covers fundamentals of auto sewing techniques, pattern drafting and draping, cloth dyes, and craftwork as they chronicle to theatrical costuming.

Catawba College - Salisbury, NC

Why we love it: Study abroad opportunities accept taken Catawba Theatre Arts students to the U.Grand. and Italian republic and take allowed them international experiences and artistic residencies in Costa rica, Hellenic republic, Germany, Japan, and Estonia.

Virginia Commonwealth University - Richmond, VA

Why nosotros love information technology: Preparation in iii major areas of design and engineering science: scenic, costume, and lighting are emphasized. costumes at SETC 2011Courses and practical work in sound design, prop structure, makeup and wig blueprint are also offered.

CalArts - Valencia, CA

Why nosotros love it: The professionally managed and maintained 5,000-square-foot scene shop consists of an expansive forest shop, metal shop, CNC room with router, lathe and vacuum course, too every bit a fully stocked rigging room and tool cage.

UCONN - Storrs, CT

Why we honey it: Breezy assessments by the Pattern/Technical kinesthesia in the student's freshman and sophomore years are helpful in providing feedback, sharpening focus and encouraging candidates with demonstrated an aptitude to go on in the program.

Penn Land University - University Park, PA

Why nosotros dear it: The professional producing arm of the School of Theatre, Penn Country Centre Stage, enables costume students even greater and more direct contact with artists working in the industry. In addition, students are exposed to "hands on" research in their historic clothing drove of over 1,000 garments and accessories.

Baylor University - Waco, TX

Why we dearest it: Each year, students take on the responsibility of phase managing three to iv regular-flavor mainstage productions, two midsummer mainstage productions, ii musical theatre workshop CaBEARet fundraisers, and over xx workshop productions ranging in content from devised work to musicals.

Syracuse University - Syracuse, NY

Why we love it: You volition work from their newly expanded and renovated Theater Design Middle, which includes three design studios, crafts rooms, a LightBox, CAD lab, and a design library. Their theater circuitous provides opportunities to piece of work in a variety of performance spaces, including a 500-seat proscenium; a 250-seat theater that tin can be configured as a proscenium, thrust, or avenue stage; and their intimate Loft Theater.

SUNY Purchase Higher - Purchase, NY

Why we love it: More than than 86 percent of theatre design/technology graduates are working in their chosen profession. Many alumni are now members of Us local 829, IATSE, and AEA and have received Tony, Emmy, Obie, and Drama Desk-bound Awards, among other honors. Their extensive blueprint credits include Broadway, Off Broadway, dance, pic, television, industrials, and Las Vegas.

Wichita Land University - Wichita, KS

Why we love information technology: Designers and technicians with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, American Shakespeare Heart, Casa Mañana, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Cirque du Soliel, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Goodman Theatre, Huntington Phase, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and on Unusual Suspects, Modern Family, True Blood, CSI: NY and more.

Boston University - Boston, MA

Why we beloved it: Before officially declaring their BFA degree major, each first-year student entering the Schoolhouse of Theatre is admitted into a Freshman Cadre Curriculum, in either Performance or Design & Production. The Freshman Core feel helps to establish a base of operations vocabulary that will serve equally the foundation for a student's progression into his or her BFA degree programme.

Missouri State University - Springfield, MO

Why we love it: A unique opportunity with the Tent Theatre, the only company in the area that houses an Equity Membership Candidate Program. Every bit a student, you lot will have the opportunity to build equity candidacy points. You will piece of work with performers who have been recruited throughout the nation to participate in this professional experience.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Champaign, IL

Why we love it: The costume shop features avant-garde millinery, dyeing, and leather-working facilities, while a makeup and wig studio produces prosthetics, ventilated wigs, and facial hair.

Oklahoma Metropolis University - Oklahoma City, OK

Why we dearest it: The BFA in Stage Direction currently has an exchange with Rose Bruford College located in London. With this commutation, stage direction students accept the opportunity to spend the spring semester of their junior year studying at Rose Bruford.. This feel is designed into the curriculum and allows the student to stay on track to graduate in the standard four years.

Higher-Conservatory of Music - Cincinnati, OH

Why we love it: Lighting design students will gain valuable hands-on experience working with our professional quality equipment in inventory. A selected list of lighting gear includes: Philips Vari-Lite & Martin Automatic Fixtures and Wyrbon Color Scrollers. Consoles such equally: ETC EOS, Element, Loftier End Hog, Strand, and ETC Source 4 Conventional Fixtures.