Design/Technical 5-week program: June 20, 2021 – July 24, 2021.
Musical Theatre 2-week extension: July 25, 2021 – August 7, 2021.
**The Musical Theatre extension includes both the 5-week Theatre Arts Program and a 2-week Musical Theatre Extension. Design/Tech students may also apply for the full 7-weeks and will stage manage one of the 5-week productions as well as one of the musical theatre showcases.
The scenery shop was huge. However, I learned my way around and I feel like I got the best experience while working in a top-notch shop.”
The Design/Technical Concentration of the Theatre Arts program is a hands-on experience. Each student will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of theatrical design elements as well gaining the know-how to stage manage one of the 8 final productions. In the Design/Technical concentration the necessity for collaborative work is truly celebrated.
Backstage and design work is brought into the spotlight in this program. All of the Design/Technical classes will give students tremendous opportunities for individual instruction, with a teacher-student ratio of approximately 1:2. In this program students will get the opportunity to work one-on-one with some of the most innovative designers in Chicago today.
Students will also attend special design process tutorials with the Theatre Arts Division’s staff of professional designers. Each Design/Tech student will serve as stage manager for one of the fully mounted final productions and present an individual project during production week. There are multiple opportunities to network with Chicago area professionals and to find mentors in these highly specialized fields.
The Design/Technical students participate in the Core classes of acting, voice & movement, performance theory, text/character analysis, and production crew with the entire Theatre Arts student body. We believe that to be an effective specialist, one must have a complete understanding of the entire art of theatre.
The most professional, high quality production I’ve ever done.”
Design/Tech Theatre Arts Typical Daily Schedule
**Times are based on previous years and are subject to change. However, the basic breakdown of the day will remain the same.**
7:15 – 8:15 am Breakfast
8:30 – 11:20 am Morning Acting/Voice & Movement Classes
Students are broken up into groups of about 15-17 students for the Core classes. Each student will spend 1 hour and 20 minutes in each of their morning Core classes: one focused on acting and one focused on voice & movement. Each of these classes contains rigorous physical and vocal warm-ups under the direction of a Faculty member and a Faculty Associate. (The final Core classes, performance theory and text/character analysis, are taught during the afternoons.)
11:30 am – 12:00 pm All Institute Meeting
The entire Theater Arts Division will meet for announcements, association, theatre history, and college information.
12:15 – 1:15 pm Lunch
1:30 – 5:00 pm Crew and Design/Tech Classes
Design/Technical theatre students will be enrolled in Stage Management and Design Process classes in lieu of electives. Classes meet every other day for 50 minutes. There is a free period scheduled every other day.
| Example: | A Day | B Day | |
| Period 1 | 1:45-2:35 pm | Performance Theory | Text Analysis |
| Period 2 | 2:45 – 3:35 pm | Stage Management | Design Class |
| Period 3 | 3:45 – 4:35 pm | Crew | Free Hour |
| Period 4 | 4:45 – 5:35 pm | Crew | Design Process |
5:15 – 6:15 pm Dinner
6:30 -10:30 pm Rehearsal
Rehearsal and/or meetings for final productions and individual tutorial sessions. Each Design/Tech student will stage manage a production company in which the skills and techniques learned in classes will be put to use. The companies will perform twice during the last week of the program.
11:00 pm Curfew
This schedule will be followed 7 days a week. Occasional field trips and Master Classes will be added to the schedule.
I learned so many things about lights that I can apply to work back home.”
