The Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Design emphasizes design as a collaborative process that requires close cooperation among each designer, the director, the technical team, and the performers.

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a working understanding that design is a collaborative process that requires close cooperation between the designers, the director, technical team, and performers on a theatrical production.
• Demonstrate familiarity with multiple design disciplines (costume, lighting or scenic design) though students may focus their work in one area.
• Demonstrate a fluent knowledge of technical theatre and theatrical drawing, including rendering and drafting.
• Articulate knowledge of art and theatre history and dramatic theory.
• Have experienced a range of production responsibilities provided to the theatrical design students by the ample opportunities to work on Departmental productions.

Students may focus their work in the area of costumes, lighting, or scenic design, but they must take classes in each area to gain familiarity with all three design disciplines. Classes are also required in the areas of makeup, technical theatre, rendering and drawing, art and theatre history, and beginning acting. There are ample opportunities for students to work on departmental productions, from the bare-bones workshop level to fully budgeted main stage shows. In addition, assistant design and internship opportunities are available to work on productions in the larger Chicago theatre community. These opportunities often become available through the influence of our faculty of working professionals. Upon graduation, students with a B.A. in Theatre Design will have developed a strong portfolio of work that can be used to seek admission to graduate school or to look for work in professional theatre.

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