Theatre Design and Technical Production
Western Michigan University's theatre design and technical production program accepts up to 18 students each year, allowing for small classes and one-on-one interaction with the faculty. As a student in this program, you will take courses in scenery, costumes, lighting and sound. You will receive a general overview of all aspects of theatre production and take advanced courses in specific areas.
You will learn your craft in a state-of-the-art design studio with 24 CADD workstations at custom designed drafting tables. A large scene shop is located on site and is equipped for metal and wood construction. The department also maintains a costume shop with dye facilities, a lighting lab, automated fixtures, and digital audio and projection systems. Our advanced facilities ensure that students are exposed to the most current technology.
As a theatre design and technical production student at WMU, you will work on fully produced, faculty-directed productions in three different theatre spaces using state-of-the-art equipment. Technical assistantships and work-study assignments are also available in all production areas and provide additional opportunities for hands-on, practical experience. Master classes with nationally recognized, professional artists are provided to expand the academic experience beyond the classroom even further.
Recent WMU graduates with degrees in theatre design and technical production are working as:
- Designers
- Technicians
- Gaffers
- Stage carpenters
- Seamstresses
- Teachers
- Producers
Alumni can be found at opera houses and in scene and costume shops across the country. Their work can be seen in:
- Broadway productions
- Las Vegas shows
- Major regional theatres
- Television shows
- Films
- Kalamazoo