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Overview of the Program

Our goal is to train scenic, costume, and lighting designers in the performing arts and related fields to become professional visual artists of the highest caliber.  We hope to aid in developing artists who can invent personal, unique, and enriching solutions to the complex artistic challenges that manifest themselves in the dramatic exploration of complex human emotions, ideas, politics, faith, psychology, and social interaction that is theatre.  We want these artists to be conscious (socially, intellectually, and emotionally) of the impact of their choices in representing historically, racially, ethnically, sexually, and socio-economically diverse populations as well as in affecting a diverse audience in a timely and relevant way.  We believe that the performing arts have a unique ability--and responsibility--to represent and examine such diverse cultures and ideas. A spirit of integrity, rigor, excellence, and collaboration is essential for such an artist to be effective.

In training students in design we hope to develop tools and skills necessary for them to effectively communicate (both socially and visually) with their collaborators and with their audiences.  These skills might include: text analysis, dramaturgy, drawing, drafting, painting, draping, the manipulation of lighting to control visual focus and the ability to transform two-dimensional visual ideas into three-dimensional forms.   We also want each student to develop a strategy for the life-long process of learning about materials and equipment as well as the historical context of art, architecture, literature, design, philosophy etc. (i.e. the Arts and Humanities).  By developing these tools in combination with his or her personal vision, it is our goal that the graduate in design will be able to coherently respond to textual, musical, digital, physical or non-verbal programs by contributing to the creation of an environmental ‘vessel’ (including scenery, costumes, lighting, and sound) which supports such a performance by helping to ‘carry’ it forward.

Students entering the program may have prepared for graduate study as an undergraduate Drama major, in a related field such as Art, Architecture, English, or Fashion, or even with backgrounds seemingly unconnected to the arts.  In any case, the student is expected to have a reasonable amount of exposure to the field of theatre, opera and/or dance and the passion to pursue a greater understanding of these fields locally, nationally, and/or internationally.

To see more photos, view our Production Photo Slideshow

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