Program Overview

Theatre Design and Technical Production

The theatre design and technical production program at Western Michigan University 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.

Program Details

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.

Beyond the Classroom

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.

Career Outcomes

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

Program Location

The program is offered in Kalamazoo.

Other Programs of Interest

Other programs of interest include:

• Art
• Art Education
• Art History
• Film, Video and Media Studies
• Graphic Design
• Interior Architecture and Design
• Theatre: Music Theatre Performance
• Fashion Design and Development
• Stage Management
• Arts Administration