Program Overview

Introduction to the Stage Design and Technical Theatre Program

The Stage Design and Technical Theatre program at Dalhousie University combines practical and academic study, allowing students to acquire skills tailored to their interests through a wide variety of subjects. The program combines theory and aesthetics with practical skills and hands-on learning.

Program Overview

The Fountain School of Performing Arts offers a low student-to-instructor ratio, providing students with small class sizes and individual mentoring. Core classes include:

• Scenic design
• Prop building
• Scenic construction
• Stage lighting
• Stage management
• Scenic painting
• Sound design
• Multimedia design
• Projection design

Structure of the Program

BA with Honours in Theatre (Stage Design and Technical Theatre)

This intensive 4-year BA program combines practical and academic study, exposing students to all aspects of technical theatre. The program includes:

• Set and prop construction
• Lighting and sound design
• Stage management
• Set design Students must maintain at least a B- average in Stage Design and Technical Theatre courses to move on to the next year, and Honours students must maintain an average of at least B+ in all their advanced Theatre courses.

Year 1

• PERF 1000.03 (Writing About Performance)
• PERF 1002.03 (Writing About Stage and Screen)
• THEA 1051.03 and 1052.03 (Introduction to Theatre Organization and Stagecraft) This year features labs in set construction, props, lighting and sound, lectures in stage design, stage management, and safe working practices in the theatre, and work on one Fountain School stage production.

Year 2

• THEA 2011.03 (Ancient and Medieval Theatre)
• THEA 2012.03 (Early Modern Theatre)
• THEA 2061.03 and 2062.03 (Technical Theatre 1)
• THEA 2071.03 and 2072.03 (Performance Technology 1)
• THEA 2412.03 (Language of Design)
• THEA 2710.03 (Stage Design 1)

Year 3

• THEA 3061.03 and 3062.03 (Technical Theatre 2)
• THEA 3071.03 and 3072.03 (Performance Technology 2)
• THEA 3711.03 and 3712.03 (Stage Design 2) or PERF 3721.03 and 3722.03 (Digital Design for Performance) In years 2 and 3, students gain a deeper understanding of the first year topics via instruction in technical drawing, scenic rigging and flying, and fall arrest; perspective and colour theory, and the role of art history in theatre; the directorial/scenographic relationship; and work on four Fountain School stage productions each year.

Year 4

• THEA 3503.03 (Modern Theatre)
• One elective course in Theatre History
• THEA 3711.03 and 3712.03 (Stage Design 2) or PERF 3721.03 and 3722.03 (Digital Design for Performance)
• THEA 4061.03 and 4062.03 (Production Techniques)
• THEA 4071.03 and 4072.03 (Advanced Production Specialization) The fourth year involves specialization in set design, lighting design, stage management or props.

BA Major in Theatre

It is possible to complete the required Stage Design and Technical Theatre classes and graduate without completing the requirements of a BA Honours degree. Students must complete the required classes for the Stage Design and Technical Theatre program and enough elective classes to fulfill Dalhousie's requirements for a 90-credit hour BA with Concentration.

Year 1: Overview of Stage Design and Technical Theatre

• PERF 1000.03 (Writing About Performance)
• PERF 1002.03 (Writing About Stage and Screen)
• THEA 1051.03 and 1052.03 (Theatre Organization and Stagecraft)

Year 2

• THEA 2011.03 (Ancient and Medieval Theatre)
• THEA 2012.03 (Early Modern Theatre)
• THEA 2061.03 and 2062.03 (Technical Theatre 1)
• THEA 2071.03 and 2072.03 (Performance Technology 1)
• THEA 2412.03 (Language of Design)
• THEA 2710.03 (Stage Design 1)

Year 3

• THEA 3061.03 and 3062.03 (Technical Theatre 2)
• THEA 3071.03 and 3072.03 (Performance Technology 2)
• THEA 3711.03 and 3712.03 (Stage Design 2) or PERF 3721.03 and 3722.03 (Digital Design for Performance)

Year 3 or 4

• THEA 3503.03 (Modern Theatre)
• One elective course in Theatre History

The Honours Qualifying Project in Stage Design and Technical Theatre will be awarded upon the satisfactory completion of a professional portfolio.