Theater Design & Technology

The Theatre Design & Technology Department at Howard W. Blake School of the arts is responsible for the design, implementation, and staffing for hundreds of events annually in our multi-million dollar performing arts facility. While at Blake, students gain theoretical and practical training while emphasizing analysis, the design process, collaboration, and implementation through our professional training program. Students are exposed to both traditional equipment and methods, as well as the latest and most state of the art equipment, preparing them for college theatre programs or for careers in the entertainment technology industry.

Students begin their training in Stagecraft courses, where they gain the practical skills and knowledge necessary to mount full scale departmental productions. Scenery, Lighting, and Sound are emphasized. As students continue, they can choose to focus more on Theatrical Design, or they can stay on the stagecraft track. The design students study intensively, with a heavy emphasis on research, analysis, and collaboration. In the Junior year, design students have the opportunity to serve as assistant designers to faculty members or senior design students. As a senior, a student may earn the privilege to design an aspect of a major theatrical or dance show.

Students in the Theatre Design & Program are trained in modern design software, such as Vectorworks Spotlight, Lightwright, AutoCAD, and Adobe Photoshop. Students also extensively use the ETC EOS Family of software, and those who are interested in lighting are trained in EOS programming.

Students wishing to audition for the Theatre Design & Technology department can view audition requirements here.