Degree Programs
M.F.A. in Theatrical Design
The Mission
- To inspire vigorous minds
- To enable the emerging artist
- To envision the future of performance
- To redefine the current body of knowledge
- To create a community of dynamic artists
- To activate courageous generative thought
The Meaning
The University of Texas Austin is a destination where artists can practice a rigorous and daring exploration of their talents. We are dedicated to adventurous creative thought, critical contemplation, and the crafting of meaning through performance. We promote the belief that the design professional is a generative rather than an interpretive artist. We encourage those students who seek to cross the traditional boundaries of design, performance, and technology and those who have a strong desire to create original performance work. The UT community of professional faculty and staff mentors believe students should hold a deep, complex understanding of performance and their relationship to the world of performance making. Graduate school is the beginning of a lifelong exercise of passionate discourse and inspirational discovery within the art form. At The University of Texas performance is an integral, fundamental cultural essential honoring traditional theatre heritage and embracing alternative contemporary forms of expression. We are educating the next generation of visionary leaders in the arts. What Starts Here Changes the World.
The Experience
- Rigorous foundational skill and technique development.
- Innovative realized production experiences.
- An opportunity for the artist to grow as a unique and adventurous voice.
- Discovery and study of new and traditional performance technologies.
- Close and consistent contact with professional mentors, guest artists, and practitioners.
- Opportunities in Theatre, Dance, Opera, Film, Video, Performance Art, Solo Performance
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The People
In addition to the close mentoring relationships that students can expect with members of the design faculty they will have regular access to important guest artists and a world-class faculty in other areas of the department. Furthermore, graduate cohorts in Playwriting, Dance, Acting, Drama and Theatre for Youth and Performance as Public Practice provide a rich community of fellow artists and scholars with which design and technology students can engage. Our students work in state of the art facilities and are supported by a highly trained professional staff. The Design and Technology training at The University of Texas is situated in the Department of Theatre and Dance working in close relationship with the Department of Radio, Television and Film, Burnt Orange Productions (an independent film company), the Butler Opera Center and the Department of Art and Art History.
The Environment
Austin is an alternative choice for a student experience. The city has been recognized as one of the most important centers of creative capital in America. The motto "keep Austin weird" expresses the independent spirit so pervasive in this community. Austin Texas offers a diverse and robust arts scene. Austin boasts over forty working theatre companies, an important indie film industry, world-class museums, research facilities and an extraordinary live music scene. Houston, Dallas and San Antonio are within driving distance and the world seems to eventually find a reason to visit Austin. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities that this environment affords.
We strongly encourage students to work beyond the boundaries of Austin during the summer breaks. Students while in the program have interned or worked at the following venues:
- Academy of Film and Television - Los Angeles, CA: internship
- Alley Theatre, Houston, TX - designer, draper, crafts, dyer/painter, wig master
- Arnold Levine, Inc., New York - assistant milliner for Broadway and opera
- Barbara Matera's Costumes, New York - first hand
- Utah Shakespearean Festival - design assistant, draper, first hand, craft artisan
- Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis - millinery, assistant designer
- Children's Theatre of Minneapolis - crafts artisan
- Old Globe Theatre, San Diego - assistant designer, craft artisan, first hand
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival - design assistant, fabric painting and dyeing
- Metropolitan Opera, New York - shopper, craft artisan
- Santa Fe Opera - apprentice, first hand, craft artisan, design assistant
- Spoletto Festival - assistant to shop manager, crafts artisan
- Williamstown Theatre Festival - assistant designer
- Houston's Theatre Under the Stars - electrician, assistant designer
- Penumbra Theatre, Minneapolis - technical director, electrician
- Houston Grand Opera - resident assistant lighting designer
- Barnum & Bailey Circus Blue Tour - assistant moving light operator
- Cincinnati Opera - resident assistant lighting designer
The Purpose
An education is one of the few possessions that once attained you will always own. It will provide infinite support, a common community, and acknowledged advantage in the profession. We have an active and successful network of alumni. Former students are working as designers, assistant designers, drapers, tailors, crafts artisans, master electricians, technical directors, production managers, entertainment designers, and production designers in all performance genres throughout the world. UT graduates have assisted such prestigious designers as Dona Granata, Ann Hould-Ward, Bob Morgan, Paul Tazwell, Martin Pakledinaz, Constance Hoffman, Jess Goldstein, and Desmond Heeley. New York alumni are free-lance designers as well as being employed at Jim Henson Productions, Parsons-Meares Costume Company, Carelli Costume, Dye Namix, Barbara Matera's and the Actor's Studio. Los Angeles alumni are free-lancing for the film and television industry, working at the Jim Henson Creature Shop and at the Mark Taper Forum. Other alumni across the country are employed at the San Francisco Opera, Washington Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Alabama Shakespeare festival, The Alley Theatre, High End Systems, and Herbalife International. Once you have joined the vast network of working alumni you will benefit from and understand the strength of that community.
Preparation
Both the design and technology programs are rigorous and particularly geared toward those students actively pursuing a career in theatre and film. We seek committed, focused students who have a realistic knowledge of the business and are ready to make a serious commitment to their education. Students who have been out of undergraduate school for at least a year are preferred but our entrance requirements are based on demonstrated talent and skill rather than professional experience.
All performance is communication which is the basis for an art form that reaches beyond the elements of the spoken language and letters. In expressing that art the most important tool for the artist is the sketch. For this reason, we search for students with a level of proficiency in drawing and painting, self awareness, and sophistication of thought.
The Department of Theatre & Dance requires a portfolio review and an interview with a member of the faculty for admittance into the Design and Technology programs. We encourage students to visit the Austin campus in order to fully appreciate the benefits of the Austin atmosphere.
A Word From The Design and Technology Faculty
Spring 2007
Dear Theatre Artist,
Thank you for your interest in the design program at The University of Texas at Austin. Our program has a rich history of esteemed educators and successful alumni making this a unique university experience. The University of Texas Austin is a destination where artists can practice a rigorous and daring exploration of their talents. We are dedicated to adventurous creative thought, critical contemplation, and the crafting of meaning through performance. We promote the belief that the design professional is a generative rather than an interpretive artist. We encourage those students who seek to cross the traditional boundaries of design, performance, and technology and those who have a strong desire to create original performance work. The UT community of professional faculty and staff mentors believe students should hold a deep, complex understanding of performance and their relationship to the world of performance making. Graduate school is the beginning of a lifelong exercise of passionate discourse and inspirational discovery within the art form. At The University of Texas performance is an integral, fundamental cultural essential honoring traditional theatre heritage and embracing alternative contemporary forms of expression. We are educating the next generation of visionary leaders in the arts. What Starts Here Changes the World.
It is our belief that every student is unique. You will come into the program with different strengths and your graduate program will be designed as much as possible to meet your individual needs. All graduate design students will enter the program without a declared specialty and will be expected to be competent in all areas of design: scenery, costume and lighting. Not until the second year do design students begin to specialize. Technology students will declare either a scenery or costume emphasis and their program will reflect that choice.
All programs of study will consist of four components: the design or technology studio, the production lab, critical thinking/writing, and skill-building. Skill building courses, including scene painting, drafting, rendering and composition, are offered every semester. You and your advisor will choose the combination of skill building courses that are appropriate for you.
Upon arrival all designers will begin to devise original work with playwrights, directors and designers. Technology students will begin concentrating on their core studio courses.
- In the first year all students immediately begin to work on realized productions.
- In the second year designers will begin concentrating on their chosen discipline in course and realized production work. An experience in film and television will be offered as part of the studio.
- In the third year you will build a professional portfolio, continue working on realized productions in live or mediated performance and complete a thesis. The design or technology thesis is a major generative original work. The thesis, a culmination of your work here at UT, will be the most significant expression of your voice as an emerging artist.
If you are awarded financial support you will be paid to work in one of our shops. This employment is intended to be an enriching learning experience for every student.
This is a distinguished graduate program. We expect the highest level of commitment. We also embrace the idea that all of our students should be generative artists rather than reactive artists. We expect you to develop an entrepreneurial spirit and the knowledge to identify your unique voice. This combination of spirit and voice will distinguish you as an artist of note and assist you in building a self-sustaining career.
We hope you will feel free to ask any questions as they arise. We look forward to meeting you at URTA, on campus, around the country and in the many theatre venues where our faculty work.
Respectfully,
Susan, Richard, Bob, Jim, Amarante, Michelle, Denise, Rusty
Theatre Design and Technology Graduate FAQ
Visit our M.F.A. in Theatre Technology program page.
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