Areas of Study [Technical Direction]

 

• Costume Design
• Costume Production
• Entertainment Technology
• Lighting Design
• Set Design
• Sound Design
• Stage Management
• Technical Direction

The Division of Design and Technology of the School of Theatre Arts offer study of technical direction for the theatre at the undergraduate and graduate level.

For undergraduates, technical direction is an area of emphasis within the BFA degree program. The program includes through grounding in all areas of theatre design and production as well as broader study of theatre (history, acting, directing) and the University of Arizona general education core of classes.

The Technical Direction emphasis for undergraduates focuses on building strong skill sets within the shop and class, then practical application of techniques in production.

Topics of study in the technical direction courses including: drafting (both CAD and traditional), basic and advanced metal and wood construction, management skills, basic and advanced automation techniques, rigging. Students have the opportunity to participate in and receive credit for production work each semester. The BFA technical director will have several opportunities for titled production assignments working under Graduate TD’s as well as the Faculty TD. Main stage assignments include Assistant Master Carpenter, Master Carpenter, and possibly Assistant Technical Director. Undergraduates have the opportunity to serve as TD for directing studio productions and other non-main stage productions.

Graduate level study of technical direction is an area of specialization with a demanding MFA program. Graduate Technical Directors serve as Technical Directors and Assistant technical directors for main stage productions. Graduate students run the daily work calls for Stagecraft lab, a course required of all first year Theater majors. There is an opportunity to teach this course. A strong emphasis is placed on understanding Technical Direction as a process and building management skills. A strong background in scenic construction is required and experience with moving scenery is preferred.

As the Technical director for a main stage production, the Graduate TD is responsible for all aspects of planning drafting and executing from the first production meeting through strike. An MFA student will technical direct for at least one fully produced main stage production in the three years of their training. Many graduate students in this program have technical directed two or more productions. The graduate curriculum is a balance between technical direction training, opportunities in design training and advanced theatre studies.

 

Undergraduate only technical direction classes are:

• Stagecraft (TAR 111) Basic construction techniques.
• Run Crew (TAR 113) Deck crew, flyman or other production run position.
• Tech Theatre Graphics (TAR 224) Basic hand scenic drafting and perspective drawing.

 

Undergraduate courses in technical direction are:

• Advanced Construction Techniques (TAR 401) Covers a range of topics from semester to semester. Advanced woodworking, rigging, welding and other topics are covered in alternating Fall semesters. This course focuses on practical application.
• Theatrical Engineering and Management (TAR 405) Rotating topics course that covers Technical direction as a process, motion control, and other pertinent subjects from a theoretical point of view. This is the spring semester companion to 401.
• Advanced Motion Control (TAR 447A) An advanced interdisciplinary exploration of automation equipment and techniques relevant to live performance. Meets jointly with Electrical and Computer Engineering students and faculty (ECE 447A).
• Production (TAR 297A & 497A) This course is for credits you earn working on productions.

 

Graduate courses in technical direction are:

• Advanced Construction Techniques (TAR 501) Covers a range of topics from semester to semester. Advanced woodworking, rigging, welding and other topics are covered in alternating Fall semesters. This course focuses on practical application.
• Theatrical Engineering and Management (TAR 505) Rotating topics course that covers Technical direction as a process, motion control, and other pertinent subjects from a theoretical point of view. This is the spring semester companion to 501.
• Advanced Motion Control (TAR 547A) An advanced interdisciplinary exploration of automation equipment and techniques relevant to live performance. Meets jointly with Electrical and Computer Engineering students and faculty (ECE 547A). Co-convened with TAR - ECE 447A.

 

Graduate Technical Directors serve as Technical Directors and Assistant technical directors for main stage productions. Graduate students run the daily work calls for Stagecraft lab, a course required of all first year Theater majors. There is an opportunity to teach this course.

A strong emphasis is placed on understanding Technical Direction as a process and building management skills. A strong background in scenic construction is required and experience with moving scenery is preferred.

As the Technical director for a main stage production, the Graduate TD is responsible for all aspects of planning drafting and executing from the first production meeting through strike.