Technical Direction Concentration
The technical director, working collaboratively with the scenic designer and others, is responsible for the execution of the scenic elements of a production.
This process includes bidding, scheduling, developing technical elevations, supervising crews, budget management, and coordinating with the other departments that are working on the production. Additionally, the technical director is responsible for supervising and coordinating the load-in of scenery and other physical elements of the production into the theatre, helping to organize scene changes that involve moving scenery, and supervising the load-out of the production when the run is over.
The production manager does for the entire production much of what the technical director does for the scenic elements. Collaborating and working with the director, stage managers, designers, shop heads, and others, the production manager helps to ensure that the production as a whole is realized in the best possible way.
In addition to meeting General Education requirements and other degree requirements, all undergraduate theatre design/technology majors concentrating in technical direction/production management must complete the following requirements (103 credits). ACT 1250 (freshman year) and ACT 2100 may be counted toward the liberal arts requirement (30 credits minimum) for the BFA.
Freshman Year: 25 credits
The freshman year requirements are the same for all undergraduate theatre design/technology majors.
Sophomore Year: 29 credits
- TDT 2080/Theatre Technology I*/ 3 credits
- TDT 2120/Production II*/ 3 credits
- TDT 2250/Stage Carpentry/ 2 credits
- TDT 2400/Lighting Design I/ 3 credits
- TDT 2600/Introduction to Stage Management. 3 credits
- ACT 2100/History of the Theatre/ 4 credits
- TDT 2090/Theatre Technology I*/ 3 credits
- TDT 2130/Production II*/ 3 credits
- TDT 2190/Properties Construction I/ 2 credits
- TDT 3710/CAD for the Theatre/ 3 credits
*Part One and Two (two-semester course)
Junior Year: 28 credits
- TDT 2200/Scene Design I/ 3 credits
- TDT 3080/Theatre Technology II*/ 3 credits
- TDT 3120/Production III*/ 3 credits
- TDT 2501/Sound Design I, 3 credits**
*Part One and Two (two semester course)
**Formerly TDT 2500/Intro to Sound Design. Effective Fall 2024, changed from 2 to 3 credits
- TDT 2150/Scene Painting/ 2 credits
- TDT 2170/Costume Construction I/ 3 credits
- TDT 3090/Theatre Technology II*/ 3 credits
- TDT 3130/Production III*/ 3 credits
- TDT 3660/Production Management/ 3 credits
- TDT 4460/Collaborative Process/ 2 credits
*Part One and Two (two-semester course)
Senior Year: 22 credits
- TDT 2540/Sources of Stage Design/ 3 credits
- TDT 4080/Theatre Technology III*/ 3 credits
- TDT 4140/Stage Management/Tech/Design Production*/ 6 credits
- TDT 4090/Theatre Technology III*/ 3 credits
- TDT 4150/Stage Management/Tech/Design Production*/ 6 credits
- TDT 4880/Portfolio/ 1 credit
*Part One and Two (two-semester course)