 Drama/Dance Home Page BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN DRAMA: Bachelor of Fine Arts: Design/Technology
The core courses for all BFA students offer a broad exposure to the varied disciplines of theatre including literature, history, stagecraft, design, directing, and performance. This core, combined with university general education requirements, provides students with a strong liberal arts base on which to build the focused BFA design/technology concentration. Within the design/technology curriculum, students have the opportunity to study in the areas of scenic design and construction, costume design and construction, and lighting/sound design and execution. Each student receives exposure to all areas but is encouraged to concentrate elective credits in one or two areas. B.F.A students are required to complete junior and senior projects, usually the completion of a design or a significant technical project for a production in the department’s season. All B.F.A Design/Technology students are also required to participate in all portfolio reviews during their tenure at the university. MASTERS OF FINE ARTS IN DRAMA: Bachelor of Fine Arts: Design/Technology The Masters of Fine Arts in Design/Technology is a three-year program combining intensive professional training and production experience. Students specialize in scenic, costume or lighting design/technology. Each program is under the direct guidance of a full-time faculty member with the support of a professional staff allowing close individual guidance for each student. Students are expected to design or complete a significant technical assignment for 2-3 productions a year and to make vital contributions to all other productions in the ten to twelve show season. Opportunities for the graduate student also exist with The Montana Repertory Theatre. The curriculum is designed to develop the technical
skills and artistic abiliti Each MFA candidate's degree program culminates in a three-part creative thesis in the student's area of emphasis. The scenery and costume thesis consists of 1) the design and realization of a departmental production; 2) the design for a non-realized major dramatic work; and 3) the writing of a paper suitable for publication. The lighting thesis consists of 1) the design and execution of two departmental production, 2) the writing of a production paper for each realized design, and 3) the writing of a paper suitable for publication. Design/Technology Philosophy The Department of Drama/Dance, Design/Technology Division provides a theatrical production environment that is positive, supportive, and rigorous in its expectations of students, faculty, and staff. Students must continue to grow as craftsmen and develop as artists in the areas of costume, scenery, lighting, and sound design/technology in theatre, dance, television, and concert productions. The department invites designers and technicians from outside of the university to participate in our productions and to interact with students, faculty, and staff. This interaction is essential in order for the faculty and staff to remain current within their fields. Students are encouraged to design productions and participate in theatrical forums apart from the university. All Design/Technology students are encouraged to explore productions and design processes not normally considered to be within their area of expertise. They are required to work in all areas of technical theatre including theatre, dance, television, and music production. Students are evaluated on the quality and educational value of each project. Each student must demonstrate through process and product a significant level of understanding of all theory and an ability to utilize it effectively, appropriately, and aesthetically in their creation of design and technical projects. Students must explore the outer limits of each design and technical opportunity and approach each production experience with professional vigor. To ensure that our students can compete in the market place, the university provides a modern training ground that launches students toward successful theatre careers. Each student is given the opportunity to explore design and technical ideas as they develop their own aesthetic and work ethic. Students must explore, question, and develop as design/technical artists. All Design/Technology students must commit to the precept that as a theatre artist or craftsman, one must rigorously attack each production experience with intensive research, collaborative processes, and creative thinking. Mike Monsos, Head
of Design/Technology Program |
The
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design/Technology is
a professionally oriented degree with a strong production emphasis.
It is assumed that BFA design/technology students will pursue a career
in the theatre or a related field. This degree enables students to
enter the profession as a technician or pursue further studies in
a graduate theatre design program.
es
of each student. Course sequences are offered in all design areas
and supported by advanced classes and independent study in the student's
area of concentration. Students are expected to complete course work
in at least two areas of theatrical production. Each graduate student
is expected to be involved in some supervised teaching as a part of
their professional training. All M.F.A Design/Technology students
are also required to participate in all portfolio reviews during their
tenure at the university.