4 answers
hannah
Student
Tallahassee, Florida
4
Questions
Asked
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How do I create a portfolio for technical theatre?
I am about the be a senior in high school and i want to major in stage management/technical theatre (specifically related to set, props, and sound), but im not sure how to create a portfolio. I’ve only been doing theatre since my sophomore year and have only done two shows. I’ve always just been part of a crew, i’ve never stage managed or been crew head, so i’m not sure how to impress admissions people. I don’t have much experience, but I truly love theatre and being creative, so I don’t know what to do.
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4 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1091
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Hannah,
There are several universities in Florida that offer a bachelors degree in technical theater. Here are a couple of links:
https://www.ucf.edu/degree/theatre-bfa/design-and-technology/
https://www.flsouthern.edu/academic-life/all-academic-programs/rug/theatre-arts-technical-theatre-and-design
https://arts.ufl.edu/academics/theatre-and-dance/programs/undergraduate
https://www.usf.edu/arts/theatre-and-dance/academics/theatre-programs/index.aspx
You'll need to research each program to see which ones suit you best and what is required for application. Some require a portfolio, but not all of them do. Use the resources on their websites. Talk to their advisors and admission people. If possible visit campus and talk to people in the department.
For a portfolio, you would need any documentation of your previous work in theater and in design and arts in general. It's not only about the final product, but the process and the methods and technologies used as well. That includes documentation of your research and inspiration to come up with ideas. For theater, models, drawings, photos of productions, video and sound recordings would be relevant, but also other artsy activities like photography, drawing, clothes design etc. Contact the departments you would consider directly to get more detailed advice on what they are looking for and what format is required.
You'll find some examples on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srC0WEyA6I4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ8QUFS6BmI
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
There are several universities in Florida that offer a bachelors degree in technical theater. Here are a couple of links:
https://www.ucf.edu/degree/theatre-bfa/design-and-technology/
https://www.flsouthern.edu/academic-life/all-academic-programs/rug/theatre-arts-technical-theatre-and-design
https://arts.ufl.edu/academics/theatre-and-dance/programs/undergraduate
https://www.usf.edu/arts/theatre-and-dance/academics/theatre-programs/index.aspx
You'll need to research each program to see which ones suit you best and what is required for application. Some require a portfolio, but not all of them do. Use the resources on their websites. Talk to their advisors and admission people. If possible visit campus and talk to people in the department.
For a portfolio, you would need any documentation of your previous work in theater and in design and arts in general. It's not only about the final product, but the process and the methods and technologies used as well. That includes documentation of your research and inspiration to come up with ideas. For theater, models, drawings, photos of productions, video and sound recordings would be relevant, but also other artsy activities like photography, drawing, clothes design etc. Contact the departments you would consider directly to get more detailed advice on what they are looking for and what format is required.
You'll find some examples on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srC0WEyA6I4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ8QUFS6BmI
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
It is both my experience and opinion, professionally, that a degree path for Technical Theatre will lack the bulk of range that would best prepare a student for real world theatre. It's best to get the Degree for the Career, not the skill or job duty. Tech people are most times expected to be well-rounded in theatre as a whole, familiar with works of playwrights, understand directing and blocking and more variety of opportunity can come from majoring in Theatre, not Technical Theatre which will pigeonhole the student. Just saying because I experienced and have a degree in Theatre and many of my classmates obtained professional careers doing technical theatre, but Theatre is the career.
Michelle M.
Interesting! And good to know! So, departments that offer ~10 different degrees (acting, dance, technical, management etc) are not actually doing students a favor?
Karin P.
No. A Degree in Theatre covers all aspects of the career. One Theatre Department typically has all the technical theatre a student would need, but they still have to know the other aspects of theatre. I am not sure about what a Degree in Technical Theatre is or how it emerged as a degree, but it is very limiting. An employer would more likely hire a Theatre Administrator with a Degree in Theatre rather than Technical theatre because the student would be viewed as a "Techie" if the Bachelors Degree is in Technical Theatre which in itself is not descriptive. Just best to get the degree that aligns with the CAREER - Theatre.
Michelle M.
As someone with the emphasis on acting with a Theatre Degree, I was thrown into tech - it was required - and I never felt comfortable doing tech as much as acting while in college. The students get most of their learning in Tech from Lab Hours and Practicums. The degree title may matter down the road if the student wants to go into Administration or be part of an Arts Council or something and a Degree in Theatre is stronger than a Degree in Technical Theatre. The Degree gives the student much more versatility.
Michelle M.
Makes sense!
Karin P.
Many undergrad programs offer Stage Management as a major, and conservatories and public universities known for their theater departments. I have worked with many Stage Managers from both style of programs & each one has advantages & disadvantages.
Hannah, research program sizes, costs & what degree you want to hold before making a school choice. Once you have narrowed choices, see what they require for the application process. Good Luck!
Michelle Engleman
This is very true, however, Theatre is the career and theatrical technician is the position, skill and duty. Since the entertainment industry can be very competitive, I always suggest that students obtain a rounded, strong degree and not in just one aspect.
Michelle M.
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello again, Hannah !
Technical Theatre really doesn't usually call for a portfolio, but a strong resume and strong interview may be the important elements for getting the job. If you want to make a portfolio, it would be for set construct/props, photos of what you've constructed, and I am not sure how one would document for a portfolio for Sound or Stage Management work. That would be for a resume and discussion during an interview.
So it looks like the focus for you right now should be building experience to add to your resume. Your college is not going to expect you to have an extensive resume, though. Put the two shows you've already done on your resume and you can write "crew" or more details of the job you did. (Set Crew, Sound Designer, etc. )
In your Senior year which is coming up soon, work tech on every show and video project that your school does. Make the connections your first week of school. Even if you do Hair and Make Up or Costuming on a show, that is a boost on your resume, theatre is theatre and people like to see that you have a good range and feel at home around a stage. You'll keep busy, but do any tech you can for your whole Senior year in High School.
So, just to clarify, in college, you won't be Majoring in Stage Management or Technical Theatre. You'd major in Theatre. Within the Major, you'll find students like yourself who are going into technical theatre, so within the department, there are separate courses to prepare you for technical theatre. Courses such as Sound, Lighting, Stage Management. Theatre Promotions and Management, Directing, Acting, Playwriting, Costuming, Stage Make Up, etc. So you'll take all the tech courses - and most programs require at least Beginning Acting, too, even if you're going into tech. It's important that you take Introduction to Theatre in your very first semester as that is an overview of all the facets of theatre.
Find out who Directs the plays at your school and ask if you can stage manage the plays. There is a lot to Stage Management so research a little bit and get different perspectives on it before stage managing. On a high school level, however, I think you could successfully jump right in for your first Stage Management experience. Look for a free online course and/or read books. Watch You Tube videos about stage managing, too.
You do not need to worry about "impressing" the theatre department at college. Just be yourself and keep active with stage work. Many will be with you there as a new theatre student for the first time, too. It's an exciting time to meet new people and form friendships. You will not be expected to be a professional entering college and you'll learn everything you'll need to know for your future career. Take it a step at a time.
I hope this helps. I hope you work on lots of shows this coming school year and remember - Theatre is waiting for you !
Technical Theatre really doesn't usually call for a portfolio, but a strong resume and strong interview may be the important elements for getting the job. If you want to make a portfolio, it would be for set construct/props, photos of what you've constructed, and I am not sure how one would document for a portfolio for Sound or Stage Management work. That would be for a resume and discussion during an interview.
So it looks like the focus for you right now should be building experience to add to your resume. Your college is not going to expect you to have an extensive resume, though. Put the two shows you've already done on your resume and you can write "crew" or more details of the job you did. (Set Crew, Sound Designer, etc. )
In your Senior year which is coming up soon, work tech on every show and video project that your school does. Make the connections your first week of school. Even if you do Hair and Make Up or Costuming on a show, that is a boost on your resume, theatre is theatre and people like to see that you have a good range and feel at home around a stage. You'll keep busy, but do any tech you can for your whole Senior year in High School.
So, just to clarify, in college, you won't be Majoring in Stage Management or Technical Theatre. You'd major in Theatre. Within the Major, you'll find students like yourself who are going into technical theatre, so within the department, there are separate courses to prepare you for technical theatre. Courses such as Sound, Lighting, Stage Management. Theatre Promotions and Management, Directing, Acting, Playwriting, Costuming, Stage Make Up, etc. So you'll take all the tech courses - and most programs require at least Beginning Acting, too, even if you're going into tech. It's important that you take Introduction to Theatre in your very first semester as that is an overview of all the facets of theatre.
Find out who Directs the plays at your school and ask if you can stage manage the plays. There is a lot to Stage Management so research a little bit and get different perspectives on it before stage managing. On a high school level, however, I think you could successfully jump right in for your first Stage Management experience. Look for a free online course and/or read books. Watch You Tube videos about stage managing, too.
You do not need to worry about "impressing" the theatre department at college. Just be yourself and keep active with stage work. Many will be with you there as a new theatre student for the first time, too. It's an exciting time to meet new people and form friendships. You will not be expected to be a professional entering college and you'll learn everything you'll need to know for your future career. Take it a step at a time.
I hope this helps. I hope you work on lots of shows this coming school year and remember - Theatre is waiting for you !
Claire Banta
Painter, Makeup Artist, Prop Designer
1
Answer
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Updated
Claire’s Answer
I also fell in love with Theatre in high school and stage managed productions, as well as worked on props and scenic artistry. As for building your portfolio my biggest suggestion is to goal yourself with one creation a week, at least. A painting showing multiple texture styles, sculptures from clay or assemblage, and learning about art as much as you can. I got most of my work experience at a very large haunted house that was ranked in the top 5 in the country that was conveniently up the road from me. They are practical theatrical productions and offer a lot of hands on experience in this field. I would suggest calling different haunted houses near you and asking about being a scenic shadow or intern. They are usually small crews but extremely talented artisans, and they work on these shows year round if it’s a larger show. Escape rooms/games also offer a lot of hands on experience as far as set and prop design, depending on the level of detail in the business. Working in both in nationally top rated locations helped me blossom in skillset, and also being on smaller crews made us all a sort of jack of all trades.
TRAVIS UPCHURCH
Federal Contract Admin
230
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
TRAVIS’s Answer
Hi Hannah,
There is alot to know about working behind the scenes in a theatre. There are summer camps that allow for a wealth of knowledge to be gained due to the amount of different shows. Island Lake Camp is one that has a vibrant and active theatre department and you will get a rapid amount of experience in a short time. Leadership is an important quality for stage management. Study the script intensely and be able to speak competently about the cues of other aspects of the theatre space. Volunteer at a local community theatre. Take any role they offer. Watch the stage manager and ask them alot of questions and make sure you tell them that you want to become a stage manager one day. You will learn more by doing the work. Good luck, you will do well.
There is alot to know about working behind the scenes in a theatre. There are summer camps that allow for a wealth of knowledge to be gained due to the amount of different shows. Island Lake Camp is one that has a vibrant and active theatre department and you will get a rapid amount of experience in a short time. Leadership is an important quality for stage management. Study the script intensely and be able to speak competently about the cues of other aspects of the theatre space. Volunteer at a local community theatre. Take any role they offer. Watch the stage manager and ask them alot of questions and make sure you tell them that you want to become a stage manager one day. You will learn more by doing the work. Good luck, you will do well.