THEATRE

Master of Fine Arts in Design and Technical Theatre

The Master of Fine Arts Program in Design and Technical Production at San Diego State University accepts students who are seriously interested in achieving the artistry and skills necessary to qualify them to be practicing professionals. It is a 3-year program in which students work with theatre professionals both within and outside the academic environment:  as an MFA student, you are allowed to design as much as your individual capabilities permit; you are required to participate in an intensive internship, often working as an assistant to a professional designer; and you are expected to develop skill sets which will serve you well into the future.  A balance of theoretical coursework, studio work, and production is achieved through the curriculum and close consultation with faculty advisors. While the learning environment is protective enough to allow you to succeed, direct exposure to the diverse and richly active theatre life of San Diego and its environs is an important element of the program. We expect your three years spent here to be among the most rewarding and fulfilling of your life.

The faculty and staff of any university is largely responsible for the excellence and uniqueness of its program. This is particularly true of the Design and Technology Faculty of San Diego State University. Our faculty consists of 6 individuals, all of whom have achieved excellence in the areas of academic theatre and professional theatre design. Most continue to design at the regional and national levels.

THE FACULTY

Ralph Funicello -- The design program is fortunate to have this nationally renowned scenic designer as part of its faculty. He holds the Don Powell Endowed Chair in Scene Design. He is an Associate Artist at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and has designed extensively for the Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Rep., Seattle Rep., and the American Conservatory Theatre where he was Director of Design. His work has also been seen on- and off-Broadway, at the Milwaukee Rep., the Stratford Festival, the Guthrie, and New York City Opera. Ralph's designs have been published and exhibited nationally and internationally. Each semester he is a part of the teaching faculty of the M.F.A. core design/studio course: Collaborative Studies. In addition, he spends a great deal of time in individual tutorials with the M.F.A. design students.

Holly Poe Durbin -- Holly is an award-winning costume designer who brings  experience in regional and New York theatre, opera, film, television, video games, and themed entertainment to the program at San Diego State.  Her wide variety of credits include the world premiere opera Don Juan Flamenco in Spain, the Off-Broadway hit Daughter-In-Law, The Wood Demon on London’s West End, and  Motion Picture Magic with Steven Spielberg for Universal Studios Japan. Holly spent several years as Costume Director for CTG Costumes in Los Angeles.  Her professional affiliations include United Scenic Artists, Local 829; U.S.I.T.T.; and the Costume Society of America, for which she serves as a regional board member.  She received her BA from Vanderbilt University and her MFA from UCLA’S School of Theatre, Film and Television.  Holly teaches the Costume Design courses as well as Period Dress and Decor and is an integral part of the Collaborative Studies teaching team.

Nick Reid – Currently serving in the capacity of Director of  the School of Theatre, Television, and Film, Professor Reid is an expert in period styles and history of décor. His scenic designs have been seen at the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego Opera, San Diego Rep., Tucson Ballet, and the Arizona Opera. Like most of our faculty, Nick often uses design assistants from San Diego State when working on professional shows. Additionally, Nick is an accomplished scene painter and has conducted numerous rendering and scene painting workshops across the country. Nick is a past scene design vice-commissioner of U.S.I.T.T.  He is a popular teacher who enriches our program by teaching a variety of diverse subjects. 

Beeb Salzer -- Professor Salzer teaches scenery design and aesthetics. His awards include a San Diego Critics award for best set design, two Emmies, five Herb Gregs awards for best articles in “Theatre Design and Technology,” and a Patte Award for life time achievement.  “The Skeptical Scenographer” is a book of his collected articles.  He is responsible for the innovative and acclaimed annual Design/Peformance Jury which each year brings six renown theatre professionals, such as Edward Albee, Ming Cho Lee and Jack O'Brien, to critique student work. Salzer has designed and taught in Chile and Panama and has a continuing long-term relationship with the Maxim Gorky Theatre in Vladivostock, Russia.  He is a Contributing Editor of “Theatre Design and Technology” and an All Category Life ;Member of the United Scenic Artists – local 829.

Loren Schreiber -- Before coming to San Diego State As Director of Technology and Production, Loran served ten years as Technical Director for San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, providing the original technical direction of Sondheim's "Into the Woods," Neil Simon's "Rumors" and "Jakes Women," and the revival of "Damn Yankees." During the San Diego International Arts Festival, Loren was the technical liaison for the Maly Drama Theatre of Leningrad and the Tbilisi State Puppet Theatre of Soviet Georgia. In keeping with the department's philosophy that a Technical Director is an integral part of the design team, Loren's graduate degree is in scenic design. He teaches most of our technical production courses as well as hand-drafting and CADD. Loren’s recently established STAR-Lab., a state-of-the-art teaching and production facility, helps make his technical production curriculum highly attractive and unique among university programs.  Specific details of the Technical Production Program can be found under its heading on this web site.

Craig Wolf -- Professor Wolf is currently head of the Design and Technical Production Program and academic program advisor for the MFA design students. Along with staff member Peter Nordyke, Craig teaches the Department’s lighting and sound courses. His lighting work has been seen at Dance Theatre Workshop in New York, Theatre Artaud and the New Performance Gallery in San Francisco, the Japan America Center and Odyssey Theatre Ensemble in Los Angeles, San Diego Rep., and the Old Globe Theatre. Craig's students often work with him as assistant designers on regional theatre productions. He is a United Scenic Artists lighting design member. In addition, Craig is author of the lighting and sound sections of the well-known design text:  Scene Design and Stage Lighting. Craig teaches one semester of Collaborative Studies each year. He has served as a member of U.S.I.T.T.’s Board of Directors and as Lighting Commissioner. 

THE STAFF

In addition to its faculty, the Theatre Department at San Diego State University is fortunate to have an exceptional staff of theatre professionals. Our staff instructs and guides students in a laboratory setting as they produce our season of fully-mounted shows.

Mark Anderson -- Mark is an outstanding scene painter/charge artist. He holds an M.F.A. degree in scene design and has taught scene design and stage lighting. He works professionally as a designer of trade shows and often employs our M.F.A. design students in his business. Mark is responsible for the scene painting and property areas of the department and teaches classes in these areas.

Teri McConnell Tavares -- Teri is the Costume Studio Manager.  She brings to the department her ongoing professional experiences as a costume craftsperson, dyer/painter, and costume manufacturer is theatre, opera, television, film, and themed entertainment.  She has a M.F.A. degree in costume design and is a member of the Motion Picture Costumers local  #705, USITT, and the Costume Society of America.  Teri further shares her expertise by teaching costume technology courses for the department.

Peter Herman -- Peter is the Costume and Wig Technician.  He has had years of experience in various opera and theatre companies as a cutter/draper or wig maker and still continues to do work for many professional theatres and film production companies in both wigs and draping.  Recently he has built wigs for The Old Globe Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, The San Diego Rep., and The San Diego Opera.  He is an active member of I.A.T.S.E. local unions #706 or makeup artists and hair stylists, and #905 for theatrical wardrobe.  Peter teaches our classes in make up and wig making.
 
Rick Leary -- Rick is the Scenic Studio Supervisor.  He brings years of experience in theatrical materials and construction to the scenic laboratory. Rick has served as a Technical Director and is knowledgeable in all areas of scenery construction. He is an accomplished welder and enjoys teaching those skills.

Peter Nordyke -- Peter looks after the lighting and sound production areas of the department. He is an excellent sound and lighting designer and frequently designs professionally. Well-versed in equipment as well as design, he advises lighting and sound designers and teaches in the laboratory as well as the classroom. Peter directs and coordinates the department's full-scale lighting laboratory. He holds an M.F.A. degree in scenic and lighting design.

It is unusual to find, in a single program, such a huge range of talent and experience assisting and guiding students through their academic careers.

Costume Design and Technology:

Holly Poe Durbin
Nick Reid
Teri Tavares
Peter Herman

Scene Design and Technology:

Beeb Salzer
Ralph Funicello
Nick Reid
Loren Schreiber
Rick Leary
Mark Anderson

Lighting Design and Technology:

Craig Wolf
Peter Nordyke
Beeb Salzer


THE PROGRAM

The M.F.A. program at San Diego State University is a three-year degree program with emphases in scenery design, costume design, lighting design, or technical production. Under normal circumstances, no more than two students are admitted into each emphasis per year. This allows ample opportunity for design and personal contact with the faculty. An important philosophy of the program is the belief that in order to excel as collaborative artists, M.F.A. students must understand and appreciate all areas of design and production. Accordingly, as part of their program, each student enrolls in four semesters of the core studio/design course: Collaborative Studies. This course is team-taught by three design faculty members each semester with Ralph Funicello being a member of the teaching team every semester. Content varies from semester to semester according to the needs of the students but is normally project-oriented, often involving guest directors and emphasizing design research and skills, script analysis, and the design process.  Areas of design other than theatre are included in each semester's curriculum with a particular emphasis on design for Television and Film.

Course work required in the 60-unit M.F.A. program consists of:

I. A foundation of 35 units of core Theatre courses:

500-level advanced design course in area of emphasis

Theatre 530:  Period Dress and Décor
Theatre 539:  Theatre Rendering                                         
Theatre 600: Research and Bibliography                                         
Theatre 610: Aesthetics for the Stage
Theatre 621: Seminar in Theories of the Theatre
Theatre 643: Collaborative Studies in Design (elected four times for a total of 12 units)           Theatre 644:  Contemporary Designers
Theatre 645: Seminar in Lighting

II. 14 units of production-related courses:

Theatre 642: Theatre Practicum Skills (assistant design or specialized production work)
Theatre 746: Theatre Practicum Internship (Professional Field Work)
Theatre 795: Practicum in Theatre Arts: Qualifying Project -- Practical Design
Theatre 795: Practicum in Theatre Arts: Thesis Production -- Practical Design
Theatre 799A: Thesis (written production analysis)

III. 11 elective units

As can be seen, every M.F.A. student designs a minimum of two fully-mounted productions at SDSU. Most designers do many more than that, working on productions within as well as outside the department. San Diego State has strong relationships with a number of local award-winning professional theatres including the Old Globe Theatre, the La Jolla Playhouse, and San Diego Repertory Theatre. In addition, our partnership with the Department of Music and Dance provides numerous design opportunities in dance and opera. In consultation with their area advisor, most M.F.A. students use their elective units for skills course work offered by the Theatre Department or design-related course work in the Art, English, Engineering, Business, History, or Television and Film Areas.

SCENE DESIGN
A typical M.F.A. program in Scene Design might include and be structured as follows:

SEMESTER 1
Advanced Scene Design (500-Level)	3 units
Research and Bibliography - Theatre 600B	2 units
CADD for the Theatre (elective)	2 units
Period Dress and Decor - Theatre 530	3 units
Practicum	1 unit
TOTAL	11 units
SEMESTER 2
Collaborative Studies I - Theatre 643	3 units
Aesthetics - Theatre 610	3 units
Practicum (Assist. or Design) - Theatre 642	1 unit
Software for Theatrical Design (Photoshop) - Theatre 550	2 units
Rendering - Theatre 539	2 units
TOTAL	11 units
SEMESTER 3
Collaborative Studies II - Theatre 643	3 units
Theories - Theatre 621	3 units
Practicum (design) - Theatre 795	2 units
Art Elective	2 units
TOTAL	10 units
SEMESTER 4
Collaborative Studies III - Theatre 643	3 units
Lighting Seminar - Theatre 645	3 units
Practicum - Theatre 642	1 unit
Contemporary Designers - Theatre 644	3 units
TOTAL	10 units
SUMMER
Internship - Theatre 746	3 units
SEMESTER 5
Collaborative Studies IV - Theatre 643	3 units
Practicum (design - Thesis Production) - Theatre 795	2 units
Scene Painting (elective) - Theatre 541	2 units
Practicum (special project) - Model Making - Theatre 795	1 units
TOTAL	8 units
SEMESTER 6
Thesis - Theatre 600B	1 units
Thesis - Theatre 799A	3 units
Practicum - Theatre 642	1 unit
Special Study (outside design) - Theatre 798	2 units
TOTAL	7 units

This sample program totals 60 units and allows ample time for additional
electives if the student so chooses.

COSTUME DESIGN
A typical M.F.A. program in Costume Design might include and be structured as follows:

SEMESTER 1
Advanced Costume Design – Theatre 552	3 units
Research and Bibliography – Theatre 600B	2 units
Costume Technology:  Patterning (elective)	2 units
Period Dress and Décor – Theatre 530A	3 units
Practicum – Costume Studio – Theatre 642	1 unit
TOTAL	11 units
SEMESTER 2
Collaborative Studies I – Theatre 643	3 units
Aesthetics – Theatre 610	3 units
Practicum – Costume Studio – Theatre 642	1 unit
Software for Theatrical Design – Photoshop –        (elective) Theatre 550	2 units
Costume Crafts:  Modeling, Mask Making    (elective)	2 units
Rendering – Theatre 539	2 units
TOTAL	13 units
Semester 3
Collaborative Studies II – Theatre 643	3 units
Theories – Theatre 621	3 units
Practicum (Costume Design) – Theatre 795	2 units
Art Elective (Figure Drawing, Jewelry, or Textiles)	2 units
Costume Technology:  Draping (elective)	2 units
TOTAL	12 units
Summer
Internship - Theatre 746	3 units
Semester 4
Collaborative Studies 4 – Theatre 643	3 units
Practicum (Costume Design – Thesis        Production) – Theatre 795	2 units
Hair and Makeup Design (elective)	2 units
Period Dress & Décor – Theatre 530B      (elective)	3 units
Costume Design for Film & Television (elective)	3 units
TOTAL	13 units
Semester 5
Collaborative Studies IV	3 units
Practicum (Costume Design – Thesis        Production)  -- Theatre 795	2 units
Hair and make up Design (elective)	2 units
Dress and Décor – 19th & 20th C. –Theatre 530B	3 units
TOTAL	10 units
Semester 6
Thesis – Theatre 600B	1 unit
Thesis – Theatre 799A	3 units
Practicum (Costume Studio) – Theatre 642	1 unit
Special Study (Outside design) – Theatre 798 (elective)	2 units
Designing with Textiles (elective)	2 units
Visual Language of Film (elective)	3 units
TOTAL	12 units

This sample program totals 74 units and includes many of the elective courses
that the costume design student may take.

LIGHTING DESIGN
A typical M.F.A. program in Lighting Design might include and be structured as follows:

Semester 1
Advanced Lighting Design – Theatre 547	3 units
Research and Bibliography – Theatre 600B	2 units
CADD for the Theatre (elective) – Theatre 546	2 units
Sound for the Theatre (elective) -- Theatre 548	3 units
Practicum – (Production A.D.) --Theatre 642	1 unit
TOTAL	11 units
Semester 2
Collaborative Studies I – Theatre 643	3 units
Aesthetics – Theatre 610	3 units
Practicum – (Production M.E.) --Theatre 642	1 unit
Software for Theatrical Design – Photoshop –        (elective) Theatre 550	2 units
Rendering – Theatre 539	2 units
TOTAL	11 units
Semester 3
Collaborative Studies II – Theatre 643	3 units
Theories – Theatre 621	3 units
Lighting design with automated equipment (special study – elective ) -- Theatre 798	2 units
Art Elective (Art History or similar)	2 units
Practicum (Production Design) --Theatre 795	2 units
TOTAL	12 units
Summer
Internship – Theatre 746	3 units
Semester 4
Collaborative Studies III – Theatre 643	3 units
Contemporary Designers – Theatre 644	3 units
Practicum (Production Lighting Design) – Theatre 795	2 units
Advanced Electrics (elective) – Theatre 549	2 units
Lighting Design for Film & Television        (special study -- elective) – Theatre 798	2 units
TOTAL	12 units
Semester 5
Collaborative Studies IV – Theatre 643	3 units
Practicum (Production Design – Thesis        Production)  -- Theatre 795	2 units
Practicum – (Production M.E.) -- Theatre 642	1 unit
Period Dress and Décor – Theatre 530A	3 units
Art Elective	2 units
TOTAL	11 units
Semester 6
Thesis – Theatre 600B	1 unit
Thesis – Theatre 799A	3 units
Practicum – (A.D. for outside design) –Theatre 642	1 unit
Special Study (Outside design) – Theatre 795        (elective)	2 units
TOTAL	7 units

This sample program totals 67 units and includes many of the elective courses
that the lighting design student may take.

THE CURRICULUM

A brief overview of the various courses required for the M.F.A. degree is helpful in understanding the nature and scope of the program.  The following course list excludes area-specific specialization courses.

Theatre 530A -- Period Dress and Décor – Classical World – 18th Century
Theatre 530B – Period Dress and Décor – 19th & 20th Centuries

Taught by Professors Reid and Durbin, this course is a visual survey of the relationships and cultural significance of period dress, architecture, and decorative arts as applied to theatrical productions. It is recommended that M.F.A. students elect this course in their first year of study.

Theatre 540 -- Scene Design II
Theatre 547 -- Lighting Design II
Theatre 552 -- Costume Design II

For the Scene Design M.F.A., Theatre 540 covers the history of scene design and the application of contemporary styles to various types of dramatic production. It is  taught by either Professor Salzer or Funicello.

For the Lighting Design M.F.A., Theatre 547 applies advanced lighting design theory and practice to theatre and dance performance. It investigates lighting design in fields other than theatre. It is taught by Professor Wolf.

For the Costume Design M.F.A., Theatre 552 places emphasis on theatrical style, rendering layout, design problems, materials, and budget.  It is taught by Professor Durbin. 
M.F.A. students elect the appropriate course in their first semester of study.

Theatre 600 A -- Research and Bibliography

A study of basic reference works and research methods. This course is recommended for the first semester of graduate work. It is intended to introduce the student to graduate studies.

Theatre 610 -- Aesthetics for the Stage

This course reviews various aesthetic theories and relates them to contemporary theatrical production. It is taught by Professor Salzer and often elected in the student's second semester.

Theatre 621 -- Seminar in Theories of the Theatre

Normally taught by Professor Salzer, this course investigates important theories and theorists of dramatic literature and performance. Major stylistic movements and aesthetic philosophies from the classical Greeks to modern day are considered.

Theatre 643 -- Collaborative Studies in Design

This is the core design/studio course in the M.F.A. program. Its content varies and it is elected four times for a total of 12 units. It is normally taught by Professors Salzer, Funicello, and Durbin in the Fall Semester and Professors Funicello, Wolf, and Durbin in the Spring Semester. Guest directors are often involved in collaborative design projects. More than any other, this course addresses the individual needs of the M.F.A. design student and introduces Television and Film Design.

Theatre 644 – Seminar in Contemporary Designers

Taught by Professor Funicello, this popular seminar is an overview of major set, costume, and lighting designers working in today’s theatre, film, and television industries.

Theatre 645 – Seminar in Lighitng

This seminar, taught by Professor Wolf, is concerned with the aesthetics of stage lighting as they apply to the areas of scenery and costume design.  Topics extend to an investigation of commercial and architectural lighting as well as lighting for television and film.  Students participate in hands-on lighting projects involving uses of color and distribution of light.

 Theatre 642 and 795 -- Practicums

Theatre 642 is normally elected in the semester in which the student is not designing a production.  It provides credit for specialized production work – often assistant designing.

The 795 practicums are supervised design assignments for fully-mounted departmental productions. The first one is considered a qualifying project that must be successfully completed before the student can be advanced to candidacy. The second practicum is the student's thesis production.

Theatre 746 -- Theatre Internship

Professional field experience in design or technical production. The M.F.A. design student often assists a professional designer on a regional theatre project. This internship is normally completed during the second summer of the program.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Theatre in the School of Theatre, Television, and Film at San Diego State University offers a B.A. degree, a M.A. degree, and a M.F.A. degree. Normally about 50 graduate students and 250 undergraduates are in residence. The department is housed in a single building which contains class rooms, rehearsal rooms, and two theatres.

The Don Powell Theatre -- The larger of the two theatres seats 500 and is a fairly typical proscenium-type theatre with side-stages and a small apron. It is used in a wide variety of configurations from thrust to having audience seated on the stage.
The electrical system is dimmer-per-circuit with up-to-date lighting fixtures and control. The stage is fully trapped and is adjacent to a full-stage wagon house. The rigging system is counter-weight with 35 line sets. Sound is controlled by a SFX System.

The Experimental Theatre -- This is a black box theatre which seats 175 people in most configurations. The seating and staging areas are completely flexible. Lighting is dimmer-per-circuit with modern instruments and control.

Shop Facilities -- The scene shop is located next to the wagon house and the Experimental Theatre. It houses all necessary wood- and metal-working equipment. At the far end of the wagon house is a full-stage (20' X 50') electrically-operated paint frame. The paint area and a ventilated spray booth are adjacent.

The costume and make-up facilities share the lower level of the building along with a design and construction research library.  There is a large costume studio equipped with industrial machinery and specialty machines such as a patcher and walking foot machine.  The studio has ample room for 2 draper teams and extra work tables.  The wig and make up studio contains wig making and styling stations and a wig dryer.  There is a crafts studio and a ventilated dye room with commercial dye equipment.  The costume department maintains an historical costume collection with over 2,000 garments from 1840’s to 1950’s and a Contemporary Study Collection featuring garments from the 1960’s to the present, including many examples of work by designers such as Chanel and Givenchy.  A dance-floor rehearsal space and a full-scale lighting laboratory complete the lower level of the building.

The department presents six fully-mounted productions per year in our two theatres. In addition, the theatres are in constant demand by theatre student productions as well as productions by other organizations.

THE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY

San Diego State University is considered the "Flagship" institution of the 22-school California State University system. It has a student population of approximately 36,000 and is particularly known for the high quality of its graduate programs. It is located within 15-minutes of nearly everything: central San Diego, the Old Globe Theatre and Balboa Park, the San Diego Airport, San Diego Rep., and the beaches. Only La Jolla and the La Jolla Playhouse are further away (30-minutes). This University has historically taken a strong advocacy position for arts in education.

The community of San Diego is large and diverse. Theatre activity is abundant. There is always opportunity for work. It is the unusual M.F.A. student who does not take advantage of the vast variety and number of experiences offered by our numerous local theatres. Throughout the year they depend on our students for high-quality design and technical production work.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE -- GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS

Most of our students in the M.F.A. program receive some sort of financial assistance. Many of them are awarded Graduate Assistantships in the department. The G.A. stipend is approximately $2000 per semester and requires that the student devote 10-hours per week working in some area of production. Most often, students work in an area related to their design emphasis. Out-of-state tuition wavers are available to those students who qualify. For those students particularly interested in teaching, laboratory and classroom experience is available. When making application to the program, speak to your area advisor for information concerning Graduate Assistantships.

MAKING APPLICATION

Application to the M.F.A. program at San Diego State University is a two-fold process.

First, you must make formal application to the University. Graduate admission forms are available on-line. GRE General Test scores are required.
To Apply On-Line, go to:
https://secure.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/grad_apply.asp

For a printable PDF file of the Application Form. go to:
https://secure.csumentor.edu/Support/tech_support.asp#application

Official Program For The Masters of Fine Arts
In Theatre Design And Technology
Link to Excel worksheet:

Second, you must request a portfolio review and interview. Contact:


Professor Craig Wolf
Department of Theatre
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-0219
(619) 594-5898
cwolf@mail.sdsu.edu
FAX: (619) 594-7431