@127mocha I copied our comments here! Loganator. Thank U!!! DD is a junior and we have started doing our research on Design/Tech programs. She is interested in Stage Management and has her portfolio all set. sounds like it will need to be adapted for each school! uh!!! Did she also have to create a digital version of her portfolio? My DD only has an 85-86 average so I don’t think her GPA will be strong enough for Emerson and BU but we did look at PACE and are going to Purchase today. Love to hear any info and updates from you. My older DD is at UARTS and they have a DT and DPP program that you can look into. My DD is there for MT and loving the atmosphere, opportunities and support at the school. Has your DD looked at Wagner? I know the have a design tech program as well. I would move all this into a Design/Tech Thread but have no idea if thats even possible and if so how.
@Loganator. Thanks!!
We’re in the thick of it – lots of apps submitted, a few more to go, and interviews (some in person, some Skype) being scheduled.
Any other Tech Threatre/Design & Production parents out there? ?
loganator my dd is only a junior so we r currently researching and visiting programs. sending good vibes your way
My daughter is a senior, applying to schools in and around the Philly area, hoping to do tech/set construction for theater (or dance, opera, etc. - anything that needs a set, lights, sound!). Anyone know the best programs in our area, aside from art schools. She would like to do liberal arts school to have a more well-rounded education. Thanks!
@collegegeek2020 – I suggest Muhlenberg as well as some of the other great SLACs in Pennsylvania for a BA program.
@collegegeek2020 Temple University recently started a BFA for Technical Production and Management. My son attends Temple for BFA in MT and the BFA students are required to complete the gen ed requirements just as all other students are, so it has the liberal arts education component. Here’s the description of the program from their website:
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Production and Management is designed to prepare students for professional work in the theater industry or top tier graduate program as Technical Directors, Production Managers, or Stage Managers. Stage Managers will be work-ready at the end of the four-year program, while Technical Directors and Production Managers may or may not opt to explore graduate programs to further develop their skills. Students take a variety of courses to prepare them for the professional world, including courses in Design, Stagecraft, Technical Direction, Structural Design for the Stage, Sound, Lighting & Projection Technology, The Job Market, Theater Management, Theater Safety and Management, and Music Theory; all which lead to a capstone project, where students take on a leadership position on one of the musicals, plays, or operas that Temple Theaters produces each year. The program has a strong emphasis on experiential learning, and between Temple Theaters productions and internships with theaters in the Philadelphia region, students learn critical skills from a wide variety of professionals and mentors.
Hello Tech Parents/Students! I’ve just read all of these posts. Haven’t been on CC in a while. Oldest D is 30 and now D17 is a junior and starting the process again in a whole new field. D17 loves, loves, musical theater. She is part of a very strong Performing Arts Company in her high school. She does tech for the fall play and performs in the spring musical. Performing in as an ensemble member is her first love. I’ve been pushing for a BA in Theater Arts with a concentration in a technical area since I feel it is more realistic and leaves room for a double major. She loves costumes. We have a wig collection and costumes in our home since she is into cosplay and anime. My concern is finding a program where the professors help pull our talent out of you. D17 has apsergers and has to be pushed into trying anything new. I pushed her into going to a 3 week summer MT program in DC last summer to prepare her for transitioning into going away to school. It worked out fabulously and now she wants the college experience. Found a 2 week camp this summer at Rider University for Tech Theater hoping this might prove to her that she would like that apect of theater. has anyone visited a BA program that is strong on the tech side? We have visited Muhlenberg, Desales, Drew, Montclair State, Rider and Wagner. Planning on visiting Ithaca and Purchase but am now thinking of adding Fredonia based upon what I’ve been reading. Gosh, sorry this has gotten so long. Trying to find a program that helps students discover themselves when they are not a Type A personality. Kind regards!
@freshstart19 I have a son in Fredonia, but don’t know much about the costume area. But I also have a daughter who attended UMBC (BFA Acting) and their tech is wonderful. One of her classmates has worked professionally regionally in costuming and is now getting his MFA in costume design at UCLA. I was always blown away by all of their tech, including sets, gorgeous lighting that helped to tell the story, and they even built a river right on stage once!
It is nice to see some Tech comments! Has anyone heard from CCM regarding acceptances?
@lilac30 Nothing from CCM here yet, but I have seen on other threads that the MT decisions are out.
Here’s another tech program that is a BFA (I think it recently switched from BA to BFA):
https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/technical-production-and-management-major-ca-tpam-bfa
@freshstart19 Definitely check Purchase… what about Rutgers and Kean? Further away, but take a look at Ball State. My son is a junior in HS in a tech theater program, and does his entire senior year of HS at Kean (doing normal requirements, plus 4 tech theater courses)… some programs at Kean are hidden gems, imo.
Thanks for the replies, lovetoacta and schadret. We’re avoiding BFA programs since I’m hoping D17 will double major. Plus, she does not have the porfolio expected by BFAs. Event BA programs are looking for portfolios! I’m hoping to find a precollege program this summer that can help build one. D17 has photos of sets she’s worked on as part of the tech crew for the fall plays. My preference is an an away experience to help with transitioning to college. Not too many tech programs. Did find a couple but they conflict with a program that she is registered for at the McCarter Theater in Princeton. Rutgers is way too big for D17. She needs a smaller, more close knit community.
UMBC looks intrigueing. A Theater BA with Design and Production Concentration. We may need to go visit there! Thanks!
@freshstart19 Check out Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute – my D has participated in the tech program the past two summers, and it is amazing. Look quickly, though - the application deadline is 3/13.
Cost was most important to us, beyond all else.
So the places we looked at included a ton in Ohio – we visited Otterbein and Ohio U, and researched Baldwin Wallace, Toledo, Cleveland State and Bowling Green - all were cheaper for us, coming from PA.
We also visited FSU and researched Uni. of New Mexico.
But D ended up in the theater tech program at WVU, where she got the most money. She’s happy.
@Gatormama I’m very interested on your thoughts about UNM’s program compared to others such as FSU and Otterbein. We live in NM and UNM would be really cheap for us, but we have not had a chance to compare with any colleges since the campuses shut down this summer.
@fatcatpr - I’m sorry to say that we didn’t consider it closely after my D19 refused to go that far away.
Both FSU and Otterbein were worthy programs, with great opportunities at both (FSU has a year abroad program that garners you in-state tuition if you can afford that first year - $40k. And Otterbein has noted connections to the theater world and Columbus is a great place.) Otterbein participates in Unifieds; not sure about FSU. FSU would’ve been cheaper at list price, but there seemed to be more scholarship $ available via Otterbein.
All that said, UNM would’ve been even cheaper, as it allows scholarship-stacking, a rarity. (WVU does also).
Ultimately we went with WVU, the cheapest option; it wasn’t a hard decision and she was loving the program before it went online - she was just starting her first ASM gig for the spring musical, which obv. was canceled 
Thank you @Gatormama . We live in New Mexico so trying to find something close to home with a good program is difficult. I went to UNM as a dance major and don’t remember there being much a tech program… but that was MANY years ago. I’m glad your daughter found a place she loves.
@fatcatpr Have you looked into University of Arizona?