I hung out over the weekend with one of my good friends from College. After undergrad she worked a few years, got her MFA, landed a job in the lighting department at a major US dance company, assisted/associate LD'd on a few Broadways (one that got a Tony for lighting), got into USA829, and has a few off Broadway credits. Her biggest comment of that whole thing was there are simply too many MFA programs. I also think the same thing is true of undergrad theatre programs. When you look at the "notable alumni" of the college we both attended not a single person in deisgn/tech has listed designer. Everyone is technicians. Why is this? Why is she the only designer working out of our entire undergrad class when we were all taught design?
My personal feeling its due to this 1991 NYT article on Jennifer Tipton...
So, why are undergrad college programs so focused on design? Why did we spend 80% of our time working on original design instead of 80% working on technical skills and throwing some design on top? Yes, having the design background is helpful when working in the technical disciplines, but no one is walking out of undergrad and into a design job. Even if they do land a design gig, they are still going to be supporting themselves with a wrench in their hand if they are lucky.... and the unlucky ones will be slinging drinks.
Recent grads... is this still true? Have programs transitioned? Is anyone in an undergrad program that aims to get their graduates to be able to pass either ETCP exam on graduation? Are we still producing scenic designer that can kind of work as a TD? LD's who can kinda be electricians? Sound designers that can kind of mix? Costume designers who can kind of stich? Are any programs teaching there is a ton of design work outside of theatre/dance/opera? Is any program giving up on teaching design as the primary at the undergrad level and saving the actual design education for grad school?
My personal feeling its due to this 1991 NYT article on Jennifer Tipton...
There are perhaps a dozen lighting designers in the country who work steadily enough to support themselves by their art, and maybe half a dozen who are acclaimed and in demand. Among these is Jennifer Tipton, characterized most often for the impeccability of her taste and a certain precision and cerebral quality to her work -- which have earned her two Tony awards, among other prizes during her 25 years in the theater.
So, why are undergrad college programs so focused on design? Why did we spend 80% of our time working on original design instead of 80% working on technical skills and throwing some design on top? Yes, having the design background is helpful when working in the technical disciplines, but no one is walking out of undergrad and into a design job. Even if they do land a design gig, they are still going to be supporting themselves with a wrench in their hand if they are lucky.... and the unlucky ones will be slinging drinks.
Recent grads... is this still true? Have programs transitioned? Is anyone in an undergrad program that aims to get their graduates to be able to pass either ETCP exam on graduation? Are we still producing scenic designer that can kind of work as a TD? LD's who can kinda be electricians? Sound designers that can kind of mix? Costume designers who can kind of stich? Are any programs teaching there is a ton of design work outside of theatre/dance/opera? Is any program giving up on teaching design as the primary at the undergrad level and saving the actual design education for grad school?
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