Theatre: Stage Management Major | Baldwin Wallace University

OVERVIEW

Transforming a script into a dramatic expression of art that is well orchestrated in design, technical operation and supervision of talent and staff is at the core of theatre stage management.

At BW, you’ll gain insights and skills for effective theatre stage management. Real world-focused, the major is a comprehensive study that encompasses theoretical, practical, artistic and technical skill-building.

It integrates extensive hands-on learning with rigorous coursework. You’ll build skills in leadership, stage operations, scenic design, script analysis, lighting, acting and more.

Foundation courses in literature, history, performance, technical and collaborative studies help you develop analytical skills and insights into professional theatre.

Small class sizes, individual attention and faculty mentoring are at the core of the program. You’ll be encouraged to participate in professional apprenticeship opportunities nationally and abroad.

BW faculty are practicing professionals with contacts at Cleveland’s Great Lakes Theater, Cleveland Public Theatre, Beck Center for the Arts and Dobama Theatre, as well as Idaho Shakespeare Festival and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.

Through these opportunities, you’ll gain experience, earn Equity points, network and build an impressive resume.

With both proscenium and black box theatres, BW offers traditional and contemporary audience settings that provide a variety of learning environments, including theatre in-the-round, thrust staging and more.

"Romeo and Juliet" - Fall 2014
You will work on both large-scale period productions and small-scale contemporary pieces in BW's proscenium and black box theatres.
Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is a hallmark of the stage management program. Theatre productions, internships and professional apprenticeships provide opportunities to gain experience, earn Equity points and network with professionals.
"Enchanted April" - Spring 2016
You will develop hands-on, practical experience in scenic painting, set and costume construction, lighting design and stage management with each production.
"All Shook Up" - Fall 2015
Faculty mentoring is at the core of the program. You will work alongside faculty members - all practicing professionals in the field - in all aspects of production, including directing, choreography, design and construction.
"Angels in America" - Fall 2015
Baldwin Wallace's theatre and dance department produces two main stage productions and a series of one-acts each semester. Productions include musicals, operas, plays and a dance concert. BW is one of the few theatre producers to tackle both parts of Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer-Prize-winning American classic.
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" - Spring 2015
You will work alongside directors throughout the production process - from audition through closing performance - gaining real-world experience and building an impressive resume.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Director
Critic
Theatre manager
Stage manager
Playwright
Casting or talent agent
Dramaturg

FOUR SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS OF STUDY

At BW, theatre majors can focus their studies in acting and directing, dance and movement, design and technical and stage management. All programs include a solid foundation of courses designed to give students a comprehensive overview of theatre.

STUDY THEATRE IN LONDON

Heighten your understanding and appreciation of British theatre through a study abroad experience. The program is a three-week, credit-earning immersion course in British theatre that includes a nine-day trip to London. It is led by BW theatre faculty.

Theatre Productions

Baldwin Wallace's theatre and dance department produces two main stage productions and a series of one-acts each semester. Productions include musicals, operas, plays and a dance concert.

Main Stage Series 2018 - 2019

AMERICAN LARONDE
Adaptation by Steven Dietz
Directed by Scott Plate
September 27 - October 7

CABARET
Co-production with BW Music Theatre
Book by Joe Masteroff
Based on the play by John Van Druten and
Stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Directed by Victoria Bussert
November 7-11

fyoo zh en 19
THE SHOCK OF THE NEWS
Directed by Sara Whale
February 13-16

MARISOL
By Jose Rivera
Directed by Anjanette Hall
April 10-14

Studio Series 2018-2019

STOP KISS
By Diana Son
Directed by Brennan Murphy
October 17-21

THE PROPOSAL
By Anton Chekhov
Directed by Sarah Rupp McKee
November 15-17

THE CRITIQUE OF THE SCHOOL FOR WIVES
By Molière
Directed by Christine McBurney
January 30

24 HOUR THEATRE PROJECT
September 15

TESTING GROUND
Dance Works in Progress
Directed by Sara Whale
April 24

Lab Series 2018-2019

AH, WILDERNESS!
By Eugene O'Neill
Directed by Mitchell Fields
September 21-22

FOUR PLAYS FOR DANCERS
By William Butler Yeats
Co-production with Testing Ground
Directed by Sara Whale
October 25

BLITHE SPIRIT
By Noël Coward
February 15-16

MEDEA
Adaptation by Paul Roche
Directed by Libby Tofig
September 16

CURRICULUM

Offered as a major and a minor, theatre offers four programs of study: acting and directing, dance and movement, design and technical and stage management. BW also offers a major in music theatre through its Conservatory of Music and a BFA in acting.

The theatre major provides a broad perspective of the literature, history and creative practices of the discipline. Courses prepare students to appreciate and participate in theatre at all levels of performance, production, direction, design and management.

You can study acting, directing, voice and movement, scenic and costume design, lighting, stage management, theatre history and more. You also can take special seminars in contemporary topics.

The theatre major prepares students to:

Develop an awareness and appreciation of theatre and/or dance as art forms and as a vital asset to society
Acquire competency in their chosen area of study
Acquire an understanding of the history of the theatre and/or dance including its literature and criticism
Develop responsible standards of criticism regarding the aesthetics of theatre and/or dance
Develop research skills/techniques applicable to scholarly and/or production needs
Develop an understanding of the collaborative nature of theatre and/or dance by active participation in production work within the program

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through theatre productions, internships, co-curricular activities and student organizations.

Student Organizations

Theatre Arts and Performance

This organization supports student theatre artists and those interested in theatre on campus. It informs students of events and opportunities in theatre, maintains an open forum for student ideas and projects, and raises awareness of on- and off-campus theatrical events.

United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)

The BW student chapter of USITT is committed to strengthening the skills of technical theatre students while carrying out the mission of the national organization. USITT serves to create vibrant dialogue among practitioners, educators and students.

Facilities

The Department of Theatre and Dance is located in Kleist Center for Art & Drama. It houses two theatres: Mainstage Theatre and Black Box Theatre.

The Mainstage Theatre is a large 512-seat proscenium theatre. The stage has a 67-foot fly loft with a counterweight system. The stage opening is 44' by 24' with an extended 15-foot apron, ample wings and depth measuring 30 feet. This facility also boasts a new lighting system installed by ETC. With over 200 dimmers, lights are operated on an Emphasis board including a WYSIWYG program.

The Black Box Theatre is a smaller, flexible theatre with seating between 100-250. This unique studio space is intended to provide a variety of seating arrangements, including proscenium, three-quarter-thrust and in-the-round. The theatre has a balcony around three sides and a lighting grid 23 feet above the stage floor. This space also boasts a new Strand Century Lighting system with a 520 series light board.

Off-Campus Experiences

Baldwin Wallace's close proximity to Cleveland and its nationally ranked arts organizations offers outstanding learning and performance opportunities. BW students worked with many of them, including:

THEATRE AND DANCE DEPARTMENT

(440) 826-2239, theatre@bw.edu

Full-Time Faculty

Scott Plate
Chair, Theatre and Dance Department
Directing Program Coordinator
Associate Professor
Acting, Directing, On Camera

Tesia Benson
Assistant Professor
Make-up, Costume Construction

Beth Burrier
Music Theatre Music Director & Area Coordinator, Music Theatre
Associate Professor of Music Theatre

Victoria Bussert
Director, Music Theatre Program
Professor of Theatre

Gregory Daniels
Coordinator, Dance Program
Associate Professor of Dance
Jazz, Tap

Anjanette Hall
BFA in Acting Program Coordinator
Assistant Professor

Les Hunter
Assistant Professor
Playwriting, Script Analysis, Screenwriting

Christine McBurney
Assistant Professor

Brennan Murphy
BFA in Acting Program Coordinator
Associate Professor
Acting, Voice

Annika Sheaff
Assistant Professor
Ballet, Modern Dance

Sara Whale
Assistant Professor
Ballet, Modern, Improv, Choreography

Charlotte Yetman
Costume Design Program Coordinator
Professor

Adjunct Faculty

Laura Welsh Berg
Lecturer
Acting

Melanie Boeman
Lecturer
Costume Shop Manager

Pamela Decker
Lecturer
Theatre History, Dramaturgy, Script Analysis

Martin Friedman
Lecturer
Script Analysis, Intro to Theatre

Dylan Fujimura
Lecturer
Technical Director

Shannon B. Fujimura
Lecturer
B.F.A., Kent State University

Fred Gloor
Lecturer
Improvisation, Intro to Theatre

Tracy Grady
Lecturer
Singing for Actors, Voice

Todd Krispinsky
Lecturer
Theatre Management

Lisa Ortenzi
Lecturer
Creative Dramatics

Corrie Purdum
Lecturer
Stage Management

Pandora Robertson
Lecturer
Movement, Devised Theatre

Kelly Smith
Lecturer
Acting

Bob Taylor
Lecturer
Theatre Seminar in London

Dusten Welch
Lecturer
Resident Fight Director, Stage Combat

Staff

Yolanda Kennedy
Office Manager

Josh Padgett
Assistant Technical Director

Theatre: Stage Management

Undergraduate Admission

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OVERVIEW

"Romeo and Juliet" - Fall 2014

Experiential Learning

"Enchanted April" - Spring 2016

"All Shook Up" - Fall 2015

"Angels in America" - Fall 2015

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" - Spring 2015