The BFA in Theatre Design and Production prepares students for careers in the theatre and live entertainment industry. Our BFA program provides professional training with strong foundational experiences in all areas of theatre, design, technology, and management. Our degree offers specialization options in stage management; costume, lighting, properties, scenic, and sound design; and technical production. We offer upper-level, specialized courses in each emphasis area.
Students in the BFA in Theatre Design & Production will get hands-on experience on several co-curricular productions every semester. Our production shops and stages are the 鈥榣aboratory鈥� extensions of our classrooms. We provide design, technical, and management support for a wide spectrum of plays, musicals, operas, dance, corporate events, and children鈥檚 theatre productions. It is critical for students to work within the industry to be prepared for the global market. The Design & Production program has built partnerships with five performing arts organizations in the region to give our students the opportunity to gain professional experience while still in school.
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As a professionally based training program, it is critical for TheatreOCU students to work within the industry as their collegiate career evolves. At the 野狼社区 University School of Theatre we strive to involve our students in the industry in a wide range of opportunities. Whether it is with our professional partners or through internships, TheatreOCU students are actively in our industry.
The School of Theatre and TheatreOCU have partnerships with five local professional performing arts companies. These affiliations give our students the opportunities to gain professional experiences in performance, design, production and management.
Oklahoma Children's Theatre (OCT) is the professional children's theatre company for the state of Oklahoma, and they are in residence on the OCU campus. OCT provides extraordinary live theatre and interactive educational experiences for young audiences. OCT offers a number of productions and educational programs for young audiences throughout the year including, two main stage co-productions with TheatreOCU, a statewide touring production, a youth theatre program, an arts collaboration program with local daycare centers and educational classes and camps held during the summer at OCU. For more information, go to .
Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma is the state's leading professional theatre company. For 50 years, Lyric has produced classic and contemporary musicals and plays featuring both nationally known Broadway stars and local favorites. Lyric produces four smaller works in the Plaza Theatre during the spring, fall, and winter, as well as four large scale, fully orchestrated musicals at the Civic Center Music Hall each summer. Lyric operates under an URTA contract with Actors' Equity Association and employs members of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and United Scenic Artists. For more information, go to .
野狼社区 Ballet and the OCU School of Theatre鈥檚 Design and Production program have entered into a new professional partnership. This dynamic pairing will give OCU students opportunities to work in a variety of lighting and management related positions in a professional setting while supporting OKC Ballet鈥檚 productions at the Civic Center Music Hall. 野狼社区 Ballet seeks to inspire its audience through classical and contemporary dance performances, a strong educational program, and community service. To find out more about 野狼社区 Ballet, please visit .
Established in 2006, factor 110 is the鈥� region鈥檚 leader in event and destination management. factor 110 | Destination Oklahoma remains the first and only destination management company in Oklahoma while 110 events, the rental division of factor 110, offers an array of event rentals for the most intimate gatherings to the grandest parties. Check out for more information.
Music Theatre Wichita self produces five Broadway-scale musical productions, utilizing a unique mixture of top-flight professionals from Broadway along with a steady stream of talented Midwesterners. The young professionals who join MTWichita each summer gain employment, training, and valuable business contacts. Because of this, MTWichita has alumni in nearly every Broadway musical, and most national tours. Our Design & Production students get early access to interview for MTW summer positions and selected design students get the opportunity to design for their Academy shows. Check out .
The costume design and technology program at OCU is based in preparing our students to effectively visualize, communicate, and realize their own concepts for professional theatre. Courses in costume design cover discussion, style, and the presentation of ideas, as well as the research and historical interpretation involved in design for the stage. Students learn how to successfully implement their designs, aided by the knowledge and guidance of our costume designer and fully staffed costume shop.
Throughout their four years, costume design and technology majors receive hands-on experience in the theatre costume shop- led by our costume shop manager, a full-time cutter/draper, a stitcher, and a costume rental coordinator. Each semester they will have the opportunity to assist or design for the School of Theatre and School of Music main stage seasons, which include Opera, Musical Theatre, Contemporary Theatre, and Classical Theatre styles. Costume design students study rendering techniques, fashion history, design history, and text analysis, as well as construction and patterning techniques; they also have the opportunity for craft, makeup, and hair design studies within the major. Majors are also encouraged to present at annual regional and national conventions in order to receive additional professional feedback on their work.
Costume Design II鈥攁 deeper study of design for different genres, character development, and rendering style.
Costume Technology鈥攁n advanced construction course expanding sewing skill into techniques used in historical garments
Costume Patterning鈥攁 study of how to take historical research and/or a designer鈥檚 rendering and translate it to a 3D garment. Techniques in draping and flat patterning.
Costume/Prop Crafts鈥攖echniques in building from unconventional materials. Millinery (hats & headpieces), dyeing and painting, armor, etc鈥�
At the heart of our BFA program is a commitment to professional training. The curriculum is thoughtfully structured around key areas of emphasis, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive education designed to prepare them for success in the industry. These core focal points include:
Our robust production environment delivers over 55 productions annually, spanning theatre, musicals, opera, dance and events. This dynamic setting provides students with hands-on experience from day one, with their first production assignment taking place in the fall semester of their Freshman year. By immersing students in a wide variety of productions early on, we ensure they gain invaluable, real-world experience in a professional and collaborative setting, setting the foundation for a successful career in the arts.
Our rigorous and diverse academic curriculum is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in today's competitive theatre industry. The coursework emphasizes a broad range of concepts, including artistic process, critical thinking, and systems planning. This comprehensive approach fosters both creative and analytical skills, preparing students to navigate the complexities of the performing arts landscape. At OCU, we offer personalized mentorship with two dedicated stage management faculty members- both active professionals in the field- who focus exclusively on your success, ensuring you receive the guidance and expertise needed to thrive.
You will engage in rigorous curriculum designed to prepare you for a successful career as a theatre artist. Your courses will cover the full spectrum of design and production, including lighting, costume, and scenic design, alongside practical professional development skills such as resume and cover letter writing, portfolio development, job searches, and interview preparation. Additionally, you will take specialized courses in stage management, starting in fall semester of your Freshman year and continuing through your Senior year. These courses will cover a wide range of essential topics, including:
OCU offers a distinctive mentoring environment, with two dedicated faculty members -Jeff Cochran and Shannon Richey- who focus exclusively on stage management. Both faculty not only teach core courses within the curriculum but also provide hands-on mentorship for production assignments and lead our weekly seminars. In addition, students will have the unique opportunity to work alongside Jeff and Shannon as assistant stage managers on productions with OCU's professional partners, gaining invaluable real-world experience.
We are a vibrant community of storytellers dedicated to fostering an environment where both personal and professional growth flourish. Our mission is to cultivate a space where individuals are empowered to develop their craft while embracing emotional intelligence and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. With a focus on training the next generation of storytellers, we aim to nurture both creative excellence and professional competence, ensuring that our community members are not only skilled artists but also empathetic, self-aware individuals. Here, we believe in the power of storytelling to change the world, and we thrive to create a supportive and dynamic community where everyone can thrive.
The Stage Management program at OCU has a proven track record of producing successful and distinctive alumni. The program is centered on the belief that each student defines their own version of success, and it is our responsibility to guide and support you as you work toward your goals. Whether your path leads to New York, Chicago, or a career with industry leaders like Cirque du Soleil or Disney, a BFA in Stage Management from OCU equips you with the skills and experience to turn your dreams into reality.
Our alumni are currently making an impact in prestigious organizations and producing environments:
| Broadway | Goodman Theatre | Dallas Theatre Center | Encore Global |
| Playwright Horizons | Court Theatre | Disney in Orlando | Westview Innovation |
| Bay Street Theatre | Compass Church | Princess Cruises | Arizona State University |
| PCPA | Looking Glass Theatre Company | Rhode Island School of Design | Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas |
| OKC Thunder |
Students at OCU will have the opportunity to collaborate with five esteemed professional performing arts partners throughout their studies, providing a level of industry engagement typically found in top-tier graduate programs. This hand-on experience ensures that graduates leave with a resume that stands out in the competitive performing arts field.
Students in our program have the unique opportunity to earn both a BFA and a Master of Arts. Depending on their course of study and the number of credits they complete prior to enrolling at OCU, they can choose between a 4-year or 5-year track, allowing for a tailored academic path that best fits their individual goals.
In todays, global marketplace, OCU offers students invaluable opportunities to study abroad, with programs in cities like London and Beyond. these international experiences enrich their education, broadening their perspectives and preparing them for success in the interconnected world of the performing arts.
Students with a Lighting Design and Technology emphasis begin working on shows as soon as they arrive on campus, serving in roles such as Light Board Operator and/or as Assistant Lighting Designer. Students typically work on two to three shows a semester.
During your sophomore year, students will design their first show, typically a Studio production in the School of Theatre and/or a children鈥檚 theatre show with Oklahoma Children鈥檚 Theatre. Sophomores also assist Annalise Caudle, Professor of Lighting Design on productions and may be assigned as an assistant designer on a professional ballet with 野狼社区 Ballet.
Juniors customarily design lights for School of Music Spotlight productions or School of Theatre MainStage plays, as well as serving as Production Electrician one or two shows.
Seniors commonly design lights for the School of Music MainStage Operas and Musicals, as well as continuing to serve as Production Electricians on the larger shows.
By the time a student has graduated from OCU with a Lighting Design and Technology Emphasis, they are ready to transition easily into any role in theatrical lighting design and production.
Our students routinely graduate with two or three internships under their belts. Lighting students have worked summer jobs and internships at a variety of locations, including; , , , Six Flags Over Texas, , , and . These internships increase the network of contacts that our graduates need to pursue a career in the lighting design industries.
The Lighting Design and Technology track curriculum encompasses a wide scope of skills and artistic explorations. Students graduate well-rounded and prepared to enter the workforce.
Stage Lighting - Introduction to stage lighting equipment, techniques, practices, and safety.
Lighting Lab - Companion to Stage Lighting. Hands-on experience mounting shows for School of Theatre and School of Music. Includes crewing of one show.
Lighting Design - Elements of design as they apply to the use of lighting design. Includes color theory, play analysis, drafting, programming of consoles, and physics of light.
CAD for Theatre - Advanced study of Vectorworks and Lightwright software, enabling students to utilize these programs to create, edit, and maintain lighting plots and various paperwork.
Lighting Design II - Advanced study of lighting techniques as they apply to opera, musicals, and dance, and the history of stage lighting.
Advanced Electrical Production & Programming - Study of skills/duties of Master Electrician, Production Electrician, and Lighting Supervisor. Advanced electrical theory and safety, Lightwright, programming consoles and offline editors, counterweight rigging systems, soldering, data protocols, and LED technology.
Museum, Fashion, & Special Event Lighting Design - Exploration and study of non-theatrical careers in lighting. Areas include; Concerts, Restaurants, Public Art/Sculptures, Museum Exhibitions, Fashion Shows, Retail Windows, Houses of Worship, and other special events.
- Students have the opportunity to assist and design lights in a small converted church, concentrating on story-telling without being overwhelmed by a large lighting rig. OCT productions serve as a perfect stepping-stone for freshman and sophomore lighting students.
- All Lighting Design students will assist the OKCB Resident Lighting Designer at least once in their time at OCU. Ballets are performed in the OKC 2,500-seat Civic Center Music Hall, affording students the chance to work in a professional venue, with a professional crew, and at a professional pace. Select students are offered the shot at touring with the Ballet.
OCU Lighting Design and Technology Alumni are working all over the world in various areas of live entertainment.
My name is Megan Fouts. I am a freshman Lighting Design student from Piedmont, OK. I came to OCU without much experience in theatrical design, so pretty much everything was new to me. Due to the fact everyone is assigned to productions in their first semester, I was able to learn by observing and hands-on training though those production assignments. At OCU, you are able to observe every part of a show, from the first design meeting to strike. You are also encouraged to explore the many aspects of design.
The classes at OCU are arranged so you begin taking core classes immediately. Only two of my six classes this semester were general education credits, while the remaining were design classes. The professors take the time to get to know their students individually and genuinely want you to succeed. Students continually encourage and support one another. I consider myself lucky to be part of the OCU community.
I'm Bradley Taylor, and I am a senior lighting design student from Searcy, Arkansas. This past Thanksgiving, I was asked to be the assistant lighting designer for 野狼社区 Ballet鈥檚 tour of The Nutcracker to Colorado Springs. As the assistant lighting designer, I was responsible for remounting the original design of the show and maintaining the integrity of the design. This included but was not limited to focusing the show, maintaining cues, updating paperwork, and communicating with the lighting designer, who was 741 miles away.
While working on the production, I also had the opportunity to build strong relationships with classmates and our professional partners from 野狼社区 Ballet during our work hours and during our downtime. We kept ourselves busy with a company Thanksgiving meal and a hike through the Garden of the Gods with the production team. In the end, I am very thankful and blessed to have had the opportunity to create many new friendships while strengthening my skills as a lighting designer.
We are currently in technical rehearsals for the Puccini opera La Rondine. Senior lighting student Travis Baldwin is knocking it out of the park on this design. With one lighting plot, he has to create the looks for a drawing room that is supposed to evoke the feelings of a birdcage, a smokey Parisian night club, and a seaside cottage where the heroine walks into the ocean.
Next week (Nov 17th) we are traveling to Plano, TX for the North Texas Drama Auditions. I have already looked at the resumes of all of the prospects we will meet there. Can鈥檛 wait to be impressed by the next round of OCU Stars! Bring your A-game!
The Scenic Design program at OCU produces innovative theatre artists who are prepared to enter the entertainment industry as designers, collaborators, and leaders. Our program is grounded on an intensive mentoring process. You will study and work within a regional professional theatre model and be guided by faculty with years of experience in the profession. You will receive individualized mentoring in the areas of scenic design, technical direction, properties design/fabrication, and scenic painting.
We offer a rigorous hands-on training program founded in the collaborative process. Students will have the opportunity to work in props design, scenic painting, projections design, and scenic design. Students will get work-study positions as scenic artists, props artisans, or carpenters. During your OCU career, you will design for theatre, musicals, opera, and children鈥檚 theatre. You will begin to work on shows during your first month on campus and, on average, you will do two productions per semester. With our professional partnerships, you will also earn professional credits for your resume while you鈥檙e still a student. Our graduates are provocative visual storytellers and innovative collaborators who are prepared for the entertainment industry. A typical four-year track of study at OCU will look like the following:
YEAR 1
YEAR 2
YEAR 3
YEAR 4
Our program is built around the model of leading graduate programs; we have professional training at our core. We have relationships with the leading professional performing arts organizations in 野狼社区. This results in a one of a kind training experience for our students. During your time at OCU, you will work in a variety of positions with:
Whether it鈥檚 on the Production Crew for a ballet, or as a Properties Artisan on a musical, or the Scenic Designer for a Children鈥檚 Theatre production, you will see first-hand what it takes to be successful within the industry.
Over 90% of OCU graduates are hired into a job in the entertainment industry within three months of graduation. Whether it is life in Chicago or New York or touring the world on a cruise line, our students鈥� paths take a number of routes to success. We have alums working as resident designers and scenic artists at regional theatres around the United States. We have graduates who have worked for leading performing arts organizations such as Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney World, Glimmerglass Opera Festival, and Santa Fe Opera. Every student鈥檚 journey is unique and it鈥檚 our job to help give you the tools needed to succeed in this industry.
The reality of the entertainment industry today is that we work in a global market. This is a point that our program takes very seriously. With that we are currently developing Study Abroad opportunities with partners around the world to prepare our graduates for the ever evolving industry.
There are multiple options for OCU students to have a Study Abroad experience. These include exchanges with universities in London where students can spend a semester or a summer in England. This experience is designed to allow students to stay on track to graduate within four years. Through the OCU Study Abroad Office, students are able to explore a wide variety of opportunities around the globe.
The properties design and production program will train and prepare students for professional work in theatre, film, television and commercial production work. Properties design and fabrication students have a special eye for detail and an interest in historical accuracy, minutiae, and work in an artistically collaborative environment. The curriculum is multi-faceted in its approach training students. Classes focus on the organizational and managerial aspects of the job, design and research, fabrication techniques, materials and processes and period style and interiors.
Students participate as prop masters and assistants, craftspeople, and set decorators in multiple theatrical venues and spaces. Students work directly under the supervision of the properties design and fabrication program faculty as well as shop staff, visiting artists, and in collaboration with scenic, lighting and sound designers in the program. The interdisciplinary, collaborative approach mirrors the function of properties departments in professional, regional theaters.
Students will be able to engage and interact with properties professionals at various nationally recognized theaters. During their time at OCU, students will apply for internships at professional theaters in summer repertory. Students are also encouraged to participate in national professional organizations and enter production work in competitions to be evaluated by working professionals in order to further their scope and understanding of the job. At the end of a four-year degree, students exiting the properties design and fabrication program possess the skill set, ingenuity and professional abilities to work in many levels of professional properties production.
The Design and Production program offers a wide range of opportunities for sound design and engineering students that include: The Stage II production series, Burg Mainstage shows, and Bass School of Music musical theatre and opera productions.
This variety of sound design and engineering assignments allows students to practice their craft and progress in scale of show. By the time students graduate, they will be ready to address any industry sound needs.
Course work offers the opportunity for study in: live sound reinforcement, digital audio workstation editing and mastery, studio engineering and mixing, system troubleshooting, music composition, as well as script and character analysis.
Students will master the use of analog and digital sound mixers in a variety of system designs for theatrical and live event related projects.
Students will have access to a variety of digital systems including:
Students will also have access to the School of Theatre Audio Lab for sound design and composition, as well as the Bass School of Music Recording Studio for studio engineering projects.
The reality of today鈥檚 entertainment and theatrical production industry is that we work in a global market. This is a point that our program takes very seriously. We work with partners around the world to develop opportunities that will prepare our students for careers around the world. There are multiple opportunities for students to study abroad during their time at OCU. They can be done in exchanges that work within a given academic semester or summer. These opportunities are designed to complement your overall experience.
Theatre Design & Production students who are interested in study abroad opportunities should speak with their area mentor. We have had students participate in a variety of study abroad educational experiences. We have had stage management students spend a semester in London and costume design students study fashion design and illustration in Florence, Italy. We can create experiences in several European countries, and we can help to create the study abroad experience that would be best for you.
Through the Study Abroad Office at OCU, students are able to explore additional opportunities around the world. These types of programs are designed to complement the student experience at OCU by learning more about a specific culture and to prepare OCU Design and Production graduates for the global market.
Learn more about Study Abroad!
Our students continue to develop their craft during the summer. Design and production majors typically spend their summers working in the profession. In recent years, OCU students have earned positions and internships with: Cirque du Soleil, Santa Fe Opera, Walt Disney World, Great River Shakespeare Festival, Music Theatre of Wichita, Glimmerglass Opera, Busch Gardens Theme Park, Shakespeare Festival of New Jersey, Dallas Shakespeare Festival, Creede Repertory Theatre, and Black Hills Playhouse.
We believe it is essential for students to have these summer professional experiences to best prepare them for the industry. These internship opportunities will set our students apart from their peers. Our faculty have connections to some summer positions and the students find many of them on their own. At least one internship experience is a required part of the BFA curriculum, but many of our students work in professional theatre and entertainment during each summer of their OCU career.
