Western schools

[Dojh167]

I have been looking into technical theatre schools, but the frustration that I've found is that most of what are supposed to be the "best" schools are located on the East coast, and I'm not interested in moving that far from California.

My number one is definitely DePaul, as I am in love with Chicago and have family there. If there are any other schools in Chicago that I should be considering, please enlighten me.

If I am unable to find/get int a good Chicago school, I would like to stay someplace in the west. States that interest me are California (though not LA or San Francisco), Oregon, Washington, Colorado...

I am most interested in a major in either general technical theatre or stage management (would be ideal), and do not much like the idea of general theatre programs with an emphasis.

Part of what I love about DePaul is it's location in such a lively city for theatre, as well as how well they prepare you for work in the real world, not just giving you a general education and leaving you to fend for yourself.

Any tips would be helpful, and I am flexible with location, but don't want to go much further East than Chicago.

[Jinglish]

I'm in a boat similar to yours, since I live in Oregon and I want to get in a degree in tech (Lighting Design, specifically), but I don't want to bother with acting requirements and the like for a degree. I've been looking into Cornish in Washington, which has a dedicated Performance Production department; you might want to check them out.

[ReiRei]

This is simply a suggestion, but look into Southern Oregon University. Since it's in Ashland, Oregon I would assume that it's got a pretty good technical theatre program there. Actually, they do because a few of my friends are attending right now. I obviously don't speak from experience, but from what I have heard from my friends who attend SOU.

I'm pretty sure that you would be getting a degree with an emphasis, but most of the people who technical theatre at SOU end up interning at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Just throwing it out there.

[Esoteric]

UW is a great program (top 5 grad school and top 20 undergrad).

Mike

[gafftaper]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

UW is a great program (top 5 grad school and top 20 undergrad).Mike

We finally agree on Something Mike! Got my BA and MA at UW. It's a great university. Unfortunately my degrees are a few years back and aren't in theater tech so I can't say a lot about the current program. Although I've heard some good things about them from friends in the theater community.

Cornish is a great school as well and definitely worth checking out.

I've heard good things in the past about UNLV. I think I remember reading about them having some cool connections with Cirque and other Vegas shows.

[Esoteric]

I was hoping to to my Masters at Northwestern or UW after my undergrad at UT. It is a great program, but as I remember it, there was one woman who controlled the whole program and if she didn't like you, you weren't getting in, no matter what your credentials.

Mike

[bdkdesigns]

It's interesting because I've heard the exact opposite from everyone that I've talked to (including several who went to Northwester)...."Don't go to Northwestern for you Master's in Lighting."

[Esoteric]

Wow, when I was shopping in 2004 it was considered a top 5 program (with UW, NYU, UT, and Yale). Maybe things have changed?

Mike

[gafftaper]

Things change so rapidly at schools. It only takes a new dean or a couple of bad prof's to flip things upside down.

[Esoteric]

Yeah, in the 80's SMU was the stuff. Then their program (literally) died off. Four professors died and now they are a second rate program at best.

Mike