The Theatre School’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Stage Management is a blend of training in management, design and technical skills. The four-year curriculum in many ways simulates a stage managers professional experience and process. Students learn to communicate with and manage all areas of production. Students collaborate with directors, designers, actors, administration and our professional production staff as part of our production program.

Students learn from a distinguished and award-winning faculty of professional designers, artists and technicians both in the classroom and through individual guidance and advising during production work.

First Year. The first year curriculum is taken in collaboration with other design and technical students and is an immersion into the culture of production and design. Students explore thinking metaphorically and abstractly with an appreciation of design and technology as an aesthetic distinct from other art forms and begin a drawing and technical drawing progression. Students complete three production assignments as assistant stage managers in our public production season.

Second Year. Students move into the specific stage management curriculum and focus on roles and responsibilities of stage managers in the production process. Students take elective coursework in other design or technical areas to support their education as theatre generalists. Students continue their work as assistant stage managers and will stage manage one production of their own in our public production season.

Third Year. Students continue to hone their skills and explore ways to apply them in various positions and areas of theatre and other careers. Student continue study in the areas of costumes, lighting, scenery or sound while exploring period style elements through a survey of art, architecture, fashion and furniture. Students typically stage manage at least two productions in our public production season.

Fourth Year. The fourth year is a transition year, both further developing students abilities and preparing students to enter the profession. Students’ coursework includes preparation and study of the roles of managerial staff in theatre and continued study in the areas of costumes, lighting, scenery or sound. Students typically stage manage at least one production in our public production season and have the option of a professional internship of their choosing.

Graduate Showcase. At the end of each year, The Theatre School hosts an event to showcase the work of our graduating students. Under the guidance of the faculty, graduating students prepare a showcase exhibit of their portfolio – which is presented in Chicago for artistic directors and other members of the theatre, film and television industries. The Graduate Showcase includes alumni networking events to introduce and connect our graduates to our large alumni network.

Liberal Studies. In addition to the stage management training curriculum, students complete 52 quarterly credit hours (13 courses) in liberal studies. Courses are taken in theatre history, English composition and rhetoric, quantitative reasoning, philosophy, religion, lab or quantitative sciences, world history, multiculturalism and electives. These liberal studies courses are scheduled during the first three years of the program.

Evaluation. Every student receives quarterly evaluation and feedback from the faculty each year. Students’ evaluations are based on discipline, collaboration, professional potential and progress in the program. Based on this evaluation, students are continued from year to year at the invitation of the faculty. There are no pre-determined limits on the number of students returning to technical programs. An invitation to return to the third year of a technical program is for the duration of the respective program provided that all academic requirements are met, and that professional discipline is acceptable.