Production Opportunities For Designers

All designers and assistant designers are assigned to staged productions via the Tech Grid, posted in the A-building hallway near the Green Room.

Designers and Technicians

The majority of assignments on the Tech Grid are determined at the Technical Interest Meeting held towards the end of Spring quarter every year for the upcoming year’s season of shows. If you missed the meeting, or are starting in the program for the first time, you can still apply to work on productions by filling out a Technical Interest Form.

Many student designers get their start in the program designing as part of Barnstorm Theater Company and Rainbow Theater, both student-run production companies offering a wide range of opportunities for designers on their numerous shows. Barnstorm generally produces 2-3 full productions and several one night shows in fall and winter quarters. Rainbow Theater stages shows in spring. Students interested in designing for Barnstorm productions should speak to the Barnstorm management team and attend the Barnstorm Information Meeting, generally held during the first days of fall and winter quarters, after General Auditions. Rainbow Theater holds an interest meeting in winter quarter.

Many faculty-directed shows are designed or assistant-designed by students. Students fill out a Tech Interest Form with their education and experience, their desired areas of future experience, and any specific requests for specific shows to work on or people to work with. Assignments are determined based on interest and experience, both in terms of previous design experience, and practical experience working in the shops or on crews, stints as technical directors or master electricians, etc. Generally, beginning design students are assigned as assistants to more advanced design students, faculty designers, or visiting professionals on specific shows before being assigned as lead designer on a production.

The department faculty includes currently practicing professional designers in all areas of theatrical design, who teach courses in their areas of focus and are available for advising in their office hours. The program has strong ties to professional theater companies throughout the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas, and, indeed, throughout California, that have previously led to professional internships, overhire work, and even professional positions for talented and ambitious UCSC students.