Design and Production

Curiosity, Critical Thinking and Continuous Learning:

Design and Production Students are exposed to a wide array of stylistically and globally diverse curriculum and pedagogies, building the foundation for an ongoing journey of personal and intellectual discovery.  Our curriculum provides the discipline-specific tools for management and design student’s growth and learning during our four years together, and far beyond.

Activism and Social Justice: 

Design and Production Students engage with contemporary social issues to imagine how to think about the communal theater experience as a tool for activism.  In the process, our students each build a strong ethical foundation, based upon global perspectives and personal  integrity.  As they build worlds for the stage, they learn tools for how to do so with kindness, authenticity, cultural competence, respect and sustainability. 

Collaboration and Process:

Theater is a collaborative art; individual Theater-Maker’s imagination and creativity contribute to the success of the whole.  Communication and empathy are essential, so our Design and Production Students actively engage with all Theater disciplines.  In that process they learn an experimental, holistic approach to both aesthetics and craft.  Student-produced Studio productions promote dedication to the team-work that leads to opening night.

Risk and Artistic Freedom: 

Every theater practitioner must be self-reflective:  “Who am I?”  “What do I stand for?”  “How might my work promote the difference I hope to make in the world?”  Fordham Theater provides a respectful, supportive and joyful space for each Manager and Designer to tackle these questions, empowering students to ultimately share their own unique perspectives.  This can be challenging work, but also the crucial goal for a life in the arts.

Technical Skills: 

Design and Production Faculty are professional Theater-Makers who are actively engaged with the New York City and Global Theater Communities.  Classes in Theater Management, Production Management, Stage Management, Design & Conceptual Foundations, Drafting and Drawing, Set Design, Lighting Design, Costume Design and Sound Design are structured to provide an incubator for individualized artistic exploration while ensuring students master the essential practical skills specific to each discipline.  Classes are the “training-ground”.  Productions provide real-life, hands-on, experiential learning.

The sample program is a suggestion based on the path of current and previous students. Students will meet with their student advisors to formulate a plan that works for them

*Students may have the choice to opt out of Composition I if they feel comfortable with the subject matter

** The EP1 (Eloquentia Perfecta 1) Attribute can be obtained through many courses. Please consult with your student advisor

***Students may have availability in their schedules to take extra classes outside of the graduation requirement

The sample program is a suggestion based on the path of current and previous students. Students will meet with their student advisors to formulate a plan that works for them

*Students may have the choice to opt out of Composition I if they feel comfortable with the subject matter

** The EP1 (Eloquentia Perfecta 1) Attribute can be obtained through many courses. Please consult with your student advisor

***Students may have availability in their schedules to take extra classes outside of the graduation requirements

The sample program is a suggestion based on the path of current and previous students. Students will meet with their student advisors to formulate a plan that works for them

*Students may have the choice to opt out of Composition I if they feel comfortable with the subject matter

** The EP1 (Eloquentia Perfecta 1) Attribute can be obtained through many courses. Please consult with your student advisor

***Students may have availability in their schedules to take extra classes outside of the graduation requirements

The sample program is a suggestion based on the path of current and previous students. Students will meet with their student advisors to formulate a plan that works for them

*Students may have the choice to opt out of Composition I if they feel comfortable with the subject matter

** The EP1 (Eloquentia Perfecta 1) Attribute can be obtained through many courses. Please consult with your student advisor

***Students may have availability in their schedules to take extra classes outside of the graduation requirements

The sample program is a suggestion based on the path of current and previous students. Students will meet with their student advisors to formulate a plan that works for them

*Students may have the choice to opt out of Composition I if they feel comfortable with the subject matter

** The EP1 (Eloquentia Perfecta 1) Attribute can be obtained through many courses. Please consult with your student advisor

***Students may have availability in their schedules to take extra classes outside of the graduation requirements

THEA 2080: Collaboration I

THEA 2090: Collaboration II

THEA 3011: Text Analysis

THEA 3920: History of Theater Design

THEA 1160: Design Fundamentals

THEA 2260: Conceptual Foundations of Theater Design

One of the two following courses:

THEA 3004: Global Theater History - Foundational Impulses

THEA 3005: Global Theater History - Evolutions of the Present

One of the two following courses:

THEA 2035: Drafting for the Theater I - (required for designers & stage managers)

VART 1150: Drawing I - (required for costume designers)

One of the two following courses:

THEA 2045: Introduction to Directing - (suggested for designers) 

THEA 3205: Page to Stage - (suggested for stage managers)

One of the two following courses:

THEA 4511: Design Production Workshop - (required for designers)

THEA 2900: Theater Management - (required for stage managers)

Design and Production Upper Level Courses (Any 3 Required):

THEA 2037: Drafting for the Theater II

THEA 3950: Production Management

VART 1055: Figure Drawing I

THEA 2230: Costume Design I

THEA 2235: Costume Design II

THEA 2805: Stage Management I

THEA 2815: Stage Management II

THEA 2900: Theater Management 

THEA 3362: Lighting Design I

THEA 3374: Lighting Design II

THEA 3420: Sound Design I

THEA 3425: Sound Design II

THEA 3455: Projection Design I

THEA 3460: Projection Design II

THEA 3985: Set Design I

THEA 3987: Set Design II

THEA 4430: Senior Showcase I

THEA 4440: Senior Showcase II

THEA 3012: New Play Dramaturgy

THEA 3090: Stage Combat

THEA 3520: Producing Through a Social Justice Lens

(All design courses include a weekly “Laboratory” developed to build on discipline-specific skills and facilitate weekly assignments.)

SCENE DESIGN

Mimi Lien:

2022 Fordham University Denzel Washington Chair. 2015 MacArthur Fellowship. 2015 Tony Award: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812. Much of Lien's teaching is centered on architecture. Lien has designed over 100 shows, operas, and installations. Educator: NYU.

David Zinn:

Costume and Set Designer nominated seven times of the Tony Award, earning two: The Humans, SpongeBob Squarepants. Off-Broadway, opera and regional theater: over 100

Marsha Ginsberg:

Interdisciplinary artist, scenic designer for theater and opera, installation artist, and photographer. Many International productions in New York, Potsdam, Prague, Athens, Berlin, Munich, and Spoleto. Educator: Parsons, Masterstudiengang Buehnenbild TU Berlin, Swarthmore, Wesleyan, Dartmouth, UCLA

Donyale Werle:

Tony Awards: Peter and the Starcatcher, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. As Co-chair of the Broadway Green Alliance, Werle’s designs focus on sustainability.

Christine Jones:

Olivier and Tony Awards: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, American idiot. Obie for Sustained excellence. Educator: NYU, Princeton. 2015 Fordham University Denzel Washington Chair. Artistic Director for the critically acclaimed Theater for One. Director: Immersive experience, Queen of the Night, Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience.

Ann Beyersdorfer:

Art Director: Saturday Night Live. Off-Broadway Set Design: over 30 productions. Broadway Associate: Alexander Dodge, Bunny Christie, David Gallo

Diggle:

Broadway Associate: Clint Ramos, Rachel Hauck, Dede Ayite, David Korins. Over 40 off-Broadway and Regional Productions.

Britany Vasta:

Over 50 off-Broadway and regional productions. Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk Nominations.

COSTUME DESIGN

Dede Ayite:

Broadway: A Soldier’s Play, Slave Play, American Son, & Children of a Lesser God. Awards include an Obie, Lucille Lortel, Helen Hayes, Theater Bay Area, Jeff Award, along with four Drama Desk Award Nominations. Educator: Harvard University.

Clint Ramos:

Filipino-American social activist, scenic and costume designer; the first person of color to win the Tony Award for Costume Design, Eclipsed, as well as eight additional award nominations for work in New York. Over 100 International, Broadway, off-Broadway and regional credits. Educator: SUNY Purchase, NYU & Fordham University.

Hochi Asiatico:

Broadway and allied industry costume painter for dozens of productions including Broadway’s Matilda, The Color Purple, West Side Story and Beauty and the Beast.

Sarah Laux:

Broadway costume design: The Band’s Visit, Fully Committed, The Humans, plus dozens of film, television, off-Broadway and music credits

Brenda Abbandandolo:

Artist and costume designer for stage and film working with directors: Rachel Chavkin, James Franco, Katie Holmes and Mark Wing-Davey and designers, William Ivey Long and Ann Roth.

Oana Botez:

Theater, opera, film & dance costume designer with over 100 credits. Collaborators include: Andrei Serban, Les Waters, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Marina Abromovich, Richard Foreman, Robert Woodruff & Lillian Blain-Cruz.

Gregg Barnes:

Broadway costume designer: Tony Awards for The Drowsy Chaperone & Legally Blond.

Valerie Bart:

Proud self-proclaimed “Franco-VietAmericaine” costume designer for over 30 theater, opera, film & television productions.

Olivera Gajic:

Serbian-born and raised costume designer for dozens of film & theater productions.

LIGHTING DESIGN

Cha See:

Lighting design for theater, environmental performance and on-site installations. 2021 International Theater Makers Award. 2019 Prague Quadrenial. Over 75 off-Broadway and regional credits.

Alan C. Edwards:

Over 125 Lighting Designs for off-Broadway and regional productions earning a 2018 Lucille Lortel Award for Harry Clarke.

Ji-youn Chang:

Best Lighting Design for a Play Tony Nomination: Slave Play. Lighting design for over 200 off-Broadway and regional productions.

Jen Schriever:

Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Lighting Design. Broadway: Death of a Salesman, 1776, A Strange Loop (Tony nom.), Lackawanna Blues, What the Constitution Means to Me, Eclipsed and many more.

Matthew Richards:

Over 100 Broadway, off-Broadway, regional theater and opera productions.

Yi Zhao:

Berlin-based lighting designer of US and International productions of theater, opera, dance and music events. Broadway: The Skin of Our Teeth. 2019 Henry Hewes Design Award.

Scott Bolman:

Lighting designer and educator working in a diverse array of performance including theater dance, music and opera including productions in Berlin, Athens, Amsterdam and Dusseldorf. Robert Wilson is a frequent collaborator.

SOUND DESIGN & MUSIC DIRECTION

Fan Zhang:

New York based sound designer and composer for film, commercial radio and installations and extensive theatrical productions off-Broadway, Regional and Universities including Yale, Columbia, Princeton and Barnard. Recipient; New York Innovative Theater Award.

Daniel Baker:

Extensive sound design and original music compositions off-Broadway and Regional. Contributor to the music production group Broken Chord Collective. Sound design and composition: Broadway, off-Broadway and Regional. Drama Desk Award, The Open House, Lucille Lortell Award, Here Lies Love.

David Van Teighem:

Composer, percussionist and sound designer for Broadway, off-Broadway. Drama Desk Award and Obie. Notable collaborators include Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno, Steve Reich, John Cale, Nona Hendrix, Deborah Harry and Chris Stein of Blondie and David Byrne.

Fabian Obispo:

Prolific composer and sound designer off-Broadway and Regional. Henry Hewes Award, Barrymore Award, Helen Hayes Award.

Sam Kusnetz:

Off-Broadway and Regional sound designer, composer, projection designer, production manager, photographer and teacher.

Paul Pinto:

Composer, writer and multi-disciplinary performer who founded the music collectives thingNY, Varispeed and LoveLoveLove.

PROJECTION DESIGN

Shawn Duan:

Projections/Media Designer for theater, (Broadway, off-Broadway and Regional), opera, concert, tours, and film.

Lucy McKinnon:

Projection Designer: Broadway, off-Broadway and Regional. 2019 Ovation Award. Exhibitions and Installations include Say Their Names, a memorial to Black lives lost to police violence that covered the face of New York’s Public Theater.

Aaron Rhyne:

Projection Designs have been seen on stages around the world in over 100 productions of musicals, plays, operas and dance. Drama Desk, Henry Hewes & Outer Critics Circle Awards for Anastasia.

Catie Hevner:

Theatrical designer for Broadway, off-Broadway, across the United States and internationally.

Dan Scully:

Brooklyn-based projection and lighting designer exploring the intersection of visual art, technology and storytelling. Over 100 designs on Broadway, off-Broadway and regional.

STAGE MANAGEMENT

Norman A. Small:

Broadway, off-Broadway and regional stage manager of dozens of productions. Blackwell Scholarship Award winner.

Khady Kamara:

Executive Director, Second Stage Theater. Previously, Managing Director, Arena Stage, Washington DC.

Bethany Stewert:

Production Management for Broadway, non-profit theater, and International festivals. Collaborations include, Manhattan Theater Club, Williamstown Theater Festival, Atlantic Theater, Second Stage.

Melanie Lisby:

Stage Manager for Broadway: Grand Horizons and On the Twentieth Century, as well as many off-Broadway and regional productions.

Justin Scribner:

Author, poet, playwright, producer, stage manager, teacher and self-care advocate with many Broadway, off-Broadway, and concert credits.

Charles M. Turner III:

Broadway: Death of a Salesman, the Skin of Our Teeth plus many off-Broadway and regional

Ana Garcia:

25 years of experience as a Stage Manager in the theatrical entertainment industry on Broadway and beyond.

Lisa Iacucci:

Stage Manager for Many Broadway productions including the musicals Hedwig and the Angry Inch, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Head over Heels and Funny Girl.

Andrea “Spook” Testani: 

Stage Manager for many Broadway productions including Frankie and Johnny at the Claire de Lune, Design For Living, The Man Who Came to DinnerAll My Sons, I Am My Own Wife, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

David Sugarman:

Over 20 years as Stage Manager for productions including Broadway’s 1776, Little Me, Jane Eyre, The Elephant Man, Dance of Death, Journey’s End, Pygmalion, South Pacific, Merchant of Venice.

Robyn Henry:

After an extensive career as Stage Manager on and off Broadway, Robyn is currently the Executive Producer for the international event planning company, production glue.

2022:

Charlie Ko: 

Broadway Assistant Costume Designer: KPOP. Off-Broadway Costume Design

Assistant: Clint Ramos, Angela Fludd.

2021:

Max Breitt: 

Coordinator, Business and Legal Affairs: SONY Music

Shanna Harris: 

Broadway Assistant Production Manager: Tina, A Strange Loop, Waitress,

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Off Broadway PSM: The Public.

Emma McSharry: 

Broadway Production Assistant/Management: Come From Away, Moulin

Rouge, Diana. Off Broadway Associate Line Producer: The Public Theater.

2020:

Vittoria Orlando: 

Off Broadway Lighting Design: ART/NY, Ars Nova A.N.T. Fest, Repertorio Espanol. Lighting Design Associate: Barbara Samuels, Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, Carolina Ortiz Hererra.

2018:

Bonnie McHeffey:

Company Manager: Pasadena Playhouse.

2017:

Kendall Allen: 

Associate Production Manager: Public Theater.

2016:

Kaleigh Bernier: 

Broadway ASM, The Notebook, Mrs. Doubfire, Be More Chill. Off Broadway, Lincoln Center, Irish Rep., Atlantic Theater.

2015:

Jessie Bonaventure: 

Broadway Set Design Assistant: How Learned to Drive, What the

Constitution Means to Me, Latin History for Morons. Off Broadway Assistant Set Design:

MCC, Public Theater. Regional Assistant Set Design: Goodman Theater, Berkeley Rep.

Zoe Allen: 

Costume Designer, Costume assistant to Paloma Young who is a Tony Award winning costume designer. NYC

Jessica Troy:

Alchemation Producing Group. (Book of Mormon, Motown The Musical and In the Heights.)

Hillary Manning:

The Game Place, NYC

Alex Denevers:

Freelance lighting designer and electrician, NYC

2014

Dan Geggatt:

Freelance set designer and assistant, NYC

Sara Donovan:

Intern at Julliard, Hair and Makeup focus, NYC

2013

Emily Tabuchuk:

Resident Stage Manager at Child’s Play a children’s theatre program in Brooklyn, NY.

Rebecca Zoltowski:

Stage Manager for Duck Commander Musical, Crown Theatre Las Vegas, NV. Assistant Stage Manager, Michael Jackson, One. Cirque de Soliel, Las Vegas, NV.

Ellen Goldberg:

Production Assistant for Dames at Sea (Helen Hayes Theatre), Production Assistant for Gigi (Neil Simon Theatre) NYC. Assistant Stage Manager for A Month in the Country (Classic Stage Company), NYC.

Jen Delac

Production Stage Manager for Livin’ La Vida Imelda and Soldier X for Theatre Mayi, NYC. Assistant Stage Manager for The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra, Go! at La Mama, NYC, Children’s Theatre Minneapolis, and ArtsEmerson, Boston.

Shane Moan:

Junior Project Manager and Lighting Designer at Orsman Design, Inc. Southampton, NY

Aidan Zev Meyer:

Sound Designer for Anon and UnEquilibruim (Subterra Festival), Here DOT, NYC

Nora McNally:

Assistant Production Manager at the Atlantic Theatre Company, NYC

Meg Lang:

Assistant Special Effects Design on The Last Ship at the Neil Simon Theatre, NYC. Freelance lighting designer and electrician around New York City.

Emma Bonoli:

Senior Program Administrator, Center for International Partnerships, Institute of International Education, NYC

2012

Emily Auciello:

Co-sound Designer for Final Analysis at Signature Theatre, NYC. Sound intern for Heidi Chronicles, The Music Box, NYC. Assistant Sound Designer for When We were Young and Afraid, New York City Center Stage 1. NYC.

Isabelle Simone:

Costume Assistant on Motown the Musical, Bullets over Broadway, On the 20th Century, On Your Feet and Shuffle Along. NYC.

2011

Gifford Williams:

MFA candidate, Boston University, Lighting design. Expected graduation, 2018

Lindsay Alexander:

Drama Division Assistant – Julliard School

2010

Chris Barlow:

Sound Designer – Hand to God (EST), Trevor (Lesser America)

Nina Bova:

MFA candidate, Carnegie Mellon University in Costume Design. Expected graduation, 2016.

Tara DeVincenzo:

Sales/Design Assistant for Fifth & Park Clothing.

2009

Erich Bussing:

Building Operations Manager – Jujamcyn Theatres, NYC

Leyla Pearl:

Costume Crafts Artisan – Cirque Dreams Productions, Florida

Katie Schneller:

Two Tomatoes Records, NYC. Tour Manager for The Laurie Berker Band, Nationwide. Owner, Painted Fabrix, NYC.

Kate Melvin:

Freelance Graphic Designer, NYC.