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Performance Design and Technology

Create, Connect, Perform

Our Performance Design & Technology program stands out by serving both as a specialized area of study and as an essential part of the broader performing arts landscape. This framework allows you to explore a variety of interests, expanding your focus beyond traditional theatrical design to include dance, performance art, site-specific projects, production design, and integrated media. We emphasize a comprehensive educational experience that encourages contemporary creation, drawing on historical contexts while equipping you with the skills necessary to innovate for the future.

School/Division

Performing Arts

Campus Locations

Main Campus - Alfred, NY

Major

Performance Design and Technology (BFA)

Minor

Performance Design and Technology

Program Contact

Randy Wachtel

wachtel@naysnm.com

607-871-2596

Why Performance Design & Technology at Alfred University?

Inclusion

The Performing Arts at Alfred University is a welcoming space open to everyone, regardless of background or experience. With seating for 700+, the Miller Performing Arts Center serves as cultural hubs for the region. Students can find their place by joining courses, ensembles, private lessons, theater productions, clubs, or attending events. The Alfred University Performing Arts community embraces all who seek connection and collaboration through creativity in the arts.

Mentorship

Receive personalized mentorship in the performing arts through hands-on experiences like internships, research, and performance projects. Our dedicated faculty and visiting artists offer close guidance to help you develop your creative talents and technical skills. With small studio classes and the opportunity to lead or participate in projects, you'll be supported in every step of your artistic journey, ensuring your growth and success.

Intersections

Collaborate across music, theater, dance, performance design and technology as well as disciplines outside the performing arts with mentorship from dedicated faculty and visiting artists. Our intimate studio classes foster cross-disciplinary innovation, helping you develop both artistic and technical skills while connecting with others to create bold, collaborative work that reflects diverse perspectives and talents.

About Our Programs

Performance Design and Technology prepares graduates for a career in live performance or entertainment industries. Collaborating with all Performing Arts, learn the entire production process from start to finish. This program combines the development of essential skills in collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. We empower growing technicians and designers to create innovative ways to perform, create, and experience live performance. Gain practical, hands-on experience with modern tools and techniques, while developing a deep understanding of the collaborative nature of the performing arts and honing your ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

From Theory to Practice to Performance

At Alfred University, our performance design and technology programs integrate foundational coursework with advanced classes in technology and design, welcoming students of all levels. Through small class sizes and direct mentorship, students gain hands-on experience in costume construction, makeup, wood-working, lighting, and more, while exploring design in areas like scenery, costumes, sound, and management. Practical production experience is woven throughout the program, and by senior year, students are ready to take on lead roles in design and production, preparing them for a successful future in the field.

Learn and Collaborate

In the Performance Design and Technology (PDT) program at Alfred University, students engage in a vibrant learning environment that fosters collaboration and creativity. Our curriculum emphasizes mentorship from experienced faculty and industry professionals who guide students through hands-on projects and real-world applications. We embrace inclusivity, welcoming students from diverse backgrounds and skill levels, ensuring everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. The interdisciplinary nature of our program allows for collaboration with peers in theatre, dance, and music, enriching the educational experience and inspiring innovative approaches to performance design and technology. Through this dynamic integration, students develop the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the evolving arts landscape.

Sample List of Courses

PDAT 120 Technical Theatre
PDAT 220 Design Fundamentals for Stage, Dance and Film
PDAT 221 Making with Fabric
PDAT 222 Stage Makeup & Theory - A Different Way of Seeing Skin
PDAT 223 Sound Design and Technology
PDAT 224 Entertainment Lighting: Electricity and Equipment
PDAT 225 Woodworking Techniques for the Stage
PDAT 226 Scenic Painting
PDAT 228 Costume Design for Dance
PDAT 231 Prop Design and Construction
PDAT 270 Play Production
PDAT 272 Performance Technology Practicum
PDAT 273 Performance Management Practicum
PDAT 315 Advanced Design Seminar: Design is Dramaturgy
PDAT 320 Scene Design
PDAT 321 Lighting Design
PDAT 322 Stage Costume Design
PDAT 330 Costuming on the Half Scale
PDAT 370 Advanced Play Production
PDAT 385 Internship in Performance Design and Technology
PDAT 470 Advanced Projects in Theatrical Design and Technology
PDAT 495 Senior Project

Performance Design and Technology Minor – 18 credits

PDAT 120 Technical Theatre
THEA 212 Page to Stage: Script Analysis
PDAT 220 Design Fundamentals for Stage, Dance and Film
PDAT 270 or PDAT 370 Play Production
One Performance Class (Studio Dance course, Music Ensemble, participation in Performing Arts performance)
One History Class (Theatre, Dance, Art History class)

Additional Requirements - 4 credits from:

COMM 216 Video Production
PDAT 200 Special Topics in Performance Design and Technology
PDAT 221 Making with Fabric
PDAT 222 Stage Makeup
PDAT 223 Sound Design and Technology
PDAT 224 Entertainment Lighting: Electricity and Equipment
PDAT 225 Woodworking Techniques for the Stage
PDAT 226 Scenic Painting
PDAT 228 Costume Design for Dance
PDAT 229 Transforming Fabric
PDAT 231 Prop Design and Construction
PDAT 315 Advanced Design Seminar: Design is Dramaturgy
PDAT 320 Scene Design
PDAT 321 Lighting Design
PDAT 322 Stage Costume Design
PDAT 330 Costuming on the Half Scale
PDAT 350 Independent Study
- THEA 230 Stage Management and the Art of Production and Collaboration

Coursework (See Catalog)
Scene Shop Work
Costume Shop Work
Dressers
Lighting Design
Sound Design
Major (BFA) available
Minor available

For more information, please contact Performing Arts Secretary Monica Reginio.

A degree in Performance Design and Technology equips students with a diverse skill set and knowledge base that opens up various professional opportunities in the performing arts and beyond. Through rigorous coursework in stage design, lighting, sound, production management, and multimedia integration, students develop a solid foundation for successful careers in the entertainment industry.

In our programs, students engage in hands-on projects, collaborative productions, and live performances, enhancing their ability to work effectively as part of a team. These experiences foster essential soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, which are highly valued across all career paths. Additionally, students learn time management and project planning through the demands of production schedules, preparing them for the fast-paced professional world.

Graduates of our Performance Design and Technology programs are well-equipped for diverse careers, including production design, technical direction, lighting design, sound design, and stage management, and many more. They often find roles in theaters, concert venues, film and television production, and event management, where they utilize their creativity and technical expertise to bring artistic visions to life.

Moreover, with the growing integration of technology in the performing arts, students learn to incorporate new tools and techniques into their work, enhancing their adaptability in an evolving industry. Our curriculum encourages critical thinking and innovation, enabling students to stay relevant in a rapidly changing arts landscape. By the time they graduate, students possess not only the technical skills required for their chosen profession but also the soft skills and readiness to thrive in diverse environments, both within and outside the Performing Arts.

Student Stories

Props to you, Jason! (Sculpture/Dimensional Studies, Performance Design Tech)

"Combining my interests in fine art and theater, I seek to blur the line that has long separated the two areas by employing my traditional art skills and knowledge into my theatrical design work."

Jason Dearing, 2016

Find out more about Jason

Zachary Hamm

Clinical Associate Professor of Theatre Design & Technical Director

Performing Arts

hamm@naysnm.com
Miller Building Room: 011

Randy Wachtel

Clinical Professor of Practice in Production Management

Performing Arts

Chantal Filson

Visiting Clinical Faculty & Costume Shop Supervisor

School of Art & Design

Facilities

The Miller Performing Arts Center houses both the C.D. Smith III Theatre, a flexible black box space, and the Miller Theater, a large proscenium hall. Students interested in design and technology can be involved in any and all aspects of production.

All Alfred Facilities