The work done by SMTD theatre design & production students contributes immeasurably to stage productions as well as to the students’ practical education. While discerning audiences recognize these contributions, the countless hours of work behind them – the spreadsheets, drawings, renderings, mockups, 3D models, schematics, and more – usually remain hidden from the theatre-going public.
With the annual Department of Theatre Design & Production Portfolio Exhibition, visitors can go behind the scenes of actual productions as well as D&P class assignments, exploring the work of student stage managers, technicians, and scenic, costume and lighting designers.
Featuring the efforts of sophomore, junior, and senior D&P students, the 2022 Portfolio Exhibition takes place in the Duderstadt Center Gallery and runs January 28–February 11.
For participating students, the exhibition is more than just an opportunity to showcase their work for family and friends; it is a curricular requirement. Before the show opens to the public, students present their work to all D&P faculty, who offer critiques as well as strategic guidance for the students’ future development, from coursework to summer internships to study abroad opportunities.
Molly Murray, BFA ’22, stage management, presents to members of the design and production faculty.
According to Christianne Myers, interim chair of the Department of Theatre & Drama and associate professor of theatre (costume design), the exhibition reveals a stunning progression in D&P students’ development, from the sophomores’ initial presentations; to the juniors, who are “really blossoming”; to the seniors, who are getting ready to embark on their careers. The seniors’ displays, Myers noted, are “almost like an exit interview” where students present “their public-facing, professional selves.”
With the 2021 exhibition presented entirely in a virtual format due to COVID-19, D&P students and faculty are delighted to have the opportunity for an in-person show. Take a tour through the images below for a sampling of the diverse array of projects on display in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Visit the Duderstadt Gallery page for hours and other details about the Design & Production Portfolio Exhibition.
Kathleen Alexandrou, BFA ’22, Lighting Design
Kathleen Alexandrou’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Lighting design and research images for Rude Mechanical’s production of Eurydice.
Lighting design and research images for University Opera’s production of Cendrillon.
Lighting design and research images for the Department of Theatre & Drama’s production of Romeo & Juliet.
Briana Barker, BFA ’24, Stage Management
Briana Barker’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
A mixed-media 2D final project and process images, for Rendering class.
A mixed-media 3D project for Intro to Design class in which you deconstruct and add onto a hat.
Nicholas Carroll, BFA ’22, Stage Management
Nicholas Carroll’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Various stage management production books.
Ground plan of a 3D performance space; final project for Intro to CAD class.
Jack Doyle, BFA ’22, Scenic Design
Jack Doyle’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Various sketches for scenic designs.
Three white models and one color model box for The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Production images from Into the Woods, directed by Jack Doyle.
Mallory Edgell, BFA ’23, Costume Design
Mallory Edgell’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Costume renderings for the haiku project in Costume Design 3 class.
Costume renderings for Caroline, Or Change created in Costume Design 2 class.
A half-scale men’s blazer made in Men’s Tailoring class, and a half-scale pannier made in Period Costume Techniques class.
Matthew Eggers, BFA '24, Costume Design
A personal project investigating how fabric drapes on a figure.
1760s corset for Period Costume Techniques class and a ruff made in a costume practicum.
Matthew Egger’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Abi Farnsworth, BFA ’23, Lighting & Sound Design
Abi Farnsworth’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
A lighting design for the dance student thesis, Crush Depth, by Jenna Segal.
Sydney Geysbeek, BFA ’24, Lighting & Sound Design
Sydney Geysbeek’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Witch Lights II project paperwork and research images, including a light plot, magic sheet, lighting key, and rough sketches.
Screen pictures of lighting design to the song “Dream On” for the music project in Lighting Design 1 class.
Emily Hanlon, BFA ’22, Stage & Production Management
Emily Hanlon’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Stage management paperwork from the Department of Theatre & Drama’s production of The Grapes of Wrath, including a rehearsal calendar and a backstage run sheet.
Stage management paperwork from the Department of Musical Theatre’s production of Wild Party, including daily calls and a production analysis.
Master list paperwork for the Department of Musical Theatre’s MT Ghostlight production.
Harrison Hoffert, BFA ’22, Lighting Design
Harrison Hoffert’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
A lighting design for the Department of Musical Theatre’s production of Godspell.
A lighting design for the Department of Theatre & Drama’s production of Nora: A Doll’s House.
A lighting design for University Opera’s production of Proving Up.
Karalyn Hood, BFA ’24, Stage Management and Scenic Design
Karalyn Hood’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Color renderings for a set design of the play Electra for Scenic Design 1 class.
Who What Where paperwork for the Department of Theatre & Drama’s production of Junk.
2D mixed-media project for Rendering class: drawing or painting a candlestick with 4 different mediums.
Mila McCoy, BFA ’24, Costume Design
Mila McCoy’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center
Pintuck project for Period Costume Techniques class.
Costume renderings for Conference of the Birds created in Costume Design 1 class.
Megan Mondek, BFA ’24, Lighting Design
Megan Mondek’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Production images and graphic designs for the student project Undeclared, for which Megan was the resident designer.
Costume renderings for the seven sins project in Intro to Design class.
Molly Murray, BFA ’22, Stage Management
Molly Murray’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Master run sheet paperwork for the Department of Theatre & Drama’s production of Water by the Spoonful.
Filming calendar for the Department of Theatre & Drama’s production of Romeo & Juliet.
Drafting plate for the Drafting class final project.
Ashley Popwell, BFA '24, Scenic Design
Ashley Popwell’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center.
2D mixed-media project for Rendering class: drawing or painting a candlestick with 4 different mediums.
A mixed-media 3D project for Intro to Design class: deconstruct and add onto a hat.
Rachel Schlager, BFA ’23, Scenic Design
Rachel Schlager’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Color renderings for a set design of the play Antigone for Scenic Design 1 class.
Set design model for the play Romeo & Juliet in Rhino 3D for Scenic Design 3 class.
Color model made for the play Jitney in Set Design 2 class.
Niamh Sullivan, BFA ’23, Scenic Design & Production
Niamh Sullivan’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Three white model boxes of scenic designs.
Prop plane practicum project.
Prop plane practicum project.
Selected coursework from Drafting class.
Audrey Tieman, BFA ’24, Scenic Design
Audrey Tieman’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
A collection of process pictures and research for the Scenic Design 1 final project.
Process pictures for the Scenic Design 1 final project.
A white model for a set design.
Laurence Vance, BFA ’23, Scenic Design & Props
Laurence Vance’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Puppet design project.
Color renderings and research for a set design of the play Antigone for Scenic Design 1 class.
Set design model for the play Romeo & Juliet in Rhino 7 for Scenic Design 3 class.
Janna Vukovich, BFA ’22, Costume Design and Stage Management
Janna Vukovich’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
Costume renderings for Caroline, Or Change created in Costume Design 2 class.
1760s corset created in Period Costume Techniques class.
Costume designs for MUSKET’s production of Funny Girl.
Miles Zoellick, BFA ’24, Stage Management
Miles Zoellick’s portfolio setup for review in the Duderstadt Center Gallery.
A mixed-media 3D project for Intro to Design class: deconstruct and add onto a boot.
A mixed-media 3D project for Intro to Design class: deconstruct and add onto a boot.
A mixed-media, 2D final project for Rendering class.