Portfolio Requirements

Applicants for the Costume Design & Technology BFA program are pre-screened. Faculty offers or declines interviews based on the submitted application and required materials. This portfolio has two (2) required sections:

Portfolio Recording 

• 2-3 minute video responding to the following prompt is required:
  
  Imagine you are responsible for creating a large number of costumes for a production.  The team you manage worked very hard to accomplish these looks. At the first tech-dress rehearsal, the director decides to cut these costumes. 

• 1. How do you respond to the director's new vision?
  2. How do you explain this decision to your team?

Portfolio of Work

• Renderings or costume sketches, photographs or slides of produced costumes, millinery, accessories, demonstrations of patterning, tailoring skills, figure-drawing, work in acrylic, ink, watercolors, etc.

Applicants may contact Costume Design & Technology Program Co-Directors Bill Brewer or Brent M. Bruin with questions about what to include in a portfolio.

The portfolio for the Lighting BFA program has two (2) required sections:

5 Images/5 Pages/1 Document:

Faculty review this first, so view this document as your artistic “introduction.” It will also be referenced during your interview.

• Include exactly 5 images of work you have created, built, designed, and/or drawn that show either your artistry or what inspires you.
• Under each image, include a brief explanation (2–3 sentences) about why you chose it.
• Place one image with its text on each page (5 pages total).
• You may format and design your document however you like, but make sure the focus is on the images and your text.
• Combine all 5 pages into a single file before uploading.
• Save your file as a PDF (preferred).
• Check your file before uploading to make sure the formatting looks correct after saving or converting to PDF.

Portfolio:

• Examples of original artwork, technical work, photography, lighting designs, visual art, writings, electronic projects, coding projects, etc. 

Applicants for the Scene Design BFA program are pre-screened. Faculty offers or declines interviews based on the submitted application and required materials.

Sketchbooks and preliminary sketches (Faculty is interested in your process), renderings, models or photographs of models, drawings, photographs of realized designs and their related materials-drafting, paint elevations, prop drawings and other non-theatrical artwork demonstrating your visual expression and the exploration of ideas. Artwork can include painting, drawing, illustration, sculpture and fine crafts.

Sketchbooks, drawings, paintings, production shots of original work, renderings, sculpture, designs, paint elevations, drafting, examples of soft good skills and other non-theatrical artwork.

Drafting plates, technical drawings, production photographs, and close-up photographs of construction detail (in progress or finished work) showing the quality of your personal craftsmanship. All close-up construction detail photos should be under worklights, if possible. Photographs may be of sets, props, or other types of fabrication projects in and outside of school. May also include documentation supporting project planning, budgeting, and organizational skills. Examples of this can include material break downs for purchasing, schedules for completing the fabrication, or labor assignments.

Portfolios may include but are not limited to: system design draftings, photos, audio examples used in productions, any documentation supporting script analysis and sound design for productions. Examples of any creative work.

Not all applicants have formal training in Sound Design. This is perfectly fine. Faculty ask that you demonstrate the desire for serious discourse and a passion for artistic engagement. 

Applicants are pre-screened. Faculty offers or declines interviews based on the submitted application, portfolio and required materials.

Portfolios should only include best examples of original work. Items created by someone else (e.g., light plots, scenic technical drawings, sound cues, etc.) are not acceptable.

• Organizational Paperwork
  No more than five (5) pages of original work. Examples to consider including can be preset lists, run crew paperwork, or scheduling documents. If original examples are not available, other documentation from a performance, event or project demonstrating the ability to organize and create paperwork may be included. 

• Calling & Communication Paperwork
  No more than five (5) pages of original work. Examples to consider including can be calling scripts, blocking, rehearsal reports, or performance reports. If original examples are not available, other documentation demonstrating communication or planning for a performance, event, or project is acceptable.

• Personal Interests & Experiences
  Up to five (5) pages highlighting interests, hobbies, or experiences that have enriched your life or influenced growth as a leader and stage manager. Help us get to know you beyond stage management.

• Essay
  A written response to the prompt: “What has been the greatest success and greatest failure as a leader, and what was learned from each?”

All of the above materials should be combined into a single document (Word, PDF, slideshow, etc.) for uploading. A link to a personal website may be included within this portfolio document, if available.

Sketchbooks, drafting, prop drawings. Examples of painting, scene painting, renderings or designs, woodworking skills or construction, metalworking, mold making, sculpture, soft good skills (sewing or upholstery). Items built by the applicant: furniture, masks, puppets, costumes, craft pieces and examples of craftsmanship.

Applicants for the Wig & Makeup Design BFA program are pre-screened. Faculty offers or declines interviews based on the submitted application and required materials. Your portfolio may include:

• Images of realized makeups and hair styling, on yourself or models. Wig work, including own-hair, and styled, altered, or constructed wigs/hairpieces.
• Prosthetic/FX work, including 2D, 3D, moulage, sculpting, mold-making, and any realized looks/characters.
• Any design work, including sketches, renderings, and realized production images.
• Any examples of creativity and craftsmanship, such as drawing, painting, costuming, props, and ceramics.