Portfolio Requirements

Applicants for the Costume Design & Technology B.F.A. program are pre-screened. Faculty offer or decline interviews based on the submitted application and required materials. The Portfolio has two (2) required sections. Both sections must be uploaded for pre-screening:  

Section 1: Portfolio Recording   

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

• • How do you respond to the director's new vision?  

• • How do you explain this decision to your team?  

Section 2: Portfolio of Work  

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

• The portfolio may be submitted as digital slides directly into the application or as a link to a publicly available website.  

Applicants may contact Costume Design Director Jennifer Gillette or Costume Technology Director Brent M. Bruin with questions about what to include in a portfolio. 

Applicants for the Lighting B.F.A. program are pre-screened. Faculty offer or decline interviews based on the submitted application and required materials. The portfolio has two (2) required sections. Both sections must be uploaded for pre-screening: 

Section 1: 5 Images / 5 Pages / 1 Document

The Lighting faculty reviews this document first. Therefore, it should be viewed as an artistic "introduction” to an applicant’s creative work. The included images and accompanying explanations also serves as a starting point for discussion during an interview.

Document requirements:

• 5 Images of work created, built, designed, and/or drawn by the applicant that demonstrate artistic ability or personal inspiration.
• A brief 2–3 sentence explanation of each image describing why it was selected.
• Each image and corresponding text is assigned to its own page. Therefore, the final version of this document will be exactly 5 Pages, each page having only 1 image with its accompanying text.
• The format and design should not be distracting. The focus should be on the images and accompanying text.
• Combine all 5 pages into a 1 Document and save as a PDF (preferred). Review the final PDF to ensure that conversion did not alter the formatting.
• Upload the file to the application.

Section 2: Portfolio

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

Applicants for the Scene Design B.F.A. program are pre-screened. Faculty offer or decline interviews based on the submitted application and required materials.

Portfolios may include sketchbooks and preliminary sketches (Faculty members are interested in seeing the applicant’s process), renderings, models or photographs of models, drawings, photographs of realized designs and related materials such as drafting, paint elevations, prop drawings and other non-theatrical artwork that demonstrates visual expression and exploration of ideas.

Original artwork may also be included and could be examples of painting, drawing, illustration, sculpture and fine crafts.

Portfolios may include sketchbooks, drawings, paintings, production photographs of original work, renderings, sculpture, designs, paint elevations, drafting, examples of soft goods skills and other non-theatrical artwork.

Applicants for the Scenic Technology B.F.A. program are pre-screened. Faculty offer or decline interviews based on the submitted application and required materials. The portfolio may include:

• Drafting plates, technical drawings, production photographs, and close-up photographs of construction details (either in progress or completed) that demonstrate the quality of your craftsmanship. Whenever possible, all close-up construction detail photographs should be taken under worklights. Photographs may depict sets, props, or other fabrication projects completed both in and outside of school.
  
  
• Documentation that demonstrates project planning, budgeting, and organizational skills is also encouraged to be included. Examples of this could be material breakdowns for purchasing, fabrication schedules, labor assignments, and other production planning documents.

Portfolios may include but are not limited to system design drafting, photographs, audio examples used in productions, documentation supporting script analysis and/or sound design for productions. Examples of other creative work may also be included.

Not all applicants have formal training in sound design, and that is perfectly fine. Faculty ask that you demonstrate a desire for serious artistic discourse and a passion for artistic engagement.

Applicants for the Stage Management B.F.A. program are pre-screened. Faculty offer or decline interviews based on the submitted application 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. Portfolios may include: 

• 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?”

A link to a personal website may be included in a Stage Management portfolio, but a website may not be submitted as a substitution for the above.

All of the required materials should be combined into a single document (Word, PDF, slideshow, etc.) before uploading. Review the final PDF to ensure that conversion did not alter the formatting.

Portfolios may include photographs or documentation of original work by the applicant. Examples of work may be but are not limited to sketchbooks, drafting, prop drawings, painting, scene painting, renderings or designs, woodworking or construction, metalworking, mold making, sculpture or soft goods skills (such as sewing or upholstery). Examples that demonstrate craftsmanship could include, but are not limited to, furniture, masks, puppets, costumes, and craft pieces.

Applicants for the Wig & Makeup Design B.F.A. program are pre-screened. Faculty offer or decline interviews based on the submitted application and required materials. Portfolios may include:

• Images of realized makeups and hairstyling, on yourself or models. Wig work or personal hair that has been styled, altered, or constructed using wigs/hairpieces.
• Prosthetic/FX work, including 2D, 3D, moulage, sculpting, mold making, realized characters or makeup effects.
• Any design work, including sketches, renderings, and realized production images.
• Any examples of creativity and craftsmanship, such as drawing, painting, costuming, props, and ceramics.