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Pathways to Leadership Initiative

The Pathway to Leadership program is an initiative designed to help guide students toward leadership in production and research/scholarly-based areas.

Check out the following ways you can get involved in the Theatre program and grow in your leadership skills:

Leadership Positions

  • The stages of development as a Costume Designer involve assuming leadership roles that include serving as a Wardrobe Run Crew Assistant, Wardrobe Run Crew Supervisor, Stitcher, Assistant Costume Designer, and Costume Designer.

    Wardrobe Run Crew Assistant

    • To be eligible to serve as a Run Crew Assistant, students shall have:
      • Completed Costume Shop Orientation

    Wardrobe Run Crew Supervisor

    • To be eligible to serve as a wardrobe Run Crew Supervisor, students shall have
      • Served as: Wardrobe run crew assistant

    Stitcher

    • To be eligible to serve as a Stitcher for a PAD Mainstage Theatre Production, students shall have:
      • Taken: THE 278 Introduction to Costume Technology

    Assistant Costume Designer

    • To be eligible to serve as an Assistant Costume Designer for a Mainstage PAD, Theatre Production students shall have:
      • Served as: Wardrobe run crew assistant,
        and Stitcher for a PAD Mainstage Theatre Production
      • And taken: THE 176 Fundamentals of Design or THE 378 Costume Design

    Costume Designer

    • To be eligible to serve as a Costume Designer for a PAD Mainstage Theatre Production, students shall have:
      • Served as: Assistant Costume Designer, or Costume Designer for an approved non-mainstage theatre production
      • And taken: THE 378 Costume Design

  • The stages of development as a Costume Technician involves assuming leadership roles that include serving as a Costume Wardrobe Run Crew Assistant, Wardrobe Run Crew Supervisor, Stitcher, Draper

    Wardrobe Run Crew Assistant

    • To be eligible to serve as a Run Crew Assistant, students shall have:
      • Completed Costume Shop Orientation

    Wardrobe Run Crew Supervisor

    • To be eligible to serve as a wardrobe Run Crew Supervisor, students shall have
      • Served as: Wardrobe run crew assistant

    Stitcher

    • To be eligible to serve as a Stitcher for a PAD Mainstage Theatre Production, students shall have:
      • Taken: THE 278 Introduction to Costume Technology

    Draper

    • To be eligible to serve as a Draper for a PAD Mainstage Theatre Production, students shall have:
      • Served as: Stitcher
      • and taken: THE 379 Pattern Making

  • The stages of development as a Director involves assuming leadership roles that may include service as a Director of a Staged Reading, Assistant Director, Director of a Mainstage Production, or Director of a Children’s Theatre Production

    Director of a Staged Reading as part of the PAD Theatre Season of Shows

    • In order to be director of a Staged Reading as part of the PAD Theatre Season of Shows (in the FAIC Studio Theater, Proscenium Theater, or other on-campus or off-campus venues as determined in advance), students shall:
      • Have passed: The Theatre Program Safety Exam, THE 271 Directing II

    Assistant Director as part of the PAD Theatre Season of Shows

    • In order to be Assistant Director as part of the PAD Theatre Season of Shows (in the FAIC Studio Theater, Proscenium Theater, or other on-campus or off-campus venues as determined in advance), students shall have:
      • Served as: Assistant Stage Manager for a PAD mainstage show
      • Have passed: THE 271 Directing II

    Director of a Mainstage Show as part of the PAD Theatre Season of Shows

    • In order to be eligible to direct a show as part of the PAD Theatre Season of Shows (In the FAIC Studio Theater, Proscenium Theater,or other on-campus or off-campus venues as determined in advance), students shall have:
      • Served as: Stage Manager for a PAD mainstage show, Assistant Director as part of the PAD Theatre Season of Shows
      • Have passed: THE 374 Directing III, THE 273 Acting II
      • And be simultaneously taking: THE 473 Producing and Directing

    Director of a Children’s Theatre Show as part of the PAD Theatre Season of Shows

    • In order to be eligible to direct a Children’s Theatre Show (In the FAIC Studio Theater, Proscenium Theater, or other on-campus or off-campus venues as determined in advance), students shall have:
      • Served as: Stage Manager for a PAD mainstage show, Assistant Director as part of the PAD Theatre Season of Shows
      • Have passed: THE 470 Children’s Theatre

  • The stages of development as a Lighting Designer involve assuming leadership roles that include serving as a Stage Electrician, Light Board Operator, Master Electrician, Assistant Lighting Designer, and Lighting Designer. 

    Light Board Operator

    – assist the Lighting Designer to program the light board in technical rehearsals and operate the board for the run of a show. 

    • To be eligible to serve as a Light Board Operator, students shall have:
    • Completed: Theatre Safety Orientation. 

    Stage Electrician

    – assist in the hang, patch, and focus of a show. 

    • To be eligible to serve as a Stage Electrician, students shall have:
    • Passed or currently be enrolled in at least one of the following classes:
      • THE 176 Fundamentals of Theater Design;
      • THE 275 Technical Theatre/Stagecraft;
      • THE 280 Lighting Design and Technology.  

    Master Electrician

    – take on a leadership position in the hang, patch and focus of a show. 

    • To be eligible to serve as a Master Electrician, students shall have:
    • Served As: Stage Electrician and Light Board Operator.
    • Passed: THE 280 Lighting Design and Technology and THE 275 Technical Theatre/Stagecraft.

    Assistant Lighting Designer

    – Assist the Lighting Designer to plan and draft a show as well as support them through Technical Rehearsals.

    • To be eligible to serve as Assistant Lighting Designer, students shall have:
    • Served As: Stage Electrician and Light Board Operator.
    • Passed: THE 280 Lighting Design and Technology and THE 176 Fundamentals of Stage Design.

    Lighting Designer

    – take lead role in the planning of the Lighting Design of the show, from initial planning through technical rehearsals. 

    • To be eligible to serve as a Lighting Designer, students shall have:
    • Served As: Assistant Lighting Designer and/or Master Electrician.
    • Passed or are enrolled in THE 277: Computer Assisted Design and THE 480 Independent Study tailored for Advanced Lighting Design.

     

    Additional production roles recommended for those on the Lighting Design Pathway: 

    • Spotlight operator
    • Assistant Master Electrician

    Additional courses recommended for those on the Lighting Design Pathway: 

    • ART 211 Art History: Pre-History-1400
    • ART 212 Art History 2: 1400 to Present
    • THE 255 Set Construction
    • THE 276 Scenic Design
    • THE 281 Sound Technology and Design
    • THE 285 Intermedial Design 1
    • THE 355/FLM 355 Art Direction for Film
    • THE 366 Stage Management
    • THE 376 Costume Design

  • The stages of development as a Projection Designer involve assuming leadership roles that include service as a Projection Operator, Projection Technician, Assistant Projection Designer, and Projection Designer.

    Projection Operator

    • There is no prerequisite to serving as a Projection Operator.

    Projection Technician

    • To be eligible to serve as a Projection Technician, students shall:
      • Have passed: Theatre Safety Orientation

    Assistant Projection Designer

    • To be eligible to serve as an Assistant Projection Designer for a Mainstage PAD, Theatre Production students shall:
      • Have served as: Projection Operator for a PAD Mainstage Production, Projection Technician for a PAD Mainstage Production
      • And passed: THE 176 Fundamentals of Theatre Design, THE 285 Intermedial Performance Design I

    Projection Designer

    • To be eligible to serve as a Projection Designer for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production, students shall:
      • Have served as: Assistant Projection Designer
      • And passed: THE 276 Scenic Design, THE 385 Intermedial Performance Design II

  • The stages of development as a Property Manager involve assuming leadership roles that include serving as a Stage Carpenter, Scenic Painter, Assistant Props Manager, and Properties Manager.  

    Stage Carpenter

    – work independently in scene shop on the construction of a show. 

    • To be eligible to serve as a Stage Carpenter, students shall have:
    • Passed: THE 275 Technical Theatre/Stagecraft, THE 225 Set Construction 

    Assistant Props Manager

    – assist the Properties Manager in the creation, acquisition and upkeep of props for a show.

    • To be eligible to serve as a Stage Carpenter, students shall have:
    • Passed: THE 176 Fundamentals of Theatre Design 

    Scenic Painter

    – work in the scene shop on painting of a show.

    • To be eligible to serve as a Stage Carpenter, students shall have:
    • Passed or be currently enrolled in: THE 282 Scenic Painting

    Properties Manager

    – Coordinate with the Director and Stage Manager to oversee the creation, acquisition and upkeep of props for a show.

    • To be eligible to serve as a Properties Master, students shall have:
    • Served as: Stage Carpenter, Assistant Properties Manager, and Scenic Painter for a show.

     

    Additional production roles recommended for those on the Properties Management Pathway: 

    • Stage run crew member
    • Assistant Stage Manager
    • Stitcher
    • Lead Scenic Artist

    Additional courses recommended for those on the Properties Management Pathway:  

    • ART 111 Three-Dimensional Design
    • ART 231 Digital Art for Non-Majors
    • THE 276 Scenic Design
    • THE 277 Computer Assisted Design
    • THE 278 Introduction to Costume Technology
    • THE 355/FLM 355 Art Direction for Film
    • THE 366 Stage Management

  • The stages of development as a Scenic Designer involve assuming leadership roles that include serving as a Stage Carpenter, Scenic Painter, Assistant Property Manager, Assistant Scenic Designer, and Scenic Designer. 

    Stage Carpenter

    – work independently in scene shop on the construction of a show. 

    • To be eligible to serve as a Stage Carpenter, students shall have:
    • Passed: THE 275 Technical Theatre/Stagecraft, THE 225 Set Construction 

    Scenic Painter

    – work in the scene shop on painting of a show.

    • To be eligible to serve as a Scenic Painter, students shall have:
    • Passed or be currently enrolled in: THE 282 Scenic Painting

    Assistant Properties Manager

    – assist the Properties Manager in the creation, acquisition and upkeep of props for a show.

    • To be eligible to serve as a Stage Carpenter, students shall have:
    • Passed: THE 176 Fundamentals of Theater Design 

    Assistant Scenic Designer

    – assist the scenic designer in the execution of materials for the show.  This may include the preparation of drafting, models, renderings or other materials relevant to the design. 

    • To be eligible to serve as a Lead Scenic Artist, students shall have:
    • Served as: Stage Carpenter
    • Served in at least one of the following positions: Scenic Painter, Assistant Props Manager
    • Passed: THE 276 Scenic Design and THE 277 Computer Assisted Design

    Scenic Designer

    – Collaborate with the Director, Technical Director, and the rest of the creative team to prepare the scenic design for the show. 

    • To be eligible to serve as a Scenic Designer, students shall have:
    • Served as: Assistant Scenic Designer
    • Passed: THE 285 Intermedial Design 1
    • Passed or be currently enrolled in: An independent study in Advanced Scenic Design.

     

    Additional production roles recommended for those on the Scenic Designer Pathway: 

    • Scenic Charge Artist
    • Properties Manager
    • Assistant Projection Designer
    • Master Carpenter

    Additional courses recommended for those on the Scenic Designer Pathway: 

    • ART 110 Two-Dimensional Design Elements
    • ART 111 Three-Dimensional Design
    • ART 231 Digital Art for Non-Majors
    • ART 112 Color Theory
    • ART 202 Drawing 1
    • ART 211 Art History: Pre-History-1400
    • ART 212 Art History 2: 1400 to Present
    • ART 215 Painting 1
    • ART 231 Digital Art for Non-Majors
    • THE 280 Lighting Design and Technology
    • ART 353 Installation Art
    • THE 355/FLM 355 Art Direction for Film
    • THE 366 Stage Management
    • THE 376 Costume Design
    • THE 385 Intermedial Performance Design 2

  • The stages of development as a Sound Designer involves assuming leadership roles that include serving as a Sound Technician, Sound Board Operator, Assistant Sound Designer, and Sound Designer.

    Sound Technician

    • To be eligible to serve as a Sound Technician, students shall:
      • Have passed: Theatre Safety Orientation

    Sound Board Operator

    • To be eligible to serve as a Sound Board Operator for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production, students shall:
      • Have Served as: Sound Technician

    Assistant Sound Designer

    • To be eligible to serve as an Assistant Sound Designer for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production, students shall:
      • Have served as: Sound Board Operator

    Sound Designer

    • To be eligible to serve as a Sound Designer for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production, students shall:
      • Have served as: Assistant Sound Designer, Sound Designer for an approved non-mainstage theatre production
      • And taken: THE 276 Designing for the Stage, THE 281 Introduction to Sound Technology and Design

  • The stages of development as a Stage Manager involves assuming leadership roles that include serving as a Back Stage Run Crew or Board Operator, Assistant Stage Manager, and Stage Manager.

    Back Stage Run Crew or Board Operator

    • To be eligible to serve as a Back Stage Run Crew Member or Board Operator, students shall:
      • Have passed: Theatre Safety Orientation

    Assistant Stage Manager

    • To be eligible to serve as an Assistant Stage Manager for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production, students shall:
      • Have Served as: Back Stage Run Crew or Board Operator for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production

    Stage Manager

    • To be eligible to serve as a Stage Manager for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production, students shall:
      • Have served as: Assistant Stage Manager for at least one Mainstage PAD Theatre Production
      • And taken: THE 366 Stage Management

  • The stages of development as a Technical Director involves assuming leadership roles that include serving as a Stage Carpenter, Master Carpenter, Assistant Technical Director, and Student Technical Director.

    Stage Carpenter

    • To be eligible to serve as a Stage Carpenter, students shall:
      • Have passed: Theatre Safety Orientation
      • And taken: THE 275 Theatre Technology

    Master Carpenter

    • To be eligible to serve as a Master Carpenter for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production, students shall:
      • Have Served as: Stage Carpenter for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production
      • And have taken or taking concurrently: An Independent Study in Theatre Technology

    Assistant Technical Director

    • To be eligible to serve as an Assistant Technical Director for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production, students shall:
      • Have Served as: Master Carpenter for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production

    Student Technical Director

    • To be eligible to serve as Student Technical Director for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production, students shall:
      • Have Served as: Assistant Technical Director for a Mainstage PAD Theatre Production
      • And taken: THE 276 Designing for the Stage, THE 281 Introduction to Sound Technology and Design

  • Students who choose a concentration in Directing may serve as Researchers, Research Assistants, and Production Dramaturgs.

    The foundational stages of development include:

    • Outstanding academic performance in:
      • THE 267 World Theatre History I
      • THE 268 World Theatre History II
      • and THE 270 Directing I
    • Demonstration of excellent writing and research skills in the preliminary writing requirement course:
      • THE 270 Directing I (WI Stage 2)
    • and the Upper-division Writing Intensive course:
      • THE 364 Performance in America (WI Stage 3) 

    Students who wish to engage in advanced research projects; generating original scholarship; and assisting faculty in research, scholarship, publications, and applied research for production should demonstrate excellent research and writing skills through:

    • at least two of the following:
      • Independent Study Projects involving research and writing
      • and/or Serving as Intern for New England Theatre Journal book review section
      • and/or Serving as Research Assistant to Faculty
      • and/or Contribute promotional and critical articles to Campus Lantern
    • Culminating in:
      • Presenting original research at ECSU Research and Exhibition Conference
      • and/or Presenting original research at National Undergraduate Research Conferences
      • Preparing scholarly work for publication

    Students who wish to serve as the primary Dramaturg for a mainstage production should meet proficiency in the foundational stages outlined above, and have served as:

    • Dramaturgical Assistant to Faculty for a Mainstage Production
    • and/or Served as Asst. Director or Stage Manager for a Mainstage Production
    • and/or Directed a Student Production
    • And taken:
      • THE 308 (ENG 308) Playwriting
      • or COM 357 Scriptwriting
      • or THE 474 Experimental Theatre