Prequalified Structures for The Stage
This course explores theater set design structures and responsibilities, covering loads, materials, and engineering in entertainment settings. Students gain insight into how builds are made and enhance safety awareness.
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Overview
A Glance at The Online Prequalified Structures for the Stage course.
Unleash your creativity and jumpstart an exciting career in theatre set design with Fusion Studio for Entertainment and Engineering’s Prequalified Structure for the Stage online course. This course explores how to safely and effectively create structures for use in entertainment contexts, covering prequalified structures, loads on platforms, safety, and best practices in engineering. Taught by industry expert Rich Donne, this course covers the “how” and “why” of entertainment builds from industry expert Rich Dionne.
Study at your own pace over 5 weeks with no prior experience or prerequisites needed! This course is ideal for aspiring theatre technicians and stage managers looking to deepen their understanding of structural engineering for set builds. It’s also beneficial for educators, students and hobbyists who want to enhance their technical skills and safety knowledge in entertainment production. Gain invaluable insights and get the skills you need to build a dynamic career in theatre engineering. Enroll today!
Program Specifics
Prequalified Structures for the Stage is a 5-week course, that takes place asynchronously. This concise timeframe allows for a focused exploration of theatre set design and structural considerations.
This course grants students flexibility to engage with the material at their convenience. The course materials remain accessible for six months, accommodating any schedule or learning pace.
Rich Dionne is an associate professor of practice and faculty technical director specializing in scenery automation and show control systems. Additionally, he mentors Multidisciplinary Engineering students concentrating in Theatre Engineering, and is the chair of the Department of Theatre at Purdue University. He has a passion for both the art of theatre and the science and engineering of making theatre happen.
Rich has served as the technical director for numerous productions in the Department of Theatre; prior to coming to Purdue, Rich was the production manager and resident sound designer at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, where he mounted numerous productions at various indoor and outdoor venues, including a nationally-recognized educational touring company.
Additionally, he has served as the technical director for Berkshire Theatre Festival, Alpine Theatre Project, Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, and Dorset Theatre Festival, mounting critically-acclaimed productions including The Whipping Man, Barefoot in the Park, Amadeus, Night of the Iguana, Avenue Q, The Illusion, and Death of a Salesman.
Rich is the co-director of Purdue’s Fusion Studio for Entertainment and Engineering. The Fusion Studio connects industry leaders with scholars and practitioners, provides space for development and exploration, and inspires pedagogical innovation at the nexus of engineering and live entertainment.
Rich is the author of Project Planning for the Stage: Tools and Techniques for Managing Extraordinary Performances (available from Southern Illinois University Press) and is co-author with Michael Gillette of the ninth edition of Theatrical Design and Production (available from McGraw-Hill). He was the Commissioner of Technical Production of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology from 2019 to 2023 and an ETCP-Certified Theatre Rigger (#2928).
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