Technical Theatre Foundations

 We are initiating this program in the hopes that we might be able to get closer to the regular completer numbers of our recently eliminated 50-year-old sister Career Education program, Summer Repertory Theatre (SRT), which had an average of 50-65 completers per summer (although this included some performance-based completions).  At this time, the expectation for completers would likely be 10 or less a year, but we would love to see numbers upwards of 30 per year depending on recruitment and production support needs.

1. Work effectively with scenery and costume design plans
2. Work competently with common materials and techniques when constructing theatrical elements
3. Apply fundamental techniques of stagecraft when participating in the backstage functions of a performance
4. Demonstrate basic skills in two or more of the following areas of specialization:
- running crew
- lighting hang and focus
- scenic carpentry
- welding and/or scenic painting
- audio set up and routing
- costume construction
- costume crew
- makeup crew
- makeup application
- props construction
- stage management
- theatrical design (or design assist): set, costume, lights, props and/or sound
5. Integrate knowledge of theatre history and literature when constructing theatrical elements
6. Demonstrate an understanding of professional and safety standards when working in a shop or participating in the backstage functions of a performance

The purpose of this new certificate is to create a lower unit introductory-level certificate as a compliment to the five advanced certificates already offered by the Theatre Arts department and to offer a certificate geared specifically toward career training. The formulation of this certificate was initiated because of a request in our program review to revise certificates and consider offering a lower unit option. The hope is that more students will benefit by completing an entry-level career training certificate sooner.  Furthermore, students will be encouraged to continue their studies to advanced certificates or AA-T completions as they will be more than halfway through the Theatre Arts requirements after completing this Foundations Certificate. There are no new proposed courses to be added to this new certificate, but any courses added to our programs would be considered as elective options to this certificate if applicable. There are changes that will be proposed to the larger certificates at a later date, but the introductory certificate has no negative impact on these future changes.  Almost all courses are already UC/CSU transferrable.

At the time of completing this form, Napa Valley College offers only an AA-T and AA in Theatre Arts with no CE or certificate programs, and no specialization in technical theatre.  College of Marin offers an AA, AA-T and Certificate of Theatre Technologies. They do have production/backstage-related courses to work as crew members and a stagecraft course, but no costume- or makeup-related training. Mendocino College has a small Technical Theatre Certificate that is 20-units and more heavily focused on sound, lighting, and theatrical computer technology.  Additionally, they have a Recording Arts and Technology Certificate deeply centered in music courses including composition. Finally, there is a Textiles/Clothing Construction Certificate for 23/24-units that looks closer to our fashion certificates, with no crossover to our proposed courses. Overall, this proposed certificate has some overlap primarily with Mendocino Colleges Technical Theatre Certificate, but even that relationship is differentiated by emphasis and varied course requirements.

Documentation available for communication with Mendocino College, Napa Valley College, and College of Marin.