Sound Design

The first year curriculum is taken in collaboration with other design and technical students and is an immersion into the culture of production and design. Students explore thinking metaphorically and abstractly by learning principles and elements of design and script analysis. Coursework in sound technology and technical drawing exposes students to a range of audio components and specifications to prepare students to design and construct complete sound systems. Students complete three production crew assignments in our public production season.

In the second year, students begin to focus on the specifics of telling stories with sound design through associations, acoustics, physiology, anthropology, sociology, and the history of music and sound design. Students learn to work with software to begin creating, editing, sequencing, composing, and arranging sound cues. Students explore period style artistry through a survey of art, architecture, fashion, and furniture. They learn the art of collaboration through a series of 3 courses ranging from the theoretical to the practical. Students work throughout the year on productions in our production season as sound designers and technicians.

Third-year students delve deeper into the specifics of how to create emotional response from an audience and how to support storytelling. They receive an introduction to music theory to begin a greater focus on sound composition and learn to create compositions for theatre and film. Students learn to integrate design and composition skills to create larger and more complex designs. Students work closely with our entire production team and professional staff to design in our production season.

In the final year, students complete a thorough study of advanced technologies for mixing music tracks, mastering, and other methods of recording musicians. Students learn the complexities involved in creating and delivering system sound design for musical theatre using wireless mics, mixing actors and orchestra mics, and fold-back systems. The final year is also a transition year, further developing students’ abilities and preparing students to enter the profession. Students prepare their professional portfolio and develop professional networks in addition to creating their business branding, learn how to file taxes, and understand unions and contracts. Students design in our production season and have are required to complete a professional internship of their choosing.

At the end of each year, The Theatre School hosts a Graduate Showcase event to showcase the work of our graduating design students. Under the guidance of the faculty, graduating designers prepare a showcase exhibit of their portfolio–which is presented in Chicago for artistic directors, alumni, and other members of the theatre, film, and television industries.