Dean Thordarson
The best projects are the ones where you have to find a way to make the seemingly impossible come to life – creativity, technology, and problem solving coming together in a perfect balance.
-Dean Thordarson
Dean supports the lighting department as a technician who is deeply familiar with both the department and the school as a whole. He helps maintain the lighting department’s inventory, while also supporting the designers, lighting managers, and technicians throughout the whole process – from preparation and install to tech and troubleshooting.
Dean has been a part of a number of technical departments in live entertainment, with his current primary focus being lighting. Having been a recent graduate of the inaugural class of Production Technology from the School of Drama in 2023, he has extensive experience in many technical areas, especially within the school. Although his primary focus as a staff member at CMU is lighting, he also has strong skillsets in technical direction, including technical design and carpentry. Outside of CMU, Dean has worked with several other companies, from local ones such as Quantum Theatre, to distant shops such as The Scenic Route in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Dean first began working as a full time staff member in the School of Drama in 2024 after taking a year off following his graduation. Having originally grown up in Los Angeles, he is now entering his seventh year of living in Pittsburgh, just a short jaunt from CMU. At home, he finds himself surrounded by legos and half finished projects, spending his free time cooking, climbing, and volunteering at a local cat rescue. He lives with his children – two black cats named Atlas and Nova (who he adopted in 2023 from the aforementioned cat rescue).