Technical Direction

Students working in the scene shop, using a drill, wearing safety glasses and hard hats.

Build Your Future

Students in the technical direction program learn the latest methods and techniques in technical theater with access to top-of-the-line facilities and equipment, faculty who work professionally in the field, and an alumni community working with companies such as TAIT Towers, Berkeley Rep, Texas Scenic, Mystic Scenic, 4Wall, Hudson Scenic, Jack Morton Worldwide, Universal, Upstaging, Barbizon, and Meow Wolf, among others.

A student wears a protective mask and uses welding equipment in the School of Drama’s scene shop.

Technical Direction Curriculum

The School of Drama’s comprehensive technical curriculum is enhanced by access to Carnegie Mellon’s world-class technical, robotics, and computer science programs. Technical direction students learn within a commercial shop structure, and production experiences supplement classroom learning by introducing students to a range of collaborators, theatrical environments, and resource management.

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curriculum

Student Work

An overhead shot of the School of Drama’s scene shop, where a student wearing protective headwear, works with a table saw.

Fully Equipped Scene Shop

Students working in the scene shop on detailing and molding for the School of Drama’s production of “Godspell.”

A student uses a drill on a set piece door in the School of Drama scene shop.

Skill Building

Students have the opportunity to put their skills to work in the scene shop.

A group of students work on a large set load-in on the stage of the Philip Chosky Theater.

Large-Scale Projects

Students load in the set for the School of Drama’s production of “I Think I’m Starting to Want to Be a Mother” in the Philip Chosky Theater.

Three students wearing hard hats hold up a large set piece in the Helen Wayne Rauh Studio Theater.

Hands-On Experience

Technical direction students working on load-in of a set piece for the School of Drama’s production of “You on the Moors Now” in the Helen Wayne Rauh Studio Theater.

An overhead shot of the School of Drama’s scene shop, where a student wearing protective headwear, works with a table saw.

Fully Equipped Scene Shop

Students working in the scene shop on detailing and molding for the School of Drama’s production of “Godspell.”

A student uses a drill on a set piece door in the School of Drama scene shop.

Skill Building

Students have the opportunity to put their skills to work in the scene shop.

A group of students work on a large set load-in on the stage of the Philip Chosky Theater.

Large-Scale Projects

Students load in the set for the School of Drama’s production of “I Think I’m Starting to Want to Be a Mother” in the Philip Chosky Theater.

Three students wearing hard hats hold up a large set piece in the Helen Wayne Rauh Studio Theater.

Hands-On Experience

Technical direction students working on load-in of a set piece for the School of Drama’s production of “You on the Moors Now” in the Helen Wayne Rauh Studio Theater.

alumni stories

Photo of Derek Pendergrass, a man wearing a bright blue shirt standing in front of a colorfully lit background.

Derek Pendergrass

 Photo of Samantha Williams, a woman with medium length brown hair wearing a baby blue suit, standing in front of a pink wall.

Samantha Williams

 Headshot of Owen Sahnow, wearing a light blue collared shirt, smiling at the camera.

Owen Sahnow

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Featured Faculty

Photo of David Boevers, a white man with white short hair, wearing a light blue, short-sleeved, button up shirt.

David Boevers

Associate Professor of Production Technology and Management /
Technical Director

David is the faculty advisor to student Technical Directors on School of Drama productions. He teaches Production Planning, Studiocraft – CAD, Scenic Fabrication & Installation, Stage Rigging Concepts, Technical Direction 1, Technical Direction 3, and Entertainment Rigging. David also advises graduate Technical Direction students on their Monograph projects. During the summer he is the coordinator of the Design & Production Precollege Program.

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Photo of Kevin Hines, a white man with glasses wearing a tan bucket hat.

Kevin Hines

Associate Teaching Professor of Production Technology & Management

Kevin’s teaching centers on the scientific and engineering principles underlying the practice of theatrical fabrication, along with utilization and adaptation of methods and materials found in both traditional and emerging trade crafts.

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Photo of Sean West, a white man with gray hair and beard, wearing glasses and a white checkered shirt.

Sean West

Theater Supervisor/Instructor

Sean West is president of Pittsburgh’s IATSE #3, the union that represents stagehands. He is Pittsburgh Opera’s head carpenter and de facto technical director, and also teaches here in the School of Drama.

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Black and white image of Ben Carter, a white man with brown hair, smiling.

Ben Carter

Scene Shop Supervisor & Instructor
Pre-College Fabrication Technology

Ben Carter is Scene Shop Supervisor & Instructor for CMU School of Drama. Since receiving his BFA from Carnegie Mellon in 1984 Ben has been involved in a variety of different disciplines, all contributing in their own way to the position he holds today.

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Headshot of Owen Sahnow, wearing a light blue collared shirt, smiling at the camera.

Through the Technical Direction program, modeled after a commercial scene shop, CMU gave me the hands-on experience in both the soft and hard skills necessary to thrive in the industry.

Owen Sahnow, Class of 2023

Are you ready to take the next step toward your dreams? Learn more about our application, audition, and interview process.

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