International Theatre Production
Ohio Northern University offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in International Theatre Production through the Department of Communication Arts. The program has the foundation of a liberal arts education while focusing on the areas of theatrical design, production and stage management in the concentration classes. What is unique about this program is that it exposes the student to the different methodologies employed by theatre artists from across the globe which will help our students gain a broader understanding of the theatre arts. The program facilitates this diverse approach by hiring in designers, directors and playwrights from around the world. In the past guest artists have come from Scotland, Iceland, Estonia, Portugal, Ireland, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. Equally important is a study aboard or international internship experience. Students can travel to Estonia, Scotland, Australia, Mexico, or New Zealand to name a few. Every three years we also travel to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh where most recently we brought our annual International Playwriting Festival and original American dance choreography. These experiences, coupled with symposiums, master classes and other formal instruction is the foundation of our approach to teaching.
Every year we host an International Playwriting festival. We commission 15 to 20 minute works from different international playwrights which we production in an evening of On Acts. This year the playwrights will be from Venezuela and Argentina. In the past we have had playwrights from Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal to name a few.
Our hope is that with the world becoming more globalized through the internet and mass communication we can better prepare our student for opportunities in areas that are traditionally very culturally diverse such as; touring production, dance and Opera, as well as just give them a broader palette to draw ideas from and help them understand that there are many, many ways to collaborate and find creative solutions.
Faculty and Staff
Kathleen DeVault is the head of the international theatre production degree and teaches classes in Lighting Design, Sound Design and Stage Management. Scott Henkels the technical director for the department teaches Theatre Technology, Scenic Design and Adv. Theatre Tech to name a few. The costume designer for the department Cathy Smalley teaches make-up and costume design. The program is also supported by Nils Riess Department Chair and Director of Theatre; and Catriona Macphie-Hynds, Managing Director of the Freed Center. The program is also augmented with approximately twelve national and international guest artists per year.
Facilities
The Freed Center for the Performing Arts is a modern fully-equipped theatre complex with two performance areas, the Biggs Theatre, a proscenium house with full orchestra pit and 550 seats, and the Stambaugh Studio Theatre, a flexible seating space with both arena and thrust capabilities. Both theatres are supported by state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, and the fully-trained technical staff. Classes are held in the theatre spaces, the dance and rehearsal room and in classrooms.
Student Organizations
Theta Alpha Phi (National Theatre Honorary)
Scholarships
Qualified students are eligible for merit awards. For consideration students should contact the Department at (419) 772-2686 or go to www.onutheatre.com under incoming students – auditions for information.
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts with a concentration in International Theatre Production.
Placement and Employment
Ohio Northern University graduates have an outstanding record of accomplishment. Students have gone on to graduate school or to internships with professional regional theatres. Recent graduate schools include: Yale University, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Columbia University, Temple University, Northwestern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
International Study Abroad/Internship
International study is an integral part of the ITP degree and the department as set up theatre studies in conjunctions with several universities in Europe and Pacific Rim. Students have recently attended Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh, Scotland, Glasgow Caledonian University in Glasgow, Scotland, National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art in Christchurch, New Zealand and National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, Australia and interned at theatres in Tallinn, Estonia and Mexico City, Mexico.
If there is a place that a student has a specific interest, we will work the student to find an appropriate placement there. All placements are made with the needs of the students the primary focus.
Recent National Guest Designers
Judith M. Daitsman NYC Lighting Designer and Lighting Designer for Martha Graham Dance
Brackley Frayer Las Vegas Lighting Designer and Resident Lighting Designer at UNLV
Connie Furr Arizona State University Costume Designer and she has designed at Syracuse Opera, Orlando Opera as well as various television productions.
Xuzheng He Arizona Scenic Designer/Scenic Artist. He has worked on films including: Tin Cup, Tombstone and The Boys on the Side.
Troy Hourie New York Scenic Designer
Stan Kaye Florida Lighting Designer and Resident Lighting Designer & Head of the Graduate Lighting Design program at the University of Florida
Lynda Matusek Lexington, KY Lighting designer.
Russell Parkman Regional Theatre Scenic Designer and Resident Scenic Designer at Southern Methodist University
Michael Patterson NYC Lighting Designer and Associate Designer for Jackie Mason’s Broadway show Prune Danish.
Robert Perry Off-Broadway, Regional and NYC Lighting Designer
Brian Ruggebar North Carolina Scene Designer and Resident Scenic Designer for University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
Kurt Sharp Chicago Scene Designer/Scenic Artist and Scenic Designer for Drury Lane Theatre
Craig Siebels California and Regional Theatre Scene Designer
Robert Stegmiller Cleveland Lighting Designer and president of ELECTRASTAGE SYSTEMS
Russell Swift Boston Lighting Designer and Resident Lighting Designer for Emerson University
Joe Tilford Chicago Scene Designer and Dean of the North Carolina School of the Arts
Paul Weimer NYC Set Designer and Assistant to the Scenic Designer for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera
Steve Woods Resident Lighting Designer Southern Methodist University.
Recent International Guest Designers
Vello Laanemaa Estonian Scene Designer and Silk Artist
Monica Raye Mexican Scenic and Costume Designer
John Stone Scottish Scenic/Costume Designer. He was formally the head of design at Queen Margaret’s College Scotland and currently a Great Britain theatre consultant.
Messiana Tomasdottir Icelandic Scenic/Costume Designer and founded the String Theatre in Iceland
Kai Vaarandi Estonian Scene Designer and Silk Artist
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