Emerson College: StageDoor

Theatre Design/Technology, BFA

When you apply for admission to the BFA in Theatre Design/Technology you must complete four steps after receiving your Emerson ID:

  1. Submit a Design/Technology portfolio by regular mail using the mailing label & cover sheet provided by StageDoor. **
  2. Submit two copies of your theatrical résumé. You must upload one digital copy using StageDoor and mail one hard copy with your portfolio.

Upon receiving your portfolio & résumé, the Department of Performing Arts will send a confirmation e-mail to the address on your application.

  1. Schedule an interview with the Theatre Design/Technology faculty using StageDoor. You will not be able to schedule an interview until the Department of Performing Arts has received your portfolio & résumé.
  2. Attend and complete your interview.

Supplement Due Dates for BFA Design/Technology

 

Interview

Résumé & Portfolio

Notes

Early Action

Must choose an Early Action interview date

Must be submitted in order to schedule an interview

Early Action applicants who do not submit a résumé & portfolio and complete an Early Action interview will automatically be deferred to Regular Action.

Regular Action

May choose an Early or Regular Action interview date

Must be submitted in order to schedule an interview

Regular Action applicants who do not submit a résumé & portfolio and complete a Regular Action interview will not be admitted to Performing Arts.

Transfers

May choose any of the offered interview dates

Must be submitted in order to schedule an interview

Transfer applicants may submit their résumé & portfolio and complete their interview at the Early Action, Regular Action, or Exclusive Transfer Interview Dates.

The Résumé and Portfolio

Your theatrical résumé may include, but is not limited to, your experience in:

  • Producing
  • Directing
  • Acting
  • Music (singing, instruments played, conducting, composing)
  • Dance
  • House/Stage Management
  • Marketing/Publicity
  • Design (for any design aspect of a production)
  • Technical run crews
  • Writing achievements/publications
  • Classes, workshops, special training
  • Awards/Commendations

Your portfolio should consist of 20 samples of creative work. These examples of your creative work should document your work in the theatre but may also include:

  • Art Sketches
  • Paintings
  • Video or audio tapes
  • Photos of scale models, ceramics or sculptures
  • Evidence of fashion design and construction techniques
  • Evidence of fashion hair and make-up techniques
  • Jewelry designs
  • Computer graphics
  • Graphic designs
  • Evidence of special engineering or mechanical skills
  • Photography
  • Evidence of puppetry design and construction techniques

Please do not send original art or paperwork since portfolios will not be returned.**

The Interview

The interview plays an important role in the admission decision. It gives us the opportunity to discuss your portfolio with you, evaluate your talent and potential, and determine if you would be compatible with our program.

Applicants that are required to complete an interview (BFA Design/Technology, BFA Stage/Production Management) book themselves into a thirty-minute interview period. Please arrive fifteen to twenty minutes prior to the interview start time so that the interview staff can confirm your arrival and take a photo of you. This photo will be associated with your record and interview and it will only be used internally at Emerson College for the interview process. After you have been checked in you will be directed to the room where your interview will take place. Anyone accompanying you will be directed to wait in the Visitor Center.

Applicants to the BFA in Theatre Design/Technology may complete their interview on-campus in Boston or at the National Unified Auditions in Chicago according to the schedule below. Although we would prefer to meet you in person, telephone interviews are available for applicants who live a great distance from a live interview site and for whom the cost of traveling is prohibitive. All interviews are scheduled online through StageDoor only after you have been notified that the Department of Performing Arts has received your portfolio.**

**The Chicago Exception

If you are interested in scheduling your interview to take place in Chicago at the National Unified Auditions, do not send in your portfolio in advance; you should instead complete the following steps after receiving your Emerson ID:

  1. Notify the Performing Arts Admission Coordinator of your interest in scheduling an interview in Chicago by emailing StageDoor@emerson.edu. You will then receive an email informing you that you are now able to book an interview on StageDoor.
  2. Schedule a Chicago interview with the Theatre Design/Technology faculty using StageDoor.
  3. Upload one copy of your theatrical résumé using StageDoor.
  4. Prepare your portfolio with a second copy of your résumé.
  5. Attend and complete your interview with your portfolio. Your portfolio will be returned to you at the end of your interview.

2009-2010 Interview Schedule

Interview Dates for Early Action Applicants

Boston
The Emerson College Visitor Center
Within the Tufte Performance & Production Center
10 Boylston Place
Boston, MA, 02116

  • Friday, November 20, 2009
  • Friday, December 4, 2009

Telephone Interviews

  • Monday, November 30, 2009
  • Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Interview Dates for Regular Action Applicants

Boston
The Emerson College Visitor Center
Within the Tufte Performance & Production Center
10 Boylston Place
Boston, MA, 02116

  • Friday, February 12, 2010
  • Friday, February 19, 2010
  • Friday, February 26, 2010

Telephone Interviews

  • Tuesday, February 16, 2010
  • Wednesday, February 17, 2010
  • Monday, February 22, 2010
  • Wednesday, February 24, 2010

**Chicago
The Palmer House Hilton - this location is the site of the National Unified Auditions
17 East Monroe Street
Chicago, IL, 60603

  • Monday, February 1, 2010

Exclusive Interview Dates for Transfer Applicants

Boston
The Emerson College Visitor Center
Within the Tufte Performance & Production Center
10 Boylston Place
Boston, MA, 02116

  • Friday, April 23, 2010

Telephone Interviews

  • Wednesday, April 21, 2010