David Geffen School Of Drama at Yale
Technical Design and Production, Class of 2023
On this page you can see some of the work I completed in my time at DGSD. I am thankful for the faculty, staff and fellow students that I worked with during my time at the school.
Graduation
&
Awards
Graduation offers the opportunity to celebrate the completion of degrees. There are also awards that are distributed at DGSD. I was fortunate enough to receive three; one voted on by the graduating TD&P class, one voted on by the other TD&P students and one voted on by the TD&P faculty.
The Edward C. Cole Memorial Award is sponsored by the Technical Design and Production Class of 1983 to commemorate the contributions of Edward C. Cole to the profession of technical theater. The recipients of this award, selected by their classmates in the graduating class of the Technical Design and Production program, best exemplify the ingenuity, creativity, craftsmanship, and dedication to the art of theater that are the hallmarks of the theater technician.
The Bronislaw (Ben) Sammler Mentorship Award, established by the Class of 2000, honors graduating Technical Design and Production students who, through action, attitude, or inspiration, have motivated their fellow classmates. The honorees are selected by the first- and second-year Technical Design and Production students.
The Alan Hendrickson Award, established in 2023, honors a Technical Design and Production student who exemplifies curiosity, artistry, ingenuity, and patience. The honorees are selected by the Technical Design and Production faculty.
Mojada; A Medea in Los Angeles
Technical Director
I was the Technical Director for Mojada; A Medea in Los Angeles. I worked closely with the Scenic Designer, Marcelo Martínez García, early on in the process. This allowed us to make it through budgeting without having to cut any major elements of the original design. Highlights of this show included 28 foot tall border walls, a working water spout on stage and a hydraulically power lift inside the house used to create a dramatic effect for the climax of the production. The Assistant Technical Designers for this show were, Luke Tarnow–Bulatowicz, Constanza Etchechury López and Shawn Poellet. See more here.
Image Credit Mojada; A Medea in Los Angeles, by Luis Alfaro, directed by Laurie Woolery, Yale Repertory Theater 2023. Photo by Marcelo Martínez García.
Water’ You Afraid Of?
Thesis
As a part of my education I have worked on a handbook to assist in designing water effects. I have broken every water effect into 5 major components; The Source, The Components, The Distributer, Capture and Recirculation (optional). I also discuss the physics of water flow through pipes while explaining some simple equations that can help predict the pressures and needs of any water effect. It is my hope that technical designers can use this reference to make them feel more comfortable and confident in bringing water to the stage.
Next to Normal
Assistant Technical Director
I was one of two Assistant Technical Directors for Next to Normal. The Technical Director was Luke Tarnow-Bulatowicz and the other ATD was Matteo Lanzarotta. I was responsible for the design of two 3D cubes that hun over the playing space. I worked closely with Lighting and Projections on this project. Check out more information here.
Image Credit NEXT TO NORMAL, music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, directed by James L. Fleming, David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
Independent Study
Rope Access Training - SPRAT Level 1 & 2
Neil Mulligan, with the assistance of Mathew Gaffney, use the Rigging Lab to instruct an independent study on Rope Access Training. SPRAT is an industry standard in instruction for safe use of rope access and other work at height. The class offers all of the level 1 & 2 modules over two semesters. It has been a blast learning how to work safely at height with ropes.
ShowMotion Inc.
Internship
During the summer of 2022 I worked at ShowMotion Inc. While there I was worked closely with the mechanic shop, I did motor maintenance of winches and chain motors and I technical designed scenery for my first Broadway Show. Other great experiences included assisting in the instal of a lift for Shakespeare in the Park presented by The Public and installing automation equipment for Goodspeed Musicals. It was great to have my first experience with in commercial scenery.
Independent Study
Rigging Lab Extension
I was approach by Neil Mulligan, one of DGSD’s wonderful faculty, to help facilitate an extension to the existing rigging lab. I worked with him for a semester as I drew and we refined the design. In the summer of 2022 the extension was constructed and it has assisted in creating almost doubled the amount of usable rigging space. To see more pictures from this project click here.
Choir Boy
Assistant Technical Director
The TD team was headed by Dom Pinto and included Laura Copenhaver, Shaqian Lu and myself. This show had 5 axis of automation. I was responsible for 2 automated sliding panels, 2 manually operated sliding panels, the masking portals with molding, and a large mural. A huge acknowledgment to the Scenic Designer, Anna Grigo, who created a design that really was a pleasure to work on. See more here.
Image Credit - CHOIR BOY by Tarell Alvin McCraney, directed by Christopher D. Betts, David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, 2022, Photo By Joan Marcus
Class Projects
Systems Integration for Live Entertainment
Systems Integration was a great class taught by Eric Lin. I have presented here two projects that I worked on for the class. Electronics is not my ‘thing’, but this class allowed me the opportunity to learn more and I really enjoyed the opertunity and the fun little projects I made.
3D Printed Cable Hook
Technical Design II
In a technical design class we were prompted to create an object that could be 3D printed to connect to an I-Beam to hold cables during show installations. Joe Hsun Chiang and I came up with the design you see in the photo. We applied for and recieved 3rd Prize in the Third Quadrennial Technical Invention Prize competition organized World Stage Design organization. Click here for more information on this project.
She Kills Monsters
Props Manager
For this production I had the pleasure of managing the props, which consisted of beating hearts, weapons and ripped off arms. It was a great experience to communicate with all of the production departments to make the fantasy of this show come to life.
Image Credit - SHE KILLS MONSTERS by Qui Nguyen, directed by Adrienne D. Williams., David Geffen School of Drama at Yale,, 2021. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.
Yale Summer Cabaret 2021
Director of Production
The Yale Summer Cabaret 2021 aimed to reimagine what theater could be during COVID-19 by embracing nontraditional space where anyone can follow their artistic impulses and develop new works, skills, and passions. We opened this space not only to David Geffen School of Drama at Yale students but also hope to welcome the wider New Haven and Yale communities in. Through our egalitarian leadership structure I was able to engage in varying roles of operating a theater and producing new works. Our programing included Storytime (book readings for children read by local community members) and a podcast called Anything But Theatre. We also commissioned the writing of and produced three radio plays; Space Trash by Corinne Caputo, Soft Jade by Nina Ki and ada by Abigail Onwunali.
Replication of the rock exotica Butterfly Lift
Advanced Rigging Class
For our final project in this class my group was assigned to construct a portable rigging solution for arial performance. The Butterfly Lift is a product sold by rock exotica that our group based our design on. My group was able to get parts water jet cut at a local company, spent some time doing tests and created a working prototype. Check out this page to see a video.
Manahatta
Assistant Technical Director
It was a real honour to participate as Assistant Technical Director for the East Coast Premier of Manahatta. My focus on this show was the stage deck. It was a wonderful experience to work with the Technical Directing Team, lead by Yaro Yarashevich and joined by Mathew Lewis. I learned a lot about drafting, samples and clear communication throughout this process.
Image Credit - A scene from MANAHATTA by Mary Kathryn Nagle, directed by Laurie Woolery, Yale Repertory Theatre, 2020. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play
Deck Carpenter
My first assignment at YSD was to be the Deck Carpenter for the School of Drama Production of Mr. Burns., Directed by Kat Yen. It was a challenge managing scene changes that involved scenery on wheels and “dirt” but the crew had great chemistry that made this assignment a joy.
Image Credit - Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play, by Anne Washburn, score by Michael Friedman, lyrics by Anne Washburn, additional music by Liam Bellman-Sharpe, directed by Kat Yen. Yale School of Drama, 2019. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.