North Carolina School of the Arts
Page 3
Design & Production - -
Since a great portion of the
work on any production goes on
quite literally “behind the
scenes,” any improvement in this
large area is an improvement in
the overall flow of all the art
departments. This crew of im
portant people fall into the
category of the Design and
production Department.
The Dean of Design and
Production, John Sneden, has
examined Uie department and
made many new changes in the
faculty. Optimistically, Mr.
&ieden commented, “This will be
a better year. This year the
department will become much
more concentrated on advancing
needs of the technical students.
No longer will the school have to
rely on outside sources.” The
people who will replace these
sources are six in number: Mike
Bynmi ( ), Carlo Barhas
(lighting), John Kavelin (design
& production), Bob Graff
(props). Max De Voider
(tedmic^ director of design &
production), and Maureen Trotto
(costume & design). Mr. Sneden
continued, “Last year there was
not enough of the staff teaching
the desired courses for the
theater. We see these new ap
pointments as alleviating this
problem.”
A gnes Lattak, a member of the
Design and Production Depart
ment since 1967 shared Mr.
Sneden’s optimism,” We are
finally pulling together all of one
mind. Now more than ever the
morale of students and teachers
has been boosted... even for me.”
Miss Trotto, one of the faculty
additions, sees the department
heading in a definite direction of
“a learning experience through
learning... They will be better
equipped as graduates for
positions in the professional
theater. The freshmen will be
saturated with it by graduation.”
In as far as the changes have
eliminated many of the
problems, there still are needed
imix'ovements. Realizing these
ix'oblems. Dean Sneden added,
“We do not have all the desired
courses for a student to leave this
school and concentrate in his art
study in commercial theater.
There are undoubtedly some
things he (the student) will have
to learn on his own. There are
many areas in which our students
need instruction, but at this time
we are unable to do so because of
our heavy schedule.” Sneden
continued, “The Design and
Production students should have
classes in the other arts to know
or get an understanding of the
Adoptions, Additions
“It is a crime that this school will not buy new equipment for
the tech department. The equipment in existence is just one
mass of makeshift repairs.” - Kent Atwood
“I think that equipment for the various drama, music, and
dance productions put on tour should be bought by the
departments concerned so that they would feel more
responsible for the equipment they want to use.” -Bob
Crozier
1
other side of the fence. For
example, the stage manager
should be able to read music.”
When asked whether students in
other departments should know
of the te^ical aspects, he an
swered, “Definately yes. Already
it is part of the course for fresh
men drama students to help
backstage for two of their three
terms.”
And what about the
requirements of the new students
trying to enter the department:
“general intelligence and en
thusiasm mostly... This is so
because the average high school
graduate coming to our depart
ment has not bran exposed to a
theater that offers the modem
facilities of the theater today, so
proper experience would be
lacking. For example, a music
student can buy an instrument,
take a lesson and go home and
practice. A design and production
student cannot do that. You
cannot practice the theater in
your home.” Mr. DeVolder, a
new member of the faculty,
added that, “generally the
theater part of high school gets
the short end.” Miss Trotto
agreed with Sneden’s admission
requirements of intelligence and
enthusiasm but adds, “artistic
ability is also important if the
student wants to major in scenic
and costume design.”
Was revamping the teaching
staff a good move? Has it done
any good? One comment from a
junior costume major, Karen
Templeton answers the question;
“Oh Jesus yes!” Since the school
depends enormously on the
Design and Production Depart
ment, these new changes, plans
and current needs b^me the
hope of the school as a whole.
“The D&P department has grown from a service
organization for the other departments into a school in its
own right.” -Sally Hassenfelt