SCOTT M. BOYLE
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Teaching Philosophy
Theater, like most of the Fine Arts, is a discipline best learned by doing. Certain information can be passed on in the form of lecture or reading, but for most theater students this only goes so far. I have often heard them tell me they were visual learners or saying "I learn best with my hands". With all of my classes I approach student learning by giving them as much practical application as possible. Physically building a piece of scenery from scratch gives them better insight and chances for learning than any "test".
TH1301 - Stagecraft
Stagecraft is part of the core courses for all Theater Majors and Minors at the University of Minnesota Duluth. This course's goal is to provide a foundation in skills common to backstage work. Students in this class learn techniques in scenic construction, scenic painting, rigging, lighting and sound work.
TH3301 - Stagecraft II
Stagecraft II is a continuation of the scenery construction skills found in Stagecraft I. Here the students apply and develop skills in intermediate scenic carpentry as well as welding and metal working. They will also design and implement fluid power systems.
TH3341 - Props Construction
Examples from the Prop Food Project
Props Construction is an elective for most Design and Production students. In this class I demonstrate various woodworking, carving, mould making skills as well as other specialty crafts such a upholstery. The students build and fix furniture, create inedible prop food, sculpt props from foam or create props from found objects. All are skills someone working in props should have in their "bag of tricks"
TH3351 - Drafting for Theatre
This course is taken by all Design and Production Majors. This course's intent is to introduce the students to processes and methods of drafting. Hand drafting eliminates many question and issues of computer hardware or software needs and just concentrates on methodology. There are many exercises where the students apply the exercises to real-life situations by drafting real objects or real situations. Students learn methods compatible to both scenery and lighting.
Pictured are students working on "Rube Goldberg" machines as part of a design process project.
Mechanical Design for the stage is actually an introductory course into the subject. This is an elective for students in the Mechanical Design program at UMD and is a upper level course for Design and Production students. We explore the idea of the design process for making things move whether it is a Rube Goldberg device to crack an egg or a to see who can build the fast race car. The key to all of these exercises is the design process; formulate an idea, research the idea, test the idea, evaluate the idea, modify the idea and repeat.
TH4351 - Portfolio and Presentation
This course is a team taught and designed to give the student the tools for promoting themselves in the job market regardless of discipline. They develop resumes, portfolios and websites for future employment. We Skype in professionals to speak to the class in either area specific or more broadly about life in the professional world of theater. There are also multiple exercises in interviewing or displaying there work so they become accustomed to speaking to future employers.