The Southeastern Theatre Conference, hosting their annual convention in Chattanooga March 4-8, will also host a design competition.
Designers Sir Richard Pilbrow and Stanley Meyer, award-winning leaders in the theatrical design industry, will be at SETC to talk with emerging artists and critique designs for both graduate students and undergraduate students.
Competition applications and convention registration are available online. Please note: participants must be registered for convention and their school must be an organizational member of SETC, by Jan. 28 to compete in any of the design competitions. Check with SETC to confirm school membership by calling 336.272-3645.
Scenic, Lighting and Costume Design Competitions
These competitions feature two divisions, undergraduate and graduate, for a total of six design competitions. Participants may enter only one design in each area of design in their division. They may, however, enter one design in each of the three categories (Scenic, Lighting, Costume). There are six awards for each of these competitions. Cash awards: 1st Prize, $125; 2nd Prize, $75; 3rd Prize, $50.
The sponsors are Scenic - Sculptural Arts Coating, Inc., Lighting - ETC, Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc. and Costume - Sponsored in Honor of Irene Smart Rains.
Up to three designers participating in the Graduate Design Competition will have the opportunity to experience work in the field in addition to a $1,000 cash reward from SETC. This year's winners will be chosen to design during the 2015-16 season either at Lexington Children’s Theatre in Lexington, Ky., Triad Stage in Greensboro, N.C., or Omaha Theatre Company in Omaha, Ne. There are no special application forms or fees. Designers are chosen from the
entrants to the graduate design competition.
Properties Design and Construction, sponsored by Friends of Props, is a competition for both undergraduate and graduate students and shall include both hand and set props. For this competition a prop shall be defined as "a non-costume item used by an actor (hand prop) or a set dressing including furniture and decorative elements of the set even if not handled by an actor." A maximum of three items per student may be entered and can be from an actual production or a project that is unrelated to a specific production. There are three awards in this category. Cash Awards: 1st Prize, $125; 2nd Prize, $75; 3rd Prize, $50.
Sound Design, sponsored by Shure, Inc., is for undergraduate and graduate sound designers to showcase their sound designs during the annual Design Competition. Prizes will be awarded based on all designs entered for both the undergraduate and graduate levels of the Sound Design Competition. The awards will be given based on criteria established by the Design and
Technology committee and published in the competition guidelines. Past awards have included a Beta 181C microphone, SRH940 Headphones, and SRH440 Headphones.
Costume Crafts Design, sponsored by Norcostco, is a competition that includes both undergraduate and graduate students who design costume crafts. Participants may enter two areas, or they may have several pieces judged together; i.e. three hats. There are three awards in this category. Cash Awards: 1st Prize, $125; 2nd Prize, $75; 3rd Prize, $50.
Design and Technical Programming starts Wednesday and continues through Saturday.
In addition to over 50 workshops and a hands-on light lab, there are a number of special events.