Special Topics in Design

This course offers an in-depth exploration of sound design and technology in theatrical production. Students will develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in creating sound for live performance. Through a series of projects, students will engage with industry-standard software and hardware to design soundscapes that enhance narrative, character, and atmosphere. Foundational topics include the fundamentals of acoustics and auditory perception, signal processing, and historical and contemporary sound design practices. Hands-on instruction will include audio recording, editing, mixing, and live sound reinforcement. In addition, the course covers the collaborative process of working with directors, designers, and performers, emphasizing the integral role sound plays in storytelling. A final project will involve a complete sound design for a short theatrical piece, applying concepts learned throughout the semester. Open to all students with an interest in sound and any of theater, dance, music, film, or time-based art, this course requires no prior experience but encourages creativity and collaboration. 

Note that this course THEATRST 390S-3 (undergraduates only) is paired to the advanced-level section THEATRST 590S-3, open to upper level undergraduates and graduate students. Students in 590S-3 will take on directorship of final group projects, present how they use sound in their current work, and communicate with the class on the state-of-the-art of sound in their areas of expertise.