Design and Stage ManagementBFA

Housed within the Department of Performing Arts in the School of Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies, the BFA in Design and Stage Management places you at the heart of a vibrant creative community of faculty, staff and peers that inspire and support you in the development of your artistic voice.

Students begin their journey in our dynamic BFA Design and Stage Management with a foundational core of hands-on and critical thought courses where curiosity meets craft. From the expressive artistry of rendering to the precision of drafting, from creating imaginative designs to stage managers orchestrating all aspects of the rehearsal and performance process, each course invites you to explore a new dimension of storytelling.

Our BFA major ensures that every student develops a versatile, well-rounded understanding of production, empowering you to step confidently into advanced coursework with both creative insight and technical fluency.

In studios, shops, and our five renowned performance venues, you’ll be encouraged to experiment boldly, take creative risks, and push past the expected. We are a community where curiosity is your greatest tool and originality is the goal, helping you cultivate a successful career in a constantly evolving entertainment industry.

As you step into the spring of your sophomore year, your path begins to take on a distinct creative identity. This is the moment you choose your concentration: Costume Design, Lighting Design, Scenic Design, or Stage Management—each one a doorway into a specialized artistic journey. Your training becomes a deep dive into the skills and professional standards built around your chosen concentration, through studio-driven classes, exciting collaborations, and production experiences that mirror the energy of real performance environments.

Emerson College owns more performance space than any other institution in Boston. These spaces give undergraduate Performing Arts students the opportunity to work on both historic stages and newer, state-of-the-art venues.

Design and Stage Management majors have the opportunity to gain real-world learning experience in our program. A few examples are:

• As your skills grow and your creative voice sharpens, you will gain access to assignments in production, design, and stage management for Emerson Stage (the producing wing of the Department of Performing Arts). Through mentorship and guidance, faculty and professional production staff will support and challenge you through this process. Here, you won’t just observe; you’ll participate in bringing full-scale productions to life, pushing you to think bigger, work smarter, and rise to the demands of a fast-paced, professional environment.
• In your senior year, you will have multiple opportunities to showcase your individual work and build your artistic voice through developmental and industry workshops, showcase events, and portfolio reviews. These experiences will help you develop how to present yourself and your work with confidence, communicate your unique strengths and creative perspective, establish a social media presence, and begin developing the professional network that will support your transition from Emerson into the industry.
• Beyond campus, students step directly into Boston’s thriving professional theater scene, collaborating with acclaimed companies such as the American Repertory Theater, Huntington Theatre Company, Boston Ballet, Commonwealth Shakespeare, Front Porch Collective, Boston Pops, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Company One, and Lyric Stage Company, among many others.

Our Design and Stage Management graduates obtain employment in a variety of entertainment disciplines. A selected few examples of careers include:

• Costume Designer
• Stitcher
• Wardrobe Supervisor
• Lighting Designer
• Production Electrician
• Scenic Designer
• Scene Painter
• Props Artist
• Assistant Director (Film)
• Production Designer
• Set Decorator
• Company Manager
• Production Coordinator (Live Television)
• Touring Stage Manager
• General Manager
• Production Stage Manager
• Show Caller and Deck Manager (Corporate Events)
• Production Manager
• Corporative and Event Design

Cate Agis, Assistant Stage Manager, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Broadway)

Joe Burt, Scenic Designer

Vanessa Coakley, Stage Manager, Aladdin (First National Tour)

Davin De Santis, Production Stage Manager, Moulin Rouge (Broadway)

Ryan Healey, Lighting Designer and Creative Design for Live Events/Award Shows

Ryan Kane, Stage Manager, Oh, Mary! and Rocky Horror Picture Show (Broadway)

Steven Kaplan, Production Manager, Super Bowl pre-show and many live television events

Tyler Kinney, Costume and Scene Designer, TDK Design Associates. Emmy Award for The Studio

Davis Kranchalk, Live Events Technician, Walt Disney World

Dom Letterii, Wardrobe Supervisor, NYC

Pepper Lohr, Director of Entertainment for Virgin Voyages

Kirk Miller, Co-Founder, Earlybird Live Entertainment Design, Emmy Award for Jesus Christ Superstar, Live on NBC with John Legend

Taylor Ness, Associate Director of Theatre Operations, The Calderwood Pavillion

Kailey Pellitier, Automation Specialist, Carnival Cruise Lines

Piper Phillips, Lighting Designer

Jalaina Ross, General Manager, Foresight Theatrical, Buena Vista Social Club (Broadway)

Taylor Starr, Stage Manager, O, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group

Ryan Sweeney, Company Manager, Proof, The Last Five Years, Cabaret (Broadway)

Joshua Warner, Principal Designer and Founder, Joshua Warner Design

Jon Wyand, Entertainment Manager, Walt Disney World

Design and Stage Production faculty are professional set designers, prop builders, scene painters, and more.

Explore Emerson’s theatres, rehearsal spaces, and production studios, then stay for an informational session about the Performing Arts programs and Artistic Review process.

If the Design and Stage Management BFA program is for you, apply to Emerson today!