Tommy Macon

tmacon@mtsu.edu

Rebecca Fischer

Speech & Theatre

Discipline specific equipment

BDA 108; BDA 118

N/A

N/A

Speech and Theatre requests equipment for the costume classrooms and work lab. Our existing equipment is antiquated, inadequate, in ill repair and, in some cases, unsafe. We currently do not have enough sewing machines for the students enrolled in costume classes. In each section of THEA 3200 this spring, 15 students share six machines. Our washer and dryer are outdated and cannot meet the demand during theatre productions. We have no equipment for dying or fabric modification. An assessment of electrical and plumbing needs to support the current and proposed renovation concluded that current plumbing and electrical lines are inadequate and dangerous. Six currently-offered courses in the Theatre curriculum focus on costume design and construction. With new equipment, two existing courses would be re-added to the curriculum along with a costume crafts and fabric dyeing course. Equipment is used for both practical and classroom training. Students apply classroom techniques to the creation and construction of costumes for four annual theatrical productions. Additionally, equipment is used during summers for Governor’s School for both teaching and production. Based on average annual enrollments in costume courses and Governors School, the equipment requested will be used by a minimum of 105 students annually.