Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 2010 - 51

education
know if there just isn't as much time left in the day, due to all the new
outside factors, but students seem to give up a bit too easily, or take the
path of least resistance/greatest expediency. Rarely do students challenge
my opinion when I give notes at the tech table, and sometimes I feel it's
because they just want to get it done and move on to the next thing, rather
than have a meaningful (but time-consuming) discussion about why a
certain choice was made. So, the question here is how to motivate students to have a passion for the work. I have many students who are passionate about what they do, and will be successful, but there is a growing
percentage that doesn't seem as driven, nor are inspired by the efforts of
their peers. I admit to having a softer heart than I should, as I know too
much about all the other things tugging at them. Self-respect and passion
should result in a far greater attention to detail than I'm seeing in most
projects these days. Again, I am concerned that the technology makes it so
easy to just toss off a drafting that looks "pretty good," and they will accept
a level of graphic standard that I would never have accepted on a plot I
had just painstakingly drafted by hand.

of my thoughts and opinions on training. I hope that this serves to spark
vibrant discussions amongst faculties and professionals across the industry. Also, please don't walk away from this feeling that I don't like my
students; far from it! There are many positive, successful things going on
here and elsewhere in theatre design training today, but I've focused on
the concerns I have to make my points.
I welcome comments from all avenues, professional, academic, recent grads, or current student. Please email me at wkenyon@psu.edu.
Perhaps, with enough response, I will be able to write a second article
with more answers to these questions, or present a session at the conference in 2011. Personally, I am starting the "middle-years" of my career as
an educator, and foresee several decades yet ahead of me.
We should all examine our educational views from time to time, to
remain fresh and adapt to new trends, while honoring the achievements
of all those who have gone before us. It is my hope as an educator to
remain as in touch and relevant on the day I retire as the day I was first
hired. v

Conclusions

Assoc. Professor William Kenyon is Head of the BFA Program
in Design & Technology at Penn State University, and CoCommissioner for Education for USITT.
Many thanks to my friends and colleagues who shared their
opinions, including Jim Franklin, Donna Ruzika, Craig Wolf, John
McKernon, Nick Gonsman, Travis Walker, Adam Mendelson, Dan
Robinson, Eric Rouse, Jenny Kenyon, and Curtis Craig.

Through all of the noise, distraction, and additional layers that modern
life burdens us with, we need to continue to focus on teaching the students that the play is the most important thing. In all other areas, I hope to
lead by example, while examining my teaching to incorporate technology
without bowing to it.
I feel that I have perhaps asked more questions than I have answered,
and through the experience of writing this article, have re-examined many

1970 First Earth

Day celebrated on
April 20th.

1970 First advertisements

in TD&T, May 1970 issue.
An ad for Gelatran was
on the back cover.

1970

1971

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts, Washington, DC, opening gala on September
8. (Construction photo featured on the back cover
of TD&T, February 1968.)

1972

12th Annual USITT
Conference, San Francisco, CA

Top ticket price for
Applause is $12.00

1971

11th Annual USITT
Conference,Dallas, TX.

1972

First burglary of Democratic National Committee
headquarters in the Watergate building, Washington, DC,
on May 28.

1971-1972

Walter H. Walters
USITT President

1972-1973

Ned A. Bowman
USITT President

1970

President Nixon signs legislation on
December 29 creating the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

W I N T E R

2010

theatre

design

technology

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 2010