Theatre Design and Production

Four students stand surrounded by a stylized representation of the solar system in a performance image from CCM's Spring 2022 production of the opera "Galileo Galilei." Photo/Mark Lyons

CCM’s Department of Theatre Design and Production (TD&P) offers Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts with specialization in the following areas:

Described as "a training ground where aspiring theatre designers and technicians gain top-quality experience" by Talkin' Broadway, our Theatre Design and Production program features cutting-edge facilities and technology, with:

CCM offers Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees in costume design and technology; lighting design and technology; stage design, props and scenic art; sound design; stage management and technical production.

CCM offers Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in costume design and technology; lighting design and technology; stage design; stage properties; sound design; stage management and make-up and wig design.

  • 8,500 square foot scene shop
  • 3,000 square foot costume shop
  • Wig, make-up and prosthetics studios
  • 1,500 square foot design/drafting studio
  • 800 square foot light lab
  • CAD drafting stations
  • Three performance venues
  • Production season includes musicals, plays, operas and dance (classical and contemporary)
  • Student opportunities on all productions
a training ground where aspiring theatre designers and technicians gain top-quality experience

Talkin' Broadway

Get to know our faculty and staff

CCM's admissions process begins on August 1 (undergraduate) and September 1 (graduate) for entrance in the following year's fall semester. All application materials must be submitted on or before December 8 to be considered for specific scholarship awards. Visit the CCM Admissions website for additional application instructions.

Pre-screeing and interview requirements are listed on the CCM Admissions website and in the program-specific pages linked above.

In the interview, questions the students ask are as important as the responses the student offers. This visit is also necessary for the student's exploration of our program, the facility and exposure to our students and activities.

Pre-screening and interview requirements are listed on the CCM Admissions website and in the program-specific pages linked above.

Some important information for interviews:

  • The interview may be requested through the CCM Admissions Office or directly through the Head of TD&P.
  • There are three announced formal CCM interview dates on-campus from January through March, but special interviews may be arranged for other times. (However, be sure to confirm whether your interview is indeed formal and evaluative, or just an informal exploratory visit.)
  • Formal acceptance into the TD&P program cannot be given until the formal interview and full application procedures are complete.
  • Foreign students, where English is not the first language, must successfully pass the TOEFL examination.

News and Events

1

CCM hosts Moveable Feast gala fundraiser on Jan. 23, 2026

Event: January 23, 2026 6:00 PM

UC College-Conservatory of Music hosts its Moveable Feast fundraising gala on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. Presented by CCMpower, a dedicated volunteer group of friends, advocates and alumni, Moveable Feast: Illuminate generates essential support for the next generation of performing and media artists at CCM.

5

Designing a fairy tale

November 14, 2025

Maura Kesterson spends her days, and most of her nights, sewing away in a space underneath Patricia Corbett Theater. “Pretty much anything you can do in the costume department, I’ve done,” Kesterson said. A lifelong seamstress and performer, Kesterson was crafty enough in her career choices to land her at the University of Cincinnati, designing all the colorful costumes for a grand opera, a retelling of the charming story of Cinderella. Kesterson is a master’s degree student studying costume design and technology at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music.

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