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

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 students create installation for BLINK 2026

June 15, 2026

Students from UC College-Conservatory of Music are creating a dazzling display for BLINK, the nation's largest public light and art festival. Illuminated by ArtsWave, BLINK transforms 30+ city blocks from Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine through Northern Kentucky on Oct. 8-11, 2026.

2

CCM announces initial schedule of performances for 2026-27

June 11, 2026

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) has announced its initial schedule of major performances for 2026-27. These 15 events include beloved titles for the stage like La bohème, RENT and Cabaret, along with concerts showcasing the works of Gustav Mahler, Duke Ellington and John Williams … just to name a few highlights! This schedule of major performances runs Sept. 15, 2026, through April 23, 2027. Tickets for all 15 concerts and shows listed below are on sale now. See individual performance listings for additional information.

3

CCM alumni win big at the 2026 Tony Awards

June 8, 2026

UC College-Conservatory of Music alumni took center stage during a star-studded evening on Sunday, June 7, when music superstar P!NK hosted the American Theatre Wing’s prestigious Tony Awards. Two of CCM's most accomplished alumni took home top honors during this year's ceremony. Shoshana Bean and Stephen Flaherty both received Tonys during the June 7 ceremony.

5

Best of Broadway: CCM alumni nominated in Tony Awards

May 18, 2026

Annually recognized by Playbill as one of the top schools most represented on Broadway, UC College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) has many alumni working on stage and behind-the-scenes in New York's professional theaters. Multiple CCM alumni have been recently recognized for their work, including in award nominations for the 2026 Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Chita Rivera Awards and Drama League Awards.

6

CCM welcomes Rachel Roberts as Associate Dean of Strategy and Operations

May 11, 2026

UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras has announced the appointment of Rachel Roberts, EdD, as CCM's inaugural Associate Dean of Strategy and Operations. In this newly-created role, Roberts will partner with Dean Jutras and other college leaders to advance strategic, operational and academic priorities. Roberts is nationally recognized for developing leaders and advancing how musicians and arts organizations learn, adapt and lead in an evolving arts landscape. Her appointment officially begins on July 6, 2026.

7

CCM Stage Design alumna receives prestigious Rome Prize

May 5, 2026

UC College-Conservatory of Music alumna Cameron Anderson (MFA Stage Design, '02) is a 2026 recipient of the Rome Prize, a national competition that supports innovative work in various disciplines across the arts and humanities. The American Academy in Rome announced Anderson won the Billie Tsien Rome Prize in Design.

8

Bringing deadly ‘Sweeney Todd’ to life

April 17, 2026

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” not only stars the titular “demon” barber, but is famously a monster of a show. It’s such a grand team lift across its dozens of cast members, special effects and a multistory set that most productions cut it down to a small-scale adaptation. But the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music is stepping up to the challenge of putting on a full-scale performance of the classic, gory tale. Debuting on Broadway in 1979, the show is almost 50 years old, with countless revivals and adaptations of the vengeful barber Sweeney Todd and his co-conspirator, pie shop owner Mrs. Lovett. CCM’s performance, with a double cast and three-story set, is just as huge and bloody as the original.

9

Senior Spotlight: 'Emerging Creatives' from CCM Theatre Design and Production

April 13, 2026

Third-year MFA Stage Design students Gabby Trice and Regan Densmore recently represented the UC College-Conservatory of Music at the USITT Emerging Creatives Showcase. Selected from a small cohort of rising theatre designers, both students presented models, renderings and process materials on the expo floor, offering industry professionals a behind-the-scenes look at their work.