Montclair State University
College of the Arts
CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL DATA
Debra Bergsma Otte
Theatre and Dance Department
Tenure: September 2009
Associate Professor: September 2011
HIGHER EDUCATION DEGREES
Institution Dates Attended Degree and Major Date Conferred
New York University, 1975-1978 MFA, May 1978
Tisch School of the Arts Design for Stage and Screen
Calvin College 1969-1972 BA, Speech and Theatre May 1973 Minors: Psychology and Education
TEACHING CAREER AT MONTCLAIR STATE
Department Rank Dates
Theatre and Dance Associate Professor September 2011-present
Art and Design, Fashion Studies Associate Professor September 2011-present
Theatre and Dance Assistant Professor September 2006-June 2011
Art and Design, Fashion Studies Assistant Professor September 2006-June 2011
TEACHING CAREER OUTSIDE MONTCLAIR STATE
Institution Department Rank Dates
New York University Graduate Playwriting Program Guest Lecturer Fall 2007, 2008
Long Island University Theatre, Film and Dance Assistant Professor 2005-2006
Long Island University Theatre, Film and Dance Adjunct Professor 1994-2005
SUNY at Old Westbury Theatre Department Adjunct Professor various
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Coursework (since last personnel action in 2011)
Appointment is ¼ load in Fashion Studies Program, Art and Design Department and ¾ in Theatre and Dance Department.
Apparel Design: Flat Patterning, Fall and Spring 2011-2014
Apparel Design: Draping, Fall 2014
Introduction to the Theatrical Medium (Creativity) Fall 2011-2012
Costume Design I, Fall 2011-2014
Costume Craft, Fall 2011
Advanced Costume Design, Spring 2011-2013
Advanced Stage Makeup, Spring 2014
Production Practicum in Costume, Fall and Spring 2011-2014
Senior Project in Production and Design, Spring 2012–2013
Special Topics in Theatre, World Stage Design, Fall 2013
Special Topics in Theatre, Art and Performance Prague Quadrennial, Summer 2011
Mentorship of student costume, makeup and hair design for all theatre and dance productions (since last personnel action in 2011)
Supervision of research, close mentorship of design process with director, oversight and instruction in rendering of designs, continued mentorship with costume shop staff through the collection and build process, advisement through dress rehearsals, run and final strike.
Produced 2015-16 Research and pre-production January 2015-March 2016
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, student costume designer Caty Loughlin, student hair and makeup designer Nicole Ferrigno
Pride and Prejudice, student costume designer April Gormley, student hair and makeup designer Cheyenne Pellicoro
Triumph of Love, student costume designer Meghan Delanoy, student hair and makeup designer Deirdre Morgan
Works-A-Foot, student costume designers Cheyenne Pellicoro, Eden Tayar, Danielle Foreman, Christina Daly, Deirdre Morgan
99 Ways to Fuck a Swan, student costume design Eden Tayar
Producers, student costume design associate Samantha LaScala, hair and makeup design associate Deirdre Morgan
Drunken City, student costume designer Nicole Ferrigno
Dance Works, student costume designer Deirdre Morgan
Produced 2014-15
The Three Penny Opera, student costume designer Andy Bravo
Works-A-Foot, student costume designers Nicole Ferrigno, Meghan Delanoy, Samantha LaScala, Caty Loughlin
A Winter’s Tale, student costume designer April Gormley
Persians, student costume designer April Gormley
Wintertime, student costume designer Kasey Gillette
Hair student costume designer Derek Robertson
Dance Works, student costume designer Nicole Ferrigno
Produced 2013-14
Produced 2012-13
Produced 2011-2012 Academic Year. Research and pre-production February 2011-March-2012
A Chorus Line, student design Sue Hawley
Stage Door, student costume design Trish McLaughlin
Works-A-Foot, student costume designers John Marrazzo, Pia Kristjansen, Claire McEwan
Rags, student costume designer Natalia Weber
Romeo and Juliet, student costume designer Claire McEwan
Kiss of the Spiderwoman, student costume designers Julie and Alexandra Abene
Danceworks, student costume designer Natalia Weber
Don Juan, student costume designer Pia Kristjansen
Produced 2012-2013 Academic Year. Research and pre-production February 2012-March 2013.
Attempts on Her Life, student costume designer Sarah Stouff
Cloud Nine, student costume designer Pia Kristjansen
Carousel, student costume designer Clare McEwan
Works-A-Foot, Student costume designer Noelle Rasco
Insula, student costume designer Jessica Marrazzo
Equus, student costume designer Noelle Rasco
Peter/Wendy, student costume designer Christine Bennett
Dance Works, student costume designers Pia Kritjansen, Sarah Stouff
Wild Party, student costume designers Claire McEwan and Sarah Stouff and student makeup/hair designer Mallory Pace
Produced 2013-2014 Academic Year. Research and pre-production February 2013-March 2014.
Take Flight, student costume designer Noelle Rasco and student makeup/hair designer Andrea Claudio
Streetcar, student costume designer Sarah Stouff and student makeup/hair designer Derek R Robertson
Works-A-Foot, student costume designers Becky Erlitz, John Naughton, Kasey Gillette
Falsettos, student costume designers Brianna Chin, Andrea Bravo
42nd Street, student makeup/hair designer Derek Robertson
42nd Street, student costume assistant Kasey Gillette
Dance Works, student costume designers Meghan Delanoy, Andrea Bravo, Sarah Stouff
Middletown, student costume designer April Gormley
Big Meal, student costume designer Becky Erlitz
Big Meal, student hair and makeup designer Cheyenne Pellicoro
Costume Design - On-Campus (since last personnel action in 2011)
Works A Foot, Dance Works, multiple works with various choreographers - 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014
Sweeney Todd, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler, dir. Jodi Capeless, 2011
Costume Associate - On-Campus
42nd Street, book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren, dir. Clay James, 2014. Research and rental 2013. Production phase 2014.
Curriculum Development (since last personnel action in 2011)
On-going curricular assessment is essential in this fast-changing field, with regular revision of the curriculum.
Curriculum revision for the Production and Design Program of the BFA in Theatre, submitted October 2013.
Multiple adjustments in course numbering, prerequisites and caps to bring curriculum into compliance.
Revision of two courses and reintroduction of these courses into the plan of study to better align this program with curricular offerings of other programs of design for stage and screen.
Courses revised and reintroduced into plan of study:
o Concept and Collaboration for Designers and Directors
o Advanced Scenography Studio
Curriculum revision for the Production and Design Program of the BFA in Theatre, submitted October 2012. Approved, Spring 2013.
New courses developed as part of this change:
o Visual Media Design and Technology for Live Performance
o Advanced Theatrical Sound Design
Curricular revision for the BA in Theatre Studies, BFA in Musical Theatre and BFA in Theatre, Concentration in Acting programs. Courses in technical theatre and related practicums as well as stage makeup were revised to provide added instruction and reduce lab time for students in these degree programs. Credit hours were adjusted to provide room in the curriculums for increased upper level coursework.
OTHER EXPERIENCE (prior to last personnel action) and EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE MONTCLAIR STATE
Freelance Costume Designer 1979-present
Design for television, film, industrials, theatre and dance. Costume design credits are included in publications and focus on new scripts.
Associate Professor
Montclair State University
Assistant Professor September 2006-July 2011
Associate Professor September 2011-present
Department of Theatre and Dance and Department of Art and Design, Fashion Studies Program
Teach in the areas of design, costume technology, makeup, costume history and related theory courses for Theatre, Dance and Fashion Studies. Design costumes, hair and makeup for the Department of Theatre and Dance productions, supervise costume production and the work of student costume and makeup designers.
Coursework taught:
Fashion Studies
Clothing and Culture
Fundamentals of Makeup for Beauty and Fashion
Advanced Makeup for Beauty and Fashion
Professional Makeup Practices
Apparel Design: Flat Patterning
Apparel Design: Draping
Internship in Fashion Studies
Theatre and Dance
Introduction to the Theatrical Medium (Creativity)
Costume Design I
Advanced Costume Design
Freshman Seminar
Independent Study in Creativity
Independent Study in Costume Craft
Stage Makeup
Advanced Stage Makeup
Production Practicum in Costume
Production Practicum in Operations
Senior Project in Costume Design
Internship in Theatre
Costume History
Costume Construction I
Costume Crafts
Advanced Scenography Studio
Graduate Thesis Advisor
“Signs on Stage: Semiology of Costume Design in Shakespeare’s Macbeth”
Program Coordinator, Production and Design
Montclair State University
September 2009-present
As Program Coordinator responsible for recruitment, curriculum development, scheduling, student advisement, adjunct hire and review, coordination of coursework with related programs including those in Theatre and Art and Design, and academic expenditures.
Program Coordinator, Makeup Artistry Certificate Program
Montclair State University
September 2008-present
Management of program including adjunct hires and review, coordination of coursework with related programs, scheduling, and student advisement.
Development of the Certificate Program in Makeup for Fashion and Beauty at Montclair State University in partnership with Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Fall 2008. Submission of 18-credit curriculum with three new courses.
Visiting Professor, Arts Management
Long Island University September 2005-August 2006
Courses taught:
Introduction to Arts Management
Arts Management Seminar
Practicum in Arts Management
Internship in Arts Management
Marketing the Arts
Contracts and Law in the Entertainment Industry
Independent Studies in Theatre Management, Arts in Education
Thesis Advisement in Development and Marketing
Professional Theatre Practices
Acting Director, Arts Management Program 2001-August 2006
Administration of the Arts Management Program: complete revision and development of program curriculum; faculty selection, review and support; outreach and recruitment; advertisement and promotion for the program; interviews of all prospective students; advisement of current students; supervision of internships and practicum; outcomes assessment; management of budget and resources. The program grew from six majors in 2001 to 52 in 2005.
1994-2005
Adjunct Professor
Long Island University
Courses taught:
Theatre Management
Contracts and Law in the Entertainment Industry
Practicum in Arts Management
Internship in Arts Management
Current Theatre in New York
History of Style
Introduction to Theatre/Acting
Professional Theatre Skills
Professional Theatre Practices
Beginning Costume Design
Intermediate Design
Advanced Design
Makeup and Mask
Internship in Theatre
Internship in Arts Management
Independent Studies
Contracts and Law in the Music Industry
Contracts and Law in Art
Research and Bibliography for Management
Production Management
Advanced Stage Management
Research and Bibliography for Design
Intermediate Construction
Patterning
Draping
Fabric Science
Millinery
Mask Making
Honors Thesis Advisor
Costume Design – Exploration of Style: Third Child (a new collaboratively developed script), Orestes 2.0, The Orestia
Design in Collaboration: Dangerous Liaisons
Psychology and the Actor: Extremities
A Directing Thesis: Bawdy Shakespeare
Direction and Design: The Day Room
What constitutes ART? Increased Difficulty of Concentration
Production and the Playwright: Collaboration in the Theatre
Graduate Thesis Advisor
Management in Theatre
The Role of Management in Entertainment
Marketing the Arts
A Playwright in Collaboration: Pizza Answer
Development of an East/West Fusion Production: Medea
A Directing Thesis: The Ex Miss Copper Queen on a Set of Pills
A Directing Thesis: The Typists
Costume Design: You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown
Research, Bibliography and Production in Costume Design
Director of Theatre/Resident Costume Designer
Long Island University
Administration of the Theatre Program: production support of the academic curriculum (Suzuki-based physical acting training), functioning as artistic director and general manager. Responsible for the appropriate development and production of Post Theatre Company Season within the framework of the established mission statement, as well as the hiring and supervision of a professional full-time staff of two technicians, one part-time staff technician, fifteen to twenty freelance designers and directors necessary to realize stated goals. Additional responsibilities include the training and supervision of 80 - 100 student staff and crews in house management, box office management, ticket sales, ushering, company management and production management; design and production of department and production publicity; public relations work including press releases for the season, each production and the American Theatre Festival; grant writing for special events including regional and international tours; tour management for five regional and two international tours. The position also includes fiscal responsibility for program budgetary resources allocated to academic support and production. The program offers a BA in Theatre, a BFA in Theatre with a focus in Acting, Production and Design, Directing or Playwriting, and an MA in Theatre Arts.
Director, American Theatre Festival
Long Island University
1994-2005 Planning, publicity, fiscal responsibility and administration of the American Theatre Festival held each spring on the CW Post Campus of Long Island University through the Theatre Program. The week of events is centered on a Post Theatre Company production and includes a keynote speaker, panels and workshops. Events are open to the community and campus.
Costume Shop Manager/Resident Costume Designer
Long Island University, Post Theatre Company 1989-1999
Build and maintenance of all Post Theatre Company and Post Concert Dance Company shows. Fiscal responsibility for operating and capital budgets specific to the costume shop. Training and supervision of graduate assistants and student crews.
Costume Shop Manager
New York University, Tisch School of the Arts 1987-1989
Responsible for draping, patterning and supervision of the costume construction for all Graduate Design shows supported by Graduate Design Department. Supervision of graduate assistants and training of graduate student crews.
Burlingame Studio - Studio Assistant 1985-1987
Facilitated private gallery placement and a solo exhibit at the Hartford Athenaeum. Management of the studio, maintenance of financial records, grant writing, display work and placements for Lloyd Burlingame, Chair, Design Department, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University and freelance artist.
Owner, Operator: Silver Threads
1981-1986
Small Business - Design and Manufacture of Children’s’ Clothing
Established and licensed my own business in design and construction: employing one full-time and two part-time assistants. Personal responsibility for the management, marketing, finances, supplies, equipment and staffing as well as designs. Client companies included: Penny Whistle Toys, Ohio Ballet Company, Polaroid, CBS-The Body Human, Roundabout Theatre.
Henson Associates, Design Assistant 1978-1979
(Muppets, Inc.)
Puppet construction and costuming for THE DARK CRYSTAL. Display and graphics
Support for THE MUPPETS, the retrospective Henson exhibit that originated in the Lincoln Center Library Museum, June 1979, and toured nationally for two years.
Strategic Planning Consultant 1982 - present
Congress on Research in Dance, Executive Board Meeting: Assessment and Planning
Five-year plan established with clear objectives, measurable goals and assignment of specific responsibilities to individual board members and committees.
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region II, Leadership Retreats
Analysis of established culture within the organization, specific goals established with timelines, assigned responsibilities and budgetary revisions necessary for realization.
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
It is my goal as a teacher to promote learning through an active process motivated by perceived need, structured in such a way that the material can be easily grasped, and then facilitated through experience. As a designer, I am most interested in promoting student growth in the area of visual communication and contribute to a visually literate population.
Motivation is key in education. Eager readiness, essential to learning, is developed through encouraging learners to analyze their own needs and set their own goals, in specific relationship to the material at hand. The introduction of problems and projects that require students to explore, invent, collaborate and hypothesize are essential elements of each of my courses.