Performing Arts Portfolios

Drama Portfolios
Like all artists, dramatic artists of all kinds need a portfolio that showcases their talents in a neat, professional and visually compelling manner. For tech students, a portfolio must meet the additional challenge of bringing performances to life in a two-dimensional medium.

Portfolios should include: (each YPAS Tech student will receive an appropriate portfolio (Itoya Art Profolio) their freshman year)

  • Resume
  • Photos of performances ( labeled correctly) all YPAS Tech students should have at least 1 photo from each production they have worked on (for most this will be 14 by Career Day)
  • Class projects photos/ examples (YPAS tech students should consider including: Props and Paint projects; Design Concepts work, Costume History sketches, Drafting examples, and Arts Media projects)

Master Carpenter/Carpenter Portfolios may include:
  • In process photos from the shop and pictures from the rear showing assembly
  • Shop drawings, drafting (hand drafting and CAD)
  • Cut lists
/ Master Electrician Portfolios may include:
  • Instrument schedule/ dimmer sheet
  • Cue sheet (Followspot)

Costume Shop Assistant/Stitcher Portfolios may include:
  • In process photos from the shop and pictures from the inside showing assembly
  • Shop paperwork (including task lists, crew lists, and check in paperwork)
/ Stage Managers may include:
  • Copies of production paperwork (Prompt script (cleaned), contact sheets, calendars, memos, Examples of performance reports, daily schedules)

Scenic Designer Portfolios may include:
  • Models or renderings of design
  • Photographs of completed work
  • Sketches of process work in design phase
  • Floor plans for each set
  • Construction documents for one or more productions
  • Working drawings, cross sections and details
  • Property drawings or renderings
/ Costume Design Portfolios may include:
  • A series of sketches indicating familiarity with historical periods and the principle types of costume for those periods
  • A series of color renderings, swatches showing costumes for entire small cast play or one scene of a large cast play. Indicate details such as cut, trim, fastenings, accessories, etc.
  • Detail drawings of wigs, hats, jewelry, etc. and indicate construction technique
  • Process drawings for a costume plot

Lighting Design Portfolios may include:
  • Scaled light plots with lighting instruments placed in proper location and the lighting areas outlined and identified
  • Instrument schedules for the above plots
  • Sample cue sheets for at least the major cues of one production

~from David Boevers and Anne Mundell, CMU School of Drama, and the USITT's Portfolio guidelines