New theatre class brings hands-on design experience for students

Lee University’s theatre program is introducing an exciting new course this fall that is primarily focused on prop design, giving students a direct opportunity to explore a creative and technical side of stage production.

The class will be taught by Laura Hicks, the university's theatre technical director. According to Dr. Christine Williams, chair of the department of communication arts and professor of theater, Hicks is well-equipped to teach this course. 

“[Laura] has been building her skills in design and technical theatre, and is excited to bring that knowledge into the classroom,” Williams said.

This course will have a primary focus on property design, which involves creating and managing all movable objects used within a production.

 “When we refer to that in the theatre, it’s anything handheld, movable, and can refer to furniture,” said Williams.

Beyond identifying props, the class will emphasize creativity and problem-solving. Students will be challenged to think through the function of props on stage and how they contribute to storytelling.

 “You need a lantern, and it needs to flicker, so how are you going to make that work,” Williams explained. 

Williams pointed to more complex examples, such as productions requiring special effects.

“If you are doing Macbeth and you have to have a rolling beheaded head…how are you going to figure out how to do that?”                                                                       

This class is expected to be beneficial for students who already have some experience in theatre. 

“[The class] is probably going to be something for students who have been here a little bit longer,” Williams said, as she emphasizes that the course is aimed at upper-level students. 

Students in this class have the opportunity to take their creative skills to the next level and have the opportunity to apply their work to real productions or independent projects. 

“[Lee Theatre] will use people that are in the class to design for our plays here at Lee,” said Williams. 

This new prop design course is able to offer students a unique look and a chance to gain some active experience in a specialized area of theatre. It also develops skills that are able to translate into a career in production, design, and the arts.

Props Design will be a special topics class and listed as THEA-493 in Portico.