TDP Students and Faculty Explore NYC Theatre Industry for GEL Trip

Costume Designer and Associate Professor of Costume Design Jennifer Flitton Adams, M.F.A.; Costume Shop Manager and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Costume Design Laura Whittenton 07, M.F.A.; and 11 theatre design and production (TDP) majors traveled to New York City from Jan. 20, through Jan. 24, for the program’s biennial Global Experiential Learning (GEL) trip, which introduces design and production students to the New York theatre and entertainment industry. Highlights included four Broadway shows, a backstage tour of “The Outsiders” with Tony Award-winning stage manager Beverly Jenkins, tours of “The Equalizer” TV set and Radio City Music Hall, meetings with professional Broadway artists, and visiting professional theatre shops who build for Broadway, television and film. Participating students represented every area of TDP, as well as one theatre minor.

“We were able to see so many cool things and see how things work differently in the industry, all of which was very useful,” said one student. “It opens your eyes to a different side of the industry and shows you different career options that you might not have thought about.”