Theatre Design Institute
The Theatre Design Institute is an outreach program of George Fox University that equips secondary educators in the areas of design and technical theatre, inspires them to turn their production ideas into reality, and helps them build stronger arts education programs.
2025 Workshops
Vectorworks for Theatre
Ignite your artistic vision with this dynamic introduction to computer-aided design for live theatre! Perfect for educators and local theatre artists, this course explores Vectorworks, a widely used 2D/3D design tool. You’ll learn essential 2D drafting and 3D modeling skills—creating ground plans, elevations, sections, light plots, perspective drawings, and rendered 3D models.
No prior CAD or drafting experience is required; by the end, you’ll have a fully rendered Vectorworks model of your own performance space, ready to support future productions and class projects. If you’re already familiar with Vectorworks, you’ll discover advanced tips on document organization, viewports, saved views, importing, modeling, and rendering. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this course provides everything you need to bring your designs to life.
July 7-10, 2025 | Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
George Fox University | Newberg Campus
Cost: $695 early registration by June 1 ($795 after June 1)
(Optional: 2 or 3 continuing education credits available for additional fee)
QLab Show Control
Bring your performance to life and seamlessly integrate sound, video, and lighting with QLab—the essential software for live theatre! In this hands-on workshop, tailored for educators and local theatre artists, you’ll explore QLab’s powerful features through practical projects and step-by-step instruction.
By the end, you’ll be able to manage multi-speaker audio, project still images and video, adjust cue timing, blend multiple projectors, and program lighting instruments and DMX gear.
While we’ll cover basic audio and video equipment, the primary focus is on harnessing QLab’s creative potential for your next show. Whether you’re new to QLab or looking to sharpen your skills, this course will empower you to deliver unforgettable live experiences.
July 14-17, 2025 | Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
George Fox University | Newberg Campus
Cost: $695 early registration by June 1 ($795 after June 1)
(Optional: 2 or 3 continuing education credits available for additional fee)
Partnerships
The institute partners with the George Fox University School of Education to provide participants with their choice of either continuing education credits or professional development units.
Past Workshops
Sound for Live Performance, July 15-18, 2024
Dynamic Scenic Construction, July 8-11, 2024
Stagecraft, July 31-Aug 3, 2023
Lighting, July 24-27, 2023
Prop Building, June 27-30, 2022
Projection Design, June 20-23, 2022
Scenic Art, Aug. 2-5, 2021
Vectorworks for Theatre, July 8-12, 2019
QLab Show Control: Sound, Projections and Lights, July 22-26, 2019
Sound Design, June 25-19, 2018
CAD, June 26-30, 2017
Costume Design, June 27-30, 2016
Instructor
Bryan Boyd is a professional designer and professor at George Fox where he leads the design and technical theatre program. He has designed scenery, projections, and lighting for Northwest theatres such as Portland’s Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Artists Repertory Theatre, and Broadway Rose Theatre Company, as well as Seattle’s Sound Theatre Company and Seattle Musical Theatre. Bryan received the 2020 BroadwayWorld Portland Award for Set Design of the Decade (Mamma Mia! at Broadway Rose) and was named a Kennedy Center Celebrated Teaching Artist. You can view his portfolio at bryanboyddesign.com.
James Farmer
Sunset High School
As a theatre teacher with an acting/directing background looking to beef up my technical chops, this institute provided the exact professional development opportunity that I’ve been looking for. I was very impressed with the facility and the level of instruction. I will definitely participate in any and all future courses.
