Express ideas creatively through light and sound
Explore the art of light and sound for the theater
The Lighting and Sound Summer Institute is a two-week, UC credit-bearing intensive for students interested in lighting and sound for theater. This program provides opportunities to work with our faculty in classes such as Introduction to Lighting Intensity, Form, and Direction, Electrics Programming, and Drafting for Theater.
Students will learn the technical components of breaking down a script and the art of collaboration while gaining hands-on experience in curating research, communicating ideas, and expressing creative intent. This program is designed for a student at any level who seeks the additional discipline and training required for participation in an educational theater setting and a career in the entertainment industry.
Participation in this institute is open to pre-college students.
Design Innovation Summer Institute – Lighting and Sound Program Overview
Admission to the program is by digital audition and instructor consent. Applicants are required to provide the following during the online registration process:
- In 400 words, describe your passion for lighting or sound. How have you used your passion to tell a story?
- In 400 words, what do you hope to gain from the Design Innovation Summer Institute -Lighting and Sound?
- A resume (if you do not have a resume, submit a brief description of your theatrical and/or artistic experience).
- The resume can be uploaded as a word or pdf file during the application process.
Applicants who successfully submit all requirements will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 3 weeks. See Application Requirements below for more details. Please note that all levels are encouraged to apply. Early application is strongly encouraged.
UCLA Summer Sessions Summer Scholars Support
Qualified students attending grades 8th – 11th in Spring 2023 in the state of California may be eligible for Summer Scholars Support, a need- and merit-based scholarship offered by the UCLA Summer Sessions Office. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available to support enrollment in SCIP/eSCIP, one Summer Course, or a Precollege Summer Institute.
Summer 2023 deadline to apply: March 15.
Students will receive a letter grade upon completion. See University Credit, Grades and Transcripts for more information about academic credit.
Due to the intense nature of the Design Innovation Summer Institute – Lighting and Sound and the time commitment involved, living in on-campus housing is mandatory.
For more information on UCLA housing precollege programs, please see the Housing for Minors page.
Many of our precollege programs with mandatory housing (only) also feature non-curricular evening and weekend activities, the availability of which is at the sole discretion of the academic department offering the program, and are not operated by UCLA Summer Sessions. To learn more about whether (and when) your selected program will host such activities, please consult the schedules for each program or contact the department in question directly: dadams@tft.ucla.edu
Program Dates: July 15 – July 29, 2023
Program Type: Admission based /In-person
Program Eligibility: 9th-12th grade in Spring 2023 & Ages 15-18
UCLA Coursework: Theater 72; 3 units
Application deadline: June 1, 2023
Enrollment deadline: June 15, 2023
Program schedule and syllabus are subject to change.
Fees and Payment Info
The program fee includes the unit fees for the UCLA coursework offered as part of the program and thus varies by UC student status. In addition to the program fee, students are assessed other campus and administrative fees during the summer. This is a summary of fees that commonly apply to the selected student type.
Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California. Visit the fees, payment, and financial aid section for important disclaimer, as well as more details on fees, payment instructions, and information on delinquency, refunds, and financial aid.
Meet your instructors
Gabriel Rodriguez
InstructorGabriel Rodriguez works as a Lighting Designer, Moving Light Programmer, Educator, and Mentor for both educational and regional theatre. He is currently working towards an MFA in Design for Theater and Entertainment at UCLA.
Previous credits include The Box at the Fox Riverside, Center Theatre Group, Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Lewis Family Playhouse, Ruskin Group Theatre, The Pasadena Playhouse, Disney Cruise Line, Atlantic Theater Company, IRT Theater, Hudson Guild Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Public Theater / New York Shakespeare Festival, Ma-Yi Theater Company, 59E59 Theaters, The Geffen Playhouse, Shotgun Players, UC Riverside Theatre, Film, & Digital Production, Azuza Pacific University of Theater Arts, Pepperdine University of Theatre Arts, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and UCLA Theater, Film, and Television. www.designbygabe.com/
Jonathan Burke
InstructorJonathan Burke is a Los Angeles-based sound designer and mixing engineer for theater, live sound and opera. His work has been heard across the country, off-Broadway and in regional theaters. Locally, Burke is the resident sound designer for 5 Star Theatricals and has designed shows for Walt Disney Concert Hall, Geffen Playhouse, Rubicon Theatre Company and many others. He has mixed for both L.A. Opera and L.A. Philharmonic, and has worked on additional projects at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Mark Taper Forum and Hollywood Bowl. Most recently he designed and mixed The Tempest, a joint production with L.A. Phil and The Old Globe at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Burke grew up in Cambridge, England, and lived in Hong Kong before moving to the United States. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, he was the resident sound designer for two seasons at Pittsburgh’s City Theater Company.
Burke studied at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, holds a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts. He is a member of USA 829 where he also serves on the Sound Design exam committee.
Design Innovation Summer Institute – Lighting and Sound FAQ
We welcome students of all levels; however, students should have a strong interest and a desire to learn lighting and sound design for theater.
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Still have questions? Check out the general Summer Institutes FAQ.