CLA's Theatre, Dance, and Music programs seek funding for equipment upgrades to maintain industry and accreditation standards and enhance instruction.
Theatre and Dance’s training and co-curricular productions integrate advanced technology to serve majors and students from CME, RIM, Music, A&E Design, Fashion, Interior Design, and Studio Arts. Key needs include replacing 16 class sewing machines used for costuming. Last updated in 2016, these machines now have failing components, and repair costs exceed replacement value. Live piano support is required by NAST/NASD accreditation standards; three new pianos—two electronic and one upright acoustic—are requested for musical theatre, dance, and performance courses. Stage combat instruction requires the acquisition of eight broadswords. Lighting, audio, and communication training is central to the curriculum. The lighting system in the Studio Theatre classroom (BDA 101) is deteriorating, with frequent flickering and costly, short-lived traditional lamps. An upgrade to dimmable LED lighting is requested, along with replacement of the outdated BDA 220 lighting console, which has reached software end-of-life and lags behind industry standards. Audio reinforcement and internal communication upgrades are also requested to support hands-on technical training.
Approximately 180–200 students annually take required piano instruction. The twelve-year-old electronic piano class equipment shows significant wear, connectivity and control issues. Music is requesting funding to replace twelve student keyboards, one instructor keyboard, the instructor controller, and headphone connection boxes with updated Roland models. These upgrades will improve reliability, reduce technical disruptions, and provide a more authentic piano-playing experience aligned with current pedagogical and industry expectations.
