Earlier this month, a dozen students gathered on the Zellerbach Playhouse stage to show off their costume, lighting, and set design skills. The event shined a light — literally — on the incredible work the students have completed in classrooms, on stage, and out in the community.
The students were presenting at the 2026 Design Showcase, sponsored by the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS). The event lasted all day as the exhibiting students fielded a steady stream of questions from professors, TDPS peers, non-theater students, and Bay Area industry professionals. It was a great opportunity to peek behind the curtain and examine the craftsmanship behind UC Berkeley productions.
“The 2026 Design Showcase illuminated a multi-disciplined and multifaceted world of design and story,” said Dominique Fawn Hill, a costume design lecturer. “This showcase invited peers and professionals to continue the creative, kindred necessity of networking. All in all, through an inspirational lens of individuality and professional development, this showcase ignited a flame towards the future of community, design, and production.”
The Design Showcase wasn’t just for scenic, lighting, and costume designers; stage managers also showed off their work with intricate spreadsheets detailing prop usage and line notes. UC Berkeley teaches the full range of behind-the-scenes roles, preparing its students for the adaptable needs of theatrical productions.