Technical Director of Sweeney Todd

Author

• Alexander Matthews, Western Michigan UniversityFollow

Date of Defense

4-10-2026

Date of Graduation

5-2026

Department

Theatre

First Advisor

Patrick Niemi

Second Advisor

Kathryn Wagner

Abstract

My honors thesis focused on my work as the Technical Director for Sweeney Todd and the process of turning a scenic design into a safe, buildable, and functional production. Through this project, I explored how technical direction is not only about constructing scenery, but also about drafting, budgeting, problem-solving, and adapting when challenges arise. One of the most important moments in the process was a set change that happened several weeks into the build because of safety concerns, which forced me to rethink parts of the design and respond practically. I also included a CAD drawing of the full set and build plans for the barbershop unit to show the technical planning behind the production. Another important part of the project was finding cost-effective solutions, including reusing old canvas mats already in stock as walls rather than building new units from scratch. Overall, this thesis became a reflection of how technical direction supports both the artistic goals of a show and the real-world demands of safety, budget, and execution.

Recommended Citation

Matthews, Alexander, "Technical Director of Sweeney Todd" (2026). Honors Theses. 4089.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/4089

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access