Associate Professor, Film and Theatre
Andrea Bechert teaches Design & Technology for Theatre & Film at San Jose State University, and is an award-winning union designer. She recently received a Silicon Valley Laureate Award for her work as a designer. She also recently received the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for her design of Fun Home with Tony Award winning TheatreWorks of Silicon Valley. In spring 2018 she received the RSCA Award (Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity) from the College of Humanities & Arts. She was honored with an Authors & Artists Award from the Office of the Provost & the University Library for her scenic design of Native Gardens in 2018, and again in 2019 for her design of The Language Archive. Andrea has worked at and taught at several universities and colleges including the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago, Santa Clara University, Stanford University, Ohio University, the University of Miami, and the University of Wisconsin.
Andrea has designed over 350 productions and numerous world premieres at theatres across the country. Local companies she has designed for include Tony Award winning TheatreWorks (over 35 productions), Center Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Magic Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, Opera San Jose, Peninsula Youth Theatre, American Musical Theatre of San Jose, the Douglas Morrison Theatre, San Jose Children’s Musical Theatre, Theatre Rhinoceros, Palo Alto Players, Contra Costa Musical Theatre, and San Jose Stage Company. Regional companies she has designed for include The Cleveland Playhouse, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Chautauqua Theatre Company, the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas, The Starlight Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Wildwood, The Monomoy Theater, and many others.
Her designs have been included in the 2017 USITT Design Expo & catalog; the 2005 World Design Expo & catalog; and her scenic, costume, and projection designs for Mad Forest were selected for the 1996 Prague Quadrennial exhibit. She was the Keynote speaker at the USITT Northwest Regional conference in Reno in 2010. Her numerous awards include Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards, a Denver Ovation Award, and international Falstaff Award nomination, and more than 20 other regional design awards.
Andrea is a proud and active member of United Scenic Artists, IATSE Local 829. She serves as Western Region Trustee for USA829 and also serves as Chair of the Design Exam Committee.
You can view her work, press, and more at www.ScorpionDesigns.net
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About Andrea Bechert
Andrea Bechert teaches Design & Technology for Theatre & Film at San Jose State University, and is an award-winning union designer. She recently received a Silicon Valley Laureate Award for her work as a designer. She also recently received the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for her design of Fun Home with Tony Award winning TheatreWorks of Silicon Valley. In spring 2018 she received the RSCA Award (Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity) from the College of Humanities & Arts. She was honored with an Authors & Artists Award from the Office of the Provost & the University Library for her scenic design of Native Gardens in 2018, and again in 2019 for her design of The Language Archive. Andrea has worked at and taught at several universities and colleges including the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago, Santa Clara University, Stanford University, Ohio University, the University of Miami, and the University of Wisconsin.
Andrea has designed over 350 productions and numerous world premieres at theatres across the country. Local companies she has designed for include Tony Award winning TheatreWorks (over 35 productions), Center Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Magic Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, Opera San Jose, Peninsula Youth Theatre, American Musical Theatre of San Jose, the Douglas Morrison Theatre, San Jose Children’s Musical Theatre, Theatre Rhinoceros, Palo Alto Players, Contra Costa Musical Theatre, and San Jose Stage Company. Regional companies she has designed for include The Cleveland Playhouse, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Chautauqua Theatre Company, the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas, The Starlight Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Wildwood, The Monomoy Theater, and many others.
Her designs have been included in the 2017 USITT Design Expo & catalog; the 2005 World Design Expo & catalog; and her scenic, costume, and projection designs for Mad Forest were selected for the 1996 Prague Quadrennial exhibit. She was the Keynote speaker at the USITT Northwest Regional conference in Reno in 2010. Her numerous awards include Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards, a Denver Ovation Award, and international Falstaff Award nomination, and more than 20 other regional design awards.
Andrea is a proud and active member of United Scenic Artists, IATSE Local 829. She serves as Western Region Trustee for USA829 and also serves as Chair of the Design Exam Committee.
You can view her work, press, and more at www.ScorpionDesigns.net
| Present | Assistant Professor, San Jose State University ‐ Film and Theatre | |
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Disciplines
Research Interests
Scenic Design, Costume Design, AutoCAD for the designer in the entertainment industry, Scale Model making for the film & theatre, Scenic painting & sculpting in the entertainment industry, Properties design, construction, and management, History of Decor, and Production crew training, industry standards, and career preparation in theatre
Grants
| 2019 | Artistic Excellent Programming Grant in Humanities & the Arts |
| San Jose State University | |
| $7,500 | |
| 2018 | Artistic Excellent Programming Grant in Humanities & the Arts |
| San Jose State University | |
| $5,170 | |
| 2017 | Artistic Excellent Programming Grant in Humanities & the Arts |
| San Jose State University | |
| $7,500 | |
| 2017 | Dean’s Professional Development Grant in Humanities & the Arts |
| San Jose State University | |
| $1,000 | |
| 2017 | FF & E grant |
| San Jose State University | |
| $79,550.63 | |
| 2017 | RSCA Grant in Humanities & the Arts |
| San Jose State University | |
| $2,587.61 | |
| 2017 | Travel Grant within Department of Film & Theatre |
| San Jose State University | |
| $1,000 | |
| 2016 - 2017 | University 101 Professional Development Grant |
| San Jose State University | |
| $1,000 |
Professional Service and Affiliations
| 2017 - Present | Member, California Faculty Association | 2017 - Present | Member, United States Institute of Technical Theatre | 2002 - Present | Member, United Scenic Artists, IATSE local USA 829 | Present | Gateway Mentor, United States Institute of Technical Theatre | 2018 | Volunteer, United States Institute of Technical Theatre | 2018 | External Reviewer, University of South Dakota | Volunteer, OUTLET | Proctor, United Scenic Artists, local 829 |
Honors and Awards
- 2017-2018 Selected for "Dean's Leadership Academy"
- 2018 San Jose State University, Office of the Provost & University Library: Annual Authors & Artists Award for scenic design of Native Gardens
- 2018 San Jose State University, College of Humanities & Arts: Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity Award
- 2018 Theatre Bay Area Award nomination for Outstanding Set Design: Outside Mullingar
- 2018 Shellie Award for Outstanding Set Design: Sisters Matsumoto
- 2017 Broadway World Award nomination for Outstanding Set Design: Outside Mullingar
- 2017 Broadway World Award nomination for Outstanding Set Design: Crimes of the Heart
- 2017 Broadway World Award nomination for Outstanding Set Design: Arsenic & Old Lace
- 2017 Broadway World Award nomination for Outstanding Set Design: Constellations
- 2016 Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle Award nomination, Outstanding Set Design: The Country House
- 2016 Theatre Bay Area Award nomination for Outstanding Set Design: By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
- 2010 Keynote Speaker & student design adjudicator, USITT / ACTF Northwest Regional Conference
- 2009 Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Set Design: Twentieth Century
- 2008 Ovation Award for Scenic Design: Macbeth
- 2007 Falstaff Award nomination for Scenic Design: Twelfth Night
- 2007 Elly Award nomination for Scenic Design: Bat Boy
- 2006 Elly Award for Scenic Design: Beauty & the Beast
- 2006 Elly Award nomination for Scenic Design: Sweeney Todd
- 2006 Arty Award for Best Scenic Design of a Drama: Fences
- 2006 Arty Award for Best Scenic Design of a Youth Musical: Beauty & the Beast
- 2006 Arty Award nomination for Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Beauty & the Beast
- 2006 Arty Award nomination for Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Sweeney Todd
- 2006 Arty Award nomination for Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Suessical
- 2005 World Design Expo: designs selected for exhibition and inclusion in publication
- 2005 Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle Award nomination, Outstanding Set Design of a Musical: Crowns
- 2005 Dean Goodman Choice Award for Scenic Design: Beauty & the Beast
- 2005 Dean Goodman Choice Award for Scenic Design: Dolly West’s Kitchen
- 2005 Elly Award nomination for Scenic Design: Cabaret
- 2005 Elly Award nominations for Scenic Design: Seussical
- 2005 Elly Award nominations for Scenic Design: Fences
- 2004 Dean Goodman Choice Award for Scenic Design: All My Sons
- 2004 Shellie Award nomination for Scenic Design: Cowgirls
- 2004 Arty Award for Scenic Design: Lion In Winter
- 2004 Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle Award nomination, Outstanding Set Design for a Musical: Bat Boy
- 2003 Elly Award in Scenic Design: The Sound of Music
- 2003 Elly Award nomination for Scenic Design: Amadeus
- 2003 Inland Theatre Award for Scenic Design: Sweeney Todd
- 2003 Arty Award for Scenic Design: The Sound of Music
- 2002 Dean Goodman Choice Award for Scenic Design: A Streetcar Named Desire
- 2002 Dean Goodman Choice Award for Scenic Design: Over the River and Through the Woods
- 2002 Elly Award nomination for Scenic Design: Harvey
- 2001 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Set Design for a Musical: Jekyll & Hyde
- 2001 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award Nomination, Outstanding Set Design for a Musical: Floyd Collins
- 2000 Shellie Award for Outstanding Scenic Design: Oklahoma!
- 2000 Dean Goodman Choice Award for Scenic Design: Angels in America
- 2000 Arty Award for Scenic Design: Angels in America
- 1999 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Set Design for a Drama: Night of the Iguana
- 1999 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Set Design for a Musical: Brimstone
- 1999 Dean Goodman Choice Award (formerly Drama Logue) for Scenic Design: Night of the Iguana
- 1995 Selected Exhibitor at the Prague Quadrennial for Scenic & Costume Designs: Mad Forest (recent student works exhibit)
- 1993 Southeastern Theatre Conference Third Place Award for Scenic Design: A Midsummer Night's Dream
- 1990 Finalist in Scenic Design: To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (Regional American College Theatre Festival)
- 1988 Finalist in Scenic Design: A Kind of Alaska (Regional American College Theatre Festival)
- 2001 Dean Goodman Choice Award for Scenic Design: Fences
- 2001 Dean Goodman Choice Award for Scenic Design: Don’t Dress for Dinner
Courses
- Model Making & Drafting for Film & Theatre (TA 158 & TA 161)
- Scenic Design (TA 154)
- Costume Design (TA 153)
- History of Theatre (TA 120 / ENGL 120)
- Activity Projects in Theatre Production (TA 191 – upper division)
- Activity Projects in Theatre Production (TA 91 - lower division)
- Individual Studies (TA 180)
| 1994 | M.F.A., Ohio University ‐ Department of Theatre | |
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| 1990 | B.S., Northern Arizona University ‐ Theatre | |
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Contact Information
E-mail: Andrea.Bechert@sjsu.edu, Andrea@ScorpionDesigns.net