Aaron Bollinger, M.F.A.
Professor
Director of Production
Contact Information
- Office: 625 F Lawrence Hall
- Phone: 412-392-8118
- Email: abollinger@pointpark.edu
Education
- M.F.A., Technical Design and Production, Yale School of Drama
- B.F.A., Technical Design, University of Central Florida
Courses Taught
- Introduction to Drafting
- Elements of Stagecraft
- Carpentry
- CAD/CAM for Theatre
- Advanced AutoCAD
- Advance Scenery Construction
- Production Management
- Automation
- Theatre Safety
- Portfolio and Interview
- Technical Direction
- Senior Project
Background
Aaron Bollinger came to Point Park University from Florida State University where he was an assistant professor in the technical production graduate program. Bollinger specializes in scenic automation, show control and digital media engineering for the stage. He was recently technical director for Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre and the electro-mechanical designer for many of Escape Room Pittsburgh’s immersive escape rooms.
At Point Park, Bollinger helped usher over a decade’s worth of theatre production students into the industry. He was honored to be chair of the department at the time that the Pittsburgh Playhouse transitioned into its new location to the downtown campus.
Curriculum Vitae
Professional Memberships
- South Eastern Theatre Conference
- United States Institute of Theatre Technology
- United States Institute of Theatre Technology, Ohio Valley Section
Selected Artistic Works
- Spiderman-Turn off the Dark's database designer for the immense automated scenic design, Broadway
- Machinal, projections designer, Asolo Conservatory
- The Lion King's Pride Rock, draftsman as a subcontractor, built by Hudson Scenic
- Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, production manager and technical director
- Networking and Control Systems for Live Entertainment book, illustrator, by John Huntington
- Show Control for Live Entertainment, illustrator, by John Huntington
- Arts and Idea's Festival, video/media supervisor, New Haven, Conn.
- Elon University, Maine State Music Theatre and Orlando Shakespeare Festival, assistant technical director
Research Interests
- Theatre safety
- Risk assessment
- Efficiency of use and design of dynamic scenery, projected and automated
Selected Presentations
- "Automation 101 - How it Works, How it Fails," United States Institute for Theatre Technology, 2012.
- "Automation 101 - Terminology," United States Institute for Theatre Technology, 2010.
- "Digital Projections in Production 101," United States Institute for Theatre Technology, 2010.
- "Automation 101 - Brakes," United States Institute for Theatre Technology, 2009.