Ian Hannan
MFA, Yale School of Drama, 2022
Ian Hannan, Technical Director
Fearlessly blending art and science in service to theatre since 1994.
About Ian
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I am currently working as a Technical Designer for ShowMotion, Inc., where I create scenic plans for Broadway productions and National Tours. In 2017 I completed my graduate coursework in the Technical Design and Production department at the Yale School of Drama. My thesis, "Increasing Accessibility by Decreasing Scale,
On the Use of Physical Models in Technical Theatre Education" was completed in March, 2022.
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I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre from the University of New Hampshire, where I was a founding member of WildACTS, UNH's only social justice theatre troupe. I had the honor and privilege of serving as director of WildACTS for two years.
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In 2004 I co-founded the Upstart Theatre Group in Chicago, IL, which presented theatre designed to question the way we look at life, our relationships, our selves, and the world we live in. I directed Upstart's inaugural production, "Woyzeck" by Georg Büchner, as well as a devised work, titled "Digging."
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I live in Connecticut with my famiy and my dog, and occasionally work as a freelance designer of sets, lighting, and sound.
TESTIMONIALS
"I cannot thank you enough for all of your hard work... you were the dream TD. Thank you for fighting with me, not against when it came to keeping the vision alive. You really got it & that was so appreciated it. Thank you for answering all my questions with accuracy... You have been one of my best TD/Designer collaborations I have ever had."
Claire DeLiso / Scenic Designer, "New Domestic Architecture" / Yale School of Drama
Part of what makes Ian an incredible teacher is that he cares about you as a person and teaches you not just because it’ll make the show better or the task finished more quickly but because he wants you to be a capable human being. He taught me not to bluff when I didn’t know something and that nobody remembers the person who accepts responsibility but everyone remembers the person who doesn’t. He expects a lot from people, but gives them the tools to meet those expectations in a way that not everyone does. He’ll never ask you to do something that he wouldn’t do himself, and it's likely that he’ll do the thing alongside you.
Olivia Chatfield / Former Student / Concord Academy
Working with Ian has always been a great pleasure and an excellent learning experience. His ability to see the entire project, break it down into all its components, and then communicate to carpenters and electricians of all levels to bring the project together, on time and with high quality is truly impressive.
Andrew Dream / Carpenter / Concord Academy