Dan Hoffman graduated in 1968 from Carnegie Mellon University with a BFA in Theatre Technology. Since, he has steadily built a career that inter-weaves teaching, stage, film production, and technological innovation.
After graduation Dan began a stint at the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis as Assistant Technical Director, which position he held until 1972.
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He began teaching in 1972 as an Adjunct Professor of Theatre for Stagecraft and Lighting Design at McGill University and later at Concordia University in Montreal. From there, he moved on to become the Adjunct Professor of Theatre teaching Tech III at SUNY Purchase; to Rensalear Polytechnic Institute for a graduate level course in stagecraft for acoustic design in the School of Architecture, and now currently has returned to the theatre program at SUNY Purchase, to teach advanced mechanics and automation.
While in Montreal, he went on to form Scenographic Studios, where he created props and special effects for the Benji the dog movies for Mulberry Square Productions and numerous stage productions.
In 1979, Dan returned to New York to became an associate and Vice President of Sander Gossard Associates (SGA), producing scenery for more than 100 Broadway shows, (Touring and Industrial) including?Woman of the Year,?Frankenstein,?La Cage aux Folles,?Baby,?Alice in Wonderland, and?Cats.
In 1984, he left SGA to become a founding partner and Vice President of Automation at Showtech, where his team developed one of the earliest approaches using computers for stage automation system for Andrew Lloyd Weber’s,?Starlight Express. In addition to this crowning achievement, Showtech designed the hydraulics and mechanical effects for Siegfried & Roy at the Mirage, Cirque du Soleil’s Mystere ,and a long list of Broadway shows including?Will Rogers Follies,?Anything Goes,?Singing in the Rain?(Won Drama Desk award for rain effect),?Aspects of Love, and?Miss Saigon.
In 1994, Dan left Showtech to found BSD Ltd, and designed hydraulic and control systems for Sunset Boulevard on Broadway, Toronto, and Vancouver., Cirque du Soleil’s “O” at the Bellagio Hotel, and ‘Star Trek the Ride,’ at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Other credits include scenic and lighting designer, animatronic effects creator, and control systems designer for such places as the Jekyll and Hyde Club in New York, the Pokémon store at Rockefeller Center, and David Copperfield’s ‘Magic Underground.’ Currently, Dan serves as President of BSD Ltd, as well as serving as Head Carpenter for the Roundabout Theatre Company at Studio 54 in New York.
He has four technical theater APPS currently available in the Apple app store and is working on a new iPad APP for Stage Managers. As well, he is developing hardware and software for “intelligent” scenery using embedded computers, sensors, and miniature radio transmitters. His innovation, insight, and creative collaborative energy have helped him evolve into a torch bearer for the amazing possibilities in entertainment automation technology.
News
TheatreA Massive Number of Columbia Artists Nominated in Drama Desk 65th Annual Awards
The 65th annual Drama Desk Award nominees include productions featuring Columbia Faculty, alumni, and current students.?
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Theatre