Illinois Theatre

Design, Technology, and Management Faculty — Asst. Professor, Interim Chair of Scenic Technology

MFA, Southern Methodist University

Krannert Center Technical Director

Specialties: Scenic Technology, Construction Management, Computers, Lighting Design

Tom hails from Minnesota and has completed degrees at Southern Methodist University and University of Minnesota. He has been the Technical Director at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and Assistant Professor in the University of Illinois Department of Theatre since 1989, and until 2000 chaired the Department of Theatre Graduate Technology Curriculum. Mr. Korder has worked for a variety of performing arts organizations, including Fort Worth Ballet, TW Designs (a commercial production company), and Shakespeare Festival of Dallas. Since beginning his academic career in 1984, Mr. Korder has taught lighting and technology at universities in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois. Currently he teaches graduate coursework in Fluid Power, Motors and Motor Control, Health & Safety, and Technical Management. He has been a primary and secondary investigator on research projects in “Application of Industrial Motion Control Systems to Moving Theatrical Scenery” and the " Application of Industrial Fluid Power Systems to Theatrical Scenery". He is very active with the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, serving in numerous elected positions at the national and regional levels. Notably he served for three years as the Commissioner for the Technical Production Commission. Recently, he served as the Vice Commissioner/Exhibits Project Manager for the United States entry into the 2007 Prague Quadrennial. He has presented numerous workshops and seminars at USITT national and regional conferences, Illinois Theatre Association conferences, and regional festivals of the American College Theatre Festival.

Email: kordertv@illinois.edu