Andrea Bechert
Office: HGH 202
(408) 924-8070
andrea.bechert@sjsu.edu
Andrea Bechert teaches Design & Technology for The Department of Film and Theatre at San José State University, and is an award-winning union designer. This summer she 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. In fall 2018 she was honored with an Authors & Artists Award from the Office of the Provost & the University Library for her scenic design of Native Gardens. Andrea has worked at and taught at several universities and colleges including the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago, 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 José, Peninsula Youth Theatre, American Musical Theatre of San José, the Douglas Morrison Theatre, San José Children’s Musical Theatre, Theatre Rhinoceros, Palo Alto Players, Contra Costa Musical Theatre, and San José 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 Theatre, 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 proctors Union design examinations for the Western & Central regions.
