Prepare for your career in technical theater and production artistry in the heart of Seattle’s professional theater scene through the performance production program at the Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University.
Our program emphasizes hands-on learning, collaboration and professional development, preparing students for dynamic careers in live performance production. With an average of 15 students per class, you will receive personalized instruction and mentorship from our faculty comprised of technical theater and design professionals.
You will learn the core skills of technical theater, design, production and management, and concentrate in your choice of costume design, lighting design, scenic design or stage management. You will have access to state-of-the-art theaters, our costume shop, scene shop, scenic and lighting design studios and stage management offices. Throughout the program, you will participate in theater department main stage production projects and dance department productions, culminating in a professional internship in your final year.
Our program offers curated internships and networking opportunities with theaters, production companies and arts organizations in Seattle and beyond. Graduates pursue careers as costume designers, lighting designers, scenic designers, stage managers, production managers, technical directors, props designers, production designers and more.
Program Type: Major
Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts
School: Cornish College of the Arts
Campus: South Lake Union
Learning Format: In-Person
Duration: 4 years
Start Date: August, January
Credits: 120
Costume Design:
Lighting Design:
Scenic Design:
Stage Management:
Technical Theater: Wood & Steel Fundamentals, Fabric & Construction Fundamentals, Stage Management Fundamentals, Lighting Fundamentals and Graphic Fundamentals. Studio Practice Rotations in: Prop Making, Costume Construction, Scenic Painting, Production Management, and more.
Design and Production: Intermediate and Advanced Design (by design discipline), Collaborative Design Studio, Production Practicum, and Internship Opportunities.
Management: Intermediate and Advanced Stage Management, Production Practicum, and Internship opportunities.
Theater History and Theory: Understanding the historical and theoretical contexts of Theater, Musical Theatre, Global History of Dress.
Collaboration: Communication skill building, problem solving, and respectful exchange of ideas. Developing the ability to critique artworks constructively and engage in critical discourse. Multiple opportunities to engage with creative teams in support of productions.
Professional Practices: Career development, portfolio showcase, artist website development, and networking in the performing arts industry.
Interdisciplinary Practice: Encouraging collaboration across various visual art, design, and production disciplines to create innovative performances.
The purpose of the Performance Production Department is to educate students in the theory and practice of theatrical design, technology, and management through rigorous classroom and practical experiences, providing opportunities for students to become self-driven, collaborative, practicing artists of the highest quality.
At the conclusion of the BFA in Performance Production students will:
The paramount value of the performance production program is collaboration. At every step, the designers, managers, and artisans of the program consider the needs of the other participants. We work to communicate ideas in the strongest possible way through language, visual representation, and in writing. We respect every person’s contribution to the whole and work to honor that with discipline specific craft that elevates the process.
It is our goal that every student who finishes the performance production program be a lifelong learner and have the tools they need to accompany them on a journey in the arts or in other sectors. We are a faculty and staff with deep connections in the Seattle, and national, market, and we are eager to share that experience with early career artists.
The program includes guest lectures, workshops, critiques from industry professionals, and emphasizes portfolio development to ensure students are job-ready upon graduation. Technical theatre students also have the opportunity to work alongside IATSE Union staff members, preparing them for a variety of union positions and opportunities within the industry.
IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) is a labor union that represents professionals in the entertainment industry, including stagehands, technicians, and artisans who work behind the scenes in theater, film, television, and live events. It ensures fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to training and benefits for its members. For students interested in technical theater, working with IATSE provides invaluable experience and a pathway to a career in the industry.
