Acting and Original Works
Start your journey to the stage and screen with the Acting and Original Works Program at the Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University!
Apply How To Apply
Overview
Acting and Original Works, BFA
With a focus on performance, collaboration and professional development, our Acting and Original Works BFA will provide the skills you need to be a versatile actor and innovative creator. Our faculty are comprised of professionals across creative fields, including acting, directing, playwriting, stage combat and more. With class sizes averaging only 15 students, you will receive personalized instruction and mentorship from faculty to help you reach your goals.
You will study various techniques in acting, voice, movement, devising and dramatic writing, along with directing and producing original works. Performance opportunities include main stage performances, films produced by Cornish film majors and voicing characters in animations and video games created by Cornish animation and game arts majors. Our campus is also located in the heart of the vibrant Seattle theatre scene. Students often intern with professional theatres such as ACT Theater, The 5th Avenue Theare and Seattle Children’s Theater.
Graduates of this program pursue careers in acting, playwriting, directing, producing, and more. Notable graduates include Academy Award winning actor Brendan Fraser and Broadway actor and theatre educator Sara Porkalob.
Program Information
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
Department Info
At-a-Glance
Core Skills & Techniques
Acting: A variety of techniques that can be used when acting in period and contemporary plays, and improvisation works.
Voice and Speech: Training in vocal techniques, dialects, voiceover, and speech for performance.
Movement: Physical theater, stage combat, viewpoints, clown, burlesque, and movement for actors.
Dramatic Writing: Playwriting, screenwriting, and non-traditional original works.
Directing and Producing: Fundamentals of directing, creative collaboration, and Senior Thesis production management.
Theater History & Theory: Understanding the historical and theoretical contexts of theater and performance.
Professional Practices: Audition techniques, career management, and networking in the performing arts industry.
Learning Outcomes
The Acting & Original Works program at Cornish College of the Arts is designed to cultivate versatile actors and innovative creators. Students receive comprehensive training in acting techniques, voice, movement, and dramatic writing, while also developing skills in devising original works. The program emphasizes performance, collaboration, and professional development, preparing students for dynamic careers in theater, film, and beyond.
Students participate in main stage performances, create original works, and collaborate on directing and producing projects, culminating in a Senior Thesis in their final year. Additionally, students can act in films being produced by Cornish Film students and can also voice characters in animations and video games that are being created by Cornish Animation and Game Arts students.
Student Work
Danny Kam
Adjunct Faculty - Private Voice Instructor
Carl Bronsdon
Instructor of Costume Technology & Costume Shop Supervisor
Rachel Brinn
Department Coordinator
Art, Theater, and Performance Production
Sheila Daniels
Department Chair, Assistant Professor