Students will explore how theater comes to life through the work of a backstage production team. Working in a professional theater environment, they’ll gain hands-on experience with the preparation, coordination, and technical support that help bring a show to the stage.

Through guided instruction and practical exercises, students will learn how backstage roles work together throughout rehearsals and performances. They’ll practice communicating clearly, organizing tasks, and solving problems while developing safe working habits.

This elective will offer students who enjoy theater an opportunity to contribute behind the scenes. They’ll discover how technical choices support storytelling and build confidence working as part of a production crew. The skills they develop will also apply to dance, music, and other live events.

What Students Will Create

Students will complete hands-on backstage exercises and develop practical theater production skills. Their work will demonstrate their growing ability to prepare for a show, coordinate with a crew, and carry out backstage responsibilities with care and confidence.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this elective, students will be able to:

• Identify key backstage roles and explain how they work together during rehearsals and performances.
• Organize and complete assigned tasks in preparation for a show.
• Communicate clearly with other crew members during backstage exercises.
• Apply safe working habits while carrying out guided backstage tasks.
• Work with a crew to identify and respond to practical production problems.
• Explain how backstage coordination and technical choices support storytelling in live performance.

What Registration Will Include

This registration will cover one afternoon elective only. A morning intensive, a second afternoon elective, and housing will require separate registration.

Students will be able to take this elective on its own or combine it with other Summer@Cornish courses. No morning intensive will be required.

How Students Will Build Their Schedules

Full-Time Program
Students will register for a morning intensive and two afternoon electives, one from each schedule. Morning intensives will meet Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–noon, with a lunch break from noon–1 p.m.

One Afternoon Elective
Students will register for this course and attend on the days listed in its schedule. Afternoon electives will run from 1–4 p.m.

Afternoon Electives Only
Students who wish to attend every afternoon will choose two electives: one that will meet Monday/Wednesday/Friday and one that will meet Tuesday/Thursday.

Students will be able to pair this elective with the Musical & Theater Intensive + Audition Prep & Performance, or combine it with another morning intensive to explore interests across disciplines.

Students will need to add each course to their cart separately.

Explore Summer@Cornish theater courses →

Browse all Summer@Cornish courses →

Housing Options

A residential option will be available to full-day students and will include supervised housing, evening and weekend activities, and extra studio time.

Students who plan to stay in housing will need to begin with the residential application before registering for courses. They’ll receive instructions for selecting a morning intensive and two afternoon electives as part of the residential package.

Learn about the residential program and how to apply →

Questions?

Students and families will be able to get help choosing courses and building a schedule by emailing cornishplus@seattleu.edu.