Students will explore how the body and voice work together as an actor’s primary tools for performance. Through guided exercises and studio practice, they’ll develop physical awareness, vocal expression, and habits that support confident, sustainable performance.

Students will examine how breath, posture, movement, and tension influence their ability to communicate. They’ll practice noticing physical habits, exploring new ways of moving and speaking, and connecting their choices to a character or scene.

Throughout the elective, students will build a foundation of performance skills and vocabulary they can carry into future training. They’ll also explore preparation and recovery practices that support focus, adaptability, and physical and emotional resilience in rehearsal and performance.

What Students Will Create

Students will develop a personal collection of warm-ups, movement exercises, and vocal practices to support their ongoing training. Through short performance studies, they’ll demonstrate their growing ability to connect breath, body, and voice with clear expressive choices.

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.

Browse 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.