PERFORMANCE PRODUCTION
Benji Devine, Nina Bice, Rhys Strohmayer, Savannah Brittian SPAC E N E E D L E | Seattle Center
“
I FOUND THE ONE THING IN THIS WORLD I WAS MEANT TO DO. THE THING THAT ENERGIZES ME, THAT FORCES ME TO KEEP A NOTEBOOK NEXT TO MY BED SO I CAN WRITE DOWN THE IDEAS THAT COME ALL NIGHT INSTEAD OF SLEEP.” —KENDRA LEE ‘15
OUR C LASSES RUN ON
CURIOSITY AND EXPLORATION W E ’ R E B UI LDI NG SOM ETHI N G N E W IN E VE RY S E N S E
On the live stage, actors are only part of the transformation that takes place. Costumes, scenery, lighting, sound— these are the transformative elements that bring the audience to a medieval castle, an Asian jungle, an apartment in Harlem, or worlds that exist solely in our minds. When you enter the BFA Performance Production program at Cornish, you join an independent program, not an offshoot of another department. Whether you want to be a stage manager, technical director, or designer, you’ll have one-on-one experiences with faculty who are working artists in Seattle’s theater community. It’s not uncommon for a professor to say “come with me” to a production in progress. Students
have opportunities to observe and occasionally assist. We tailor your training to your goals, immersing you in all the tools of the stage trade, from traditional to technical. The program is by nature collaborative, and you’ll begin work immediately in building and staffing a number of mainstage productions coproduced with the Theater and Dance departments each year. Paired with classes in history and the liberal arts, students emerge well rounded and prepared for successful careers. This is hands-on production. It’s where you create worlds and manipulate stage magic. In Performance Production,
YOU MAKE THE DRAMA REAL.
SEATTLE A CITY CULTURALLY RICH WITH LIVE STAGES SEATTLE IS THE PERFECT PLACE to pursue your artistic education— and Cornish College lives right at the heart of it all. The faculty, students, and alumni of Performance Production are fully woven into the fabric of Seattle’s theater scene, from ACT Theatre to Strawberry Theatre Workshop to Seattle Children’s Theatre. We create relationships for students through internships with Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre Festival, Seattle Opera, and numerous other companies.
With a white-hot economic base and a truly stunning natural setting, the greater Seattle area is home to both tech giants, like Microsoft and Amazon, and natural wonders, like Mount Rainier and Snoqualmie Falls. And as a cultural crossroads with a progressive personality, Seattle is a place where “inclusivity” and “eco-friendly” aren’t just buzzwords; they’re the foundation upon which our city and college thrive. Cornish couldn’t have happened anywhere but Seattle—and we think you’ll thrive here, too.
CORNISH PLAYHOUSE AT SEATTLE CENTER OUR PREMIER PERFORMANCE SPACE, FORMER HOME OF TWO TONY AWARD-WINNING REGIONAL THEATER COMPANIES, RIGHT IN THE HEART OF SEATTLE CENTER’S THEATER ROW
PRODUCE WORK IN YOUR
FIRST YEAR At Cornish, we’ve created an environment that prepares you for what you’ll experience in professional theatre.
MARLEEN AND KENNY ALHADEFF STUDIO THEATER AT CORNISH PLAYHOUSE BLACK BOX STUDIO USED FOR ORIGINAL WORKS, SMALLER PRODUCTIONS, AND REP FESTIVALS
Right away, you’ll start building, staffing, and working on productions: we support five Theater and Dance main stage productions, in three different venues across campus, every year. First year students take a Production Lab class each semester and contribute to costumes, scenery, lighting, and sound right away. By the end of your junior year, with plenty of production experience under your belt, you’ll work with your faculty to find an internship, build your portfolio, and prepare for your career.
RAISBECK PERFORMANCE HALL EASILY CONFIGURABLE BLACK BOX SPACE USED FOR DRAMAS, COMEDIES, MUSICALS, AND ANNUAL CABARET SHOW
AREAS
OF
STUDY
SCENIC DESIGN Where will you transport your audience? From an open field in England, to a mythic island, or New York apartment—like a kind of magician, you’ll bring audiences into the world of each play.
COSTUME DESIGN Do your characters live in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1947? From the clothes you make to the shoes you track down—you’ll help define and express each actor’s character.
LIGHTING DESIGN What mood will you create? From elation to unease—and every vibe in-between—your stage lighting will shape action and define moments to support the arc of the play.
STAGE MANAGEMENT What’s happening backstage? Where should an actor be at any given moment? Which lights should go up? If you typically know these answers, then you’ll be a great stage manager, holding the production all together.
SOUND DESIGN How important is sound design? Turn off the sound effects on a video game; you won’t feel “inside” the game. Sound designers heighten the experience by helping audiences feel immersed in a production.
TECHNICAL DIRECTION Do you love overseeing groups and procedures? From working with people, mastering deadlines, and organizing events—technical directors are like the CEOs of Production.
A DAY IN
THE LIFE
WHY INVEST
IN ARTS COLLEGE?
“OUR CALLING IS TO CREATE POSITIONS FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS, TO IMPROVISE AND BLOW THE CEILING OFF ANYTHING RESEMBLING A LIMITATION.” — CL A IRE CHASE, F LUTIST & MACARTH U R FELLOW
Art has always played a vital role in society. Artists and performers challenge the way people interact with space, with technology, and with each other. Generating new ideas requires artists to not only be able to work in their field, but also to think critically— examining a situation, identifying a problem, and then designing a creative solution. Whether writing a play that highlights social injustice or designing a new skyscraper, artists enlighten us with their ability to examine problems in an entirely new way. When you decide to invest your time and money into a college education, you are faced with a choice: invest in reproducing the techniques of other artists, or invest in a degree that teaches critical problem-solving by generating new art and performance. Hundreds of programs teach basic techniques
or craft in performance or visual arts, but few degrees teach artists how to apply critical thinking skills toward the creation of new work. At Cornish, we believe this immersive training offers the preparation necessary to address any future challenge. Cornish College of the Arts offers a wide range of scholarships and financial aid to support the investment you make in your own future. Our students understand the value of studying in a thriving urban environment with fellow artists and performers, and experience the results of their hard work. As the Cornish artistic community both leads a changing society and adapts to a changing job market, we proudly support our student visionaries who are boldly challenging society to look at the world in a new way.
LEARN MORE AT CORNISH.EDU/FINANCIALAID
MORE THAN 95% OF CORNISH STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS.
SHELBY CHOO ’16 While still a student, Shelby Choo was was selected to participate in the 2016 United
States
Institute
for
Theatre
Technology (USITT) Gateway Program, part of the USITT Diversity Initiative to expand diversity within the performing arts. One of the mentors Choo met through this program connected her with an opportunity to assist and intern with a technical director working in Seoul, Korea, which she did right after graduation. Shelby has since returned to Seattle, and is currently freelancing at several regional venues like ACT Theatre.
PERFORMANCE PRODUCTION STUDENTS WORK ON
5 MAIN STAGE PRODUCTIONS IN
3 DIFFERENT CAMPUS VENUES EVERY YEAR.
4 THINGS
YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE CORNISH PERFORMANCE PRODUCTION FACULTY
1
THEY’VE DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED PROJECTS at renowned theaters here in Seattle, like Seattle Repertory Theatre and Seattle Opera, and across the nation, like the Guthrie Theater and Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
2
THEY CARE DEEPLY ABOUT LOCAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES affecting
3
THEY’VE WON, AND BEEN NOMINATED FOR, NUMEROUS REGIONAL AWARDS
4
THEY RECEIVED THEIR TRAINING FROM RENOWNED INSTITUTIONS
artists and all citizens, and value the inclusion of diverse cultures and backgrounds.
including Seattle Times Spotlight Awards, The Stranger Genius Awards, and even Seattle’s own version of the Oscars®, the Gregory Awards.
including the University of Washington, University of California at Irvine, University of Oregon, and of course, Cornish.
LEARN MORE & MEET OUR FACULTY AT CORNISH.EDU/PERFORMANCE_PRODUCTION
TEAR OUT & KEEP
APPLICATION DEADLINES DECEMBER 1 EARLY ACTION DEADLINE
FEBRUARY 15
Photography by Danielle Barnum unless noted. Design by Shannon Loys.
PRIORITY APPLICATION / SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE
After February 15. applications are accepted on a rolling basis if space is available.
SCHOLARSHIPS Cornish offers merit scholarships based upon the strength of your application and audition/portfolio. Those applying for scholarship consideration should apply by
FEBRUARY 15.
CORNISH FAST FACTS ESTABLISHED
STUDENT ORIGINS
1914
35 states 18 countries
MAJORS
Art, Dance, Design, Film, Interior Architecture, Music, Performance Production, Theater
CAMPUS
3 locations in downtown Seattle: South Lake Union, Capitol Hill, Seattle Center
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
13
ACCREDITATION
FACULTY:STUDENT RATIO
1:7
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, National Association of Schools of Art and Design
CORNISH.EDU/PERFORMANCEPRODUCTION
THE MISSION OF CORNISH COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
is to provide students aspiring to become practicing artists with an educational program of the highest possible quality, in an environment that nurtures creativity and intellectual curiosity, while preparing them to contribute to society as artists, citizens, and innovators.
800.726.ARTS ADMISSION@CORNISH.EDU
CORNISH.EDU/PERFORMANCE_PRODUCTION
FI ND O UT AT
YOUR LIMIT?
WHAT’S BEYOND
Cornish College of the Arts 1000 Lenora Street Seattle, WA 98121
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