Learn to Work Behind the Scenes in the Entertainment Industry

Intiman Theatre and Seattle Central College have partnered to offer an Associate Arts degree program, emphasis in Technical Theatre for Social Justice (TTSJ), and applications are now live! Over the course of 2 years, accepted students will work alongside union professionals on Intiman’s mainstage productions, while studying equity and social justice at the college. As an associate degree direct transfer agreement (AA-DTA), students who are interested in transferring to a 4-year collegiate program will be eligible to do so.

 
Intiman Theatre has partnered with the Western Washington Theatrical Training Trust and representatives from the International Alliance of Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 15, 488, and 887 unions to ensure students receive the training and skills necessary to begin professional work behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

INFO SESSION: JANUARY 24, 6:00pm

Join us on Zoom for an info session and Q&A for the Associate Arts degree program, emphasis in Technical Theatre for Social Justice at Seattle Central College. The event will be hosted by Intiman’s Education Manager, Kiefer Harrington, and you will learn more about the exciting opportunities awaiting you in this 2-year degree emphasis, as well as ask any questions you may have.

January 24th, 2024
6:00 – 7:30pm
Held virtually on Zoom

Highlights

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  1. Work with a Tony Award-winning theatre

  2. Learn from working professionals

  3. Gain hands-on experience as an apprentice on Intiman productions

  4. Located in the heart of Seattle

  5. Free, fast and easy application

  6. Earn your degree in just 2 years

  7. Affordable! Costs less than $10,000 for most students

  8. Option for graduates to transfer to a 4-year University

About Seattle Central College

Seattle Central College is one of three colleges in the Seattle Colleges District, located in the heart of Capitol Hill in Seattle. The college currently serves more than 15,000 people annually. It was the first community college in Seattle, and historically it has served residents of the Central District, downtown, and South Seattle.

It is the most urban campus in the state system of community colleges and plays a key role in the community identity of Capitol Hill. It is well recognized in the city for its social and political activism, and most of the major social justice movements and events, as well as demonstrations in the city (WTO, the “Occupy” movement, civil rights, marriage equality, etc.) have started here or involved the Broadway campus in some way.

Press

The Performance Venues

The historic Broadway Performance Hall is a stately 295 seat theatre at the corner of Broadway and E Pine St in the heart of Capitol Hill. It features two 8-person dressing rooms, ample wing space, a 39-batten fly system, orchestra pit, and a broad stage floor.

The Erickson Theatre is a black box performance space that features 133 seats, and can be adapted to many different configurations. It features three large dressing rooms, a 50’ wide stage floor, a vibrant lobby, direct access to the shop spaces, and an adaptable grid system.

Learn More

This is a 2-year, 90-credit program emphasis that uses hands-on experiential learning to prepare students for success in behind-the-scenes storytelling. The hybrid cohort model enables students to collaborate across technical theatre disciplines while they explore social justice issues in the entertainment industry and work together to challenge the status quo.

The LA Times recently wrote:

While campaigns like #OscarsSoWhite have cast a critical light on how Hollywood has overlooked the work of actors or directors of color, activists say significant disparities remain “below the line,” among the crew who staff film, television and theater productions. These behind-scenes workers include makeup artists, grips, set decorators, film editors and other technicians are represented by various unions that remain overwhelmingly white and are
often difficult to join for people of color.

How to Apply

Seattle Central College has open enrollment. Anyone with a high school diploma or who is age 18+ can become an SCC student by filling out their fast and free online application form HERE. The Technical Theatre for Social Justice emphasis (Intiman) also has a fast and free application form HERE. Students will have to apply to both SCC and Intiman to ensure they are enrolled in the correct program.

The Intiman application can be completed relatively quickly. It involves:

  • Name & contact info
  • Ranking areas of interest
  • 3 short answer questions (200 words or less each)
  • Please detail your experience in theatre and live performance arts, specifically as it relates to working backstage and offscreen.
  • What role do you believe theatre technicians play in the fight for social justice?
    What does working towards equity and social justice mean to you?
  • What skills do you hope to learn while working directly with Intiman Theatre?

Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone 18 years of age or older who will have graduated highschool or passed the GED exam before the start of the first term. Prospective students who are younger than 18, but at least 16 years old may submit an underaged petition to SCC. Running Start Students who are in 11th or 12th grade may also apply for the TTSJ. Find more info on Running Start HERE.

Students will join a cohort of like-minded learners, and over the course of 2 years, work together to challenge social justice issues within technical theatre. They will receive training in costumes & properties fabrication, electrics, audio engineering, scenic carpentry & painting, and skills for success in the entertainment industry, as well as studying topics such as principles of environmental sustainability and applied social and cultural change. They’ll learn from and network with prestigious guest speakers and working professionals, and leave the program well-prepared to enter the workforce of behind-the-scenes storytellers for theatre, film, TV and more.

The shops and stages Intiman uses will become the classroom, including the historic Broadway Performance Hall and the Erickson Theatre. Students will earn 15 credits while working as apprentices with Intiman mentors and IATSE union professionals. This translates to nearly 300 hands-on learning hours spent in professional shops and technical rehearsals for main stage shows!

This degree provides training and apprenticeship hours to enter the work force upon graduation, or students can direct transfer to a 4-year university. Best of all: very little debt! This degree costs less than $10,000 for most students.

The AA-DTA is an Associate of Arts degree Direct Transfer Agreement which prescribes academic requirements so that upon graduation you will meet the general education requirements of most arts and sciences bachelor’s degrees to ensure the credits you earn will easily transfer to most 4-year colleges and universities. Find out more about the AA-DTA at SCC HERE.

Priority deadline is February 1st, 2023, but we will be accepting applications through the summer. Students are accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Don’t delay – apply today!

The cost is different for each student depending on many factors, but the average cost of a 2-year Associate’s Degree for a US citizen at SCC, including tuition, fees, books and supplies, is estimated to be under $10,000. More information on these costs is available on SCC’s website HERE.

Yes! TTSJ students are eligible to apply for Federal Aid through the FAFSA or state aid through the WASFA. Additionally, some students may be eligible to apply for Seattle Promise. Other students may apply for a myriad of scholarships and grants. Out-of-state students can apply for reduced Tuition Waivers. SCC also offers a Deferred Payment Plan to all students who enroll in this option and pay a small fee. For more information on financial aid options, visit SCC’s Financial Aid website HERE.

Seattle Promise provides financial support as well as ongoing college and career guidance for recent graduates of Seattle public high schools who attend Seattle Colleges. The program provides tuition support for up to 90 credit hours (enough for a 2-year degree). All Seattle public high school graduates are eligible regardless of grade point average (GPA), income, or country of birth. More information about Seattle Promise can be found HERE.

Yes! You can enroll in TTSJ emphasis courses even if you already have a college degree, however, you may not be able to earn the AA-DTA degree certificate, as you will have likely already met the general education requirements. After completing the TTSJ emphasis, your SCC transcript will show that you have completed all of the requirements for the TTSJ. Additionally, you may not be required to take courses for which you have already met the requirements through your previous degree, although you may still elect to. Students with a previous degree should be aware that it may be more difficult to receive financial aid. For support answering additional questions, please email julieta@intiman.org

The current course structure is designed to engage students over 2 years during 6 school terms (fall, winter, and spring) for a total of 90 credit hours. Some students may require additional courses or course hours.

Founded in 1893, IATSE is “The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada.” IATSE union members “work in all forms of live theater, motion picture and television production, trade shows and exhibitions, television broadcasting, and concerts as well as the equipment and construction shops that support all these areas of the entertainment industry. We represent virtually all the behind-the-scenes workers in crafts ranging from motion picture animator to theater usher.” As a TTSJ student, you will get to work directly with and learn from these union professionals. Check out IATSE’s website HERE.

You should apply for both as close together as possible (in any order) so that our team can best track your application. 

As soon as possible! You can apply for the FAFSA before or after you apply for SCC. Just remember to list Seattle Central College on the FAFSA as one of your preferred colleges. Be sure to keep track of your FAS ID which will be generated before your FAFSA application! One of the main delays in student financial aid applications is a lost FSA ID. More information on the FAFSA can be found HERE.

In order to ensure Intiman can fully support students and provide them with a hands-on learning experience, the cohort will be capped at 40 students. Student acceptance priority will be determined by:

1) Understanding of social justice and commitment to Intiman’s mission

2) Areas of interest & Intiman’s ability to best support student learning

3) Date of application

Previous experience in your area of interest is welcomed, but not required.

Behind-the-Scenes Job Opportunities

Learn more about the many career opportunities working behind the scenes in the entertainment industry! Each of these featured artists works in Seattle, and shares their own journey working behind the scenes in television, film, theatre, concerts, and more…

Supported By

Support Intiman’s work by making a tax-deductible donation today. Donations create union jobs in Seattle (we work with all of the theatrical unions), provide free and subsidized education programs, and make free tickets available for every performance. Thank you to all our sponsors, donors, and Members!