Our Courses
Our courses and workshops, led by some of North America’s finest backstage theatre artists, bring you behind the scenes to learn how to construct and paint impressive sets; build props ranging from faux food to flicker candles; create breath-taking masks, scenic art drops and special effects makeup—and more! These opportunities are intensive and hands-on, conducted in a working studio with one-on-one mentorship from our artist instructors.
Explore our current course offerings below to see what interests you!







Course Listings
Fall 2023
- Art Direction
- Costume Design
- Makeup
- Millinery
- Pattern Drafting
- Photography
- Sewing
- Shoemaking
- Theatrical Jewelry
- Theatrical Product Arts Certificate (TPAC)
- Wig Making
-
Fascinator in a Weekend
$325.00Instructor: Monica Viani | Dates: October 14-15, 2023
Internationally acclaimed Theatrical Milliner, Monica Viani, will teach and guide you through the process of creating a whimsical fascinator to complement your personality.
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Intro to Basic Theatrical Sewing
$325.00Instructor: Lela Stairs | October 7-8, 2023
Stratford Festival Cutter, Lela Stairs, teaches the basic sewing skills of hand hemming, piping, snaps and closures along with darts and princess seams.
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Intro to Bootmaking – Session 1
$650.00Instructor: Connie Puetz | Session 1: Two Weekends: Oct 28/29 & Nov 4/5
Create a pair of basic leather lace-up boots for your own feet based on personal measurements.
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Intro to Bootmaking – Session 2
$650.00Instructor: Connie Puetz | Dec 5-8, 2023
Create a pair of basic leather lace-up boots for your own feet based on personal measurements.
-
Intro to Footwear for Theatre & Film
$595.00Instructor: Connie Puetz | Nov 25/26 & Dec 2/3, 2023
Learn the craft of shoemaking in this challenging four-day course.
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Makeup Intensive
$595.00Instructor: Georgia Steel | Aug 28 – Sept 1, 2023
Discover an exciting variety of theatrical makeup techniques, tips and tricks from specialty makeup professionals, during this hands-on, behind-the-scenes course.
-
Photography – Basics & Beyond
$345.00Instructor: Scott Wishart | Dates: October 13, 14 & 15, 2023
This intensive workshop will give an overview of photography fundamentals.
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Shoemaking – Session 2
$625.00Instructor: Connie Puetz | Session 2: Four Days – Nov 7 to 10, 2023
Learn the craft of shoemaking in this challenging four-day course.
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Wig Making – Session 1
$650.00Instructor: Erica Croft | Session 1: Four-Day Workshop Over Two Weekends (Dec. 9 & 10, Dec. 16 & 17, 2023)
In this popular four-day workshop, learn the basics of wig creation, modification and dressing.
-
Wig Making – Session 2
$650.00Instructor: Erica Croft | Session 2: Four Consecutive Days (December 12 – 15, 2023)
In this popular four-day workshop, learn the basics of wig creation, modification and dressing.
- Art Direction
- Costume Design
- Makeup
- Millinery
- Pattern Drafting
- Photography
- Sewing
- Shoemaking
- Theatrical Jewelry
- Theatrical Product Arts Certificate (TPAC)
- Wig Making
-
Fascinator in a Weekend
$325.00Instructor: Monica Viani | Dates: October 14-15, 2023
Internationally acclaimed Theatrical Milliner, Monica Viani, will teach and guide you through the process of creating a whimsical fascinator to complement your personality.
-
Intro to Basic Theatrical Sewing
$325.00Instructor: Lela Stairs | October 7-8, 2023
Stratford Festival Cutter, Lela Stairs, teaches the basic sewing skills of hand hemming, piping, snaps and closures along with darts and princess seams.
-
Intro to Bootmaking – Session 1
$650.00Instructor: Connie Puetz | Session 1: Two Weekends: Oct 28/29 & Nov 4/5
Create a pair of basic leather lace-up boots for your own feet based on personal measurements.
-
Intro to Bootmaking – Session 2
$650.00Instructor: Connie Puetz | Dec 5-8, 2023
Create a pair of basic leather lace-up boots for your own feet based on personal measurements.
-
Intro to Footwear for Theatre & Film
$595.00Instructor: Connie Puetz | Nov 25/26 & Dec 2/3, 2023
Learn the craft of shoemaking in this challenging four-day course.
-
Intro to Pattern Drafting
$595.00Instructor: Lela Stairs | Dates: January 12 (Half-day) & 13-14 (Full Days), January 19 (Half-day) & 20-21 (Full Days), 2024
Participants learn how to interpret a two-dimensional design and render it into a three-dimensional costume pattern in this double-weekend workshop.
-
Makeup Intensive
$595.00Instructor: Georgia Steel | Aug 28 – Sept 1, 2023
Discover an exciting variety of theatrical makeup techniques, tips and tricks from specialty makeup professionals, during this hands-on, behind-the-scenes course.
-
Photography – Basics & Beyond
$345.00Instructor: Scott Wishart | Dates: October 13, 14 & 15, 2023
This intensive workshop will give an overview of photography fundamentals.
-
Shoemaking – Session 2
$625.00Instructor: Connie Puetz | Session 2: Four Days – Nov 7 to 10, 2023
Learn the craft of shoemaking in this challenging four-day course.
-
Wig Making – Session 1
$650.00Instructor: Erica Croft | Session 1: Four-Day Workshop Over Two Weekends (Dec. 9 & 10, Dec. 16 & 17, 2023)
In this popular four-day workshop, learn the basics of wig creation, modification and dressing.
-
Wig Making – Session 2
$650.00Instructor: Erica Croft | Session 2: Four Consecutive Days (December 12 – 15, 2023)
In this popular four-day workshop, learn the basics of wig creation, modification and dressing.
Winter 2024
- Art Direction
- Costume Design
- Makeup
- Millinery
- Pattern Drafting
- Photography
- Sewing
- Shoemaking
- Theatrical Jewelry
- Theatrical Product Arts Certificate (TPAC)
- Wig Making
-
Art Direction
$325.00Instructors: Glen Landry & Laura Keightley | March 23 (with Glen) & March 24 (with Laura), 2024
In this introductory workshop, participants gain insight into the visual world of film and theatre and learn how Art Direction sets the tone, mood and character definition in fictional space.
-
Intro to Pattern Drafting
$595.00Instructor: Lela Stairs | Dates: January 12 (Half-day) & 13-14 (Full Days), January 19 (Half-day) & 20-21 (Full Days), 2024
Participants learn how to interpret a two-dimensional design and render it into a three-dimensional costume pattern in this double-weekend workshop.
-
Theatrical Jewelry
$325.00Instructor: Tami MacDonald | Date: TBD
A rare gem, this introductory workshop takes you through the process of theatrical jewelry making.
- Art Direction
- Costume Design
- Makeup
- Millinery
- Pattern Drafting
- Photography
- Sewing
- Shoemaking
- Theatrical Jewelry
- Theatrical Product Arts Certificate (TPAC)
- Wig Making
-
Art Direction
$325.00Instructors: Glen Landry & Laura Keightley | March 23 (with Glen) & March 24 (with Laura), 2024
In this introductory workshop, participants gain insight into the visual world of film and theatre and learn how Art Direction sets the tone, mood and character definition in fictional space.
-
Intro to Pattern Drafting
$595.00Instructor: Lela Stairs | Dates: January 12 (Half-day) & 13-14 (Full Days), January 19 (Half-day) & 20-21 (Full Days), 2024
Participants learn how to interpret a two-dimensional design and render it into a three-dimensional costume pattern in this double-weekend workshop.
-
Theatrical Jewelry
$325.00Instructor: Tami MacDonald | Date: TBD
A rare gem, this introductory workshop takes you through the process of theatrical jewelry making.
Summer 2024
Join our newsletter and be the first to see our summer 2024 course offerings when they are released! In the meantime, you can also explore our Theatre Production Arts Certificate program, which will be offered in summer 2024 as well.
Join the Course Waitlist
If the course you want to take is at full capacity, don’t fret! You can join out course waitlist to be first to know if space opens up in a current course, as well as when new courses and sessions are released.
Off the Wall’s Impact
I came to OTW because the theatre I volunteer at decided to send me here as kind of a thank you for the work I’ve done. Coming to OTW has been completely life-changing for me. I’m going to pursue a career in the prop-building world. I believe I’m supposed to.
MATTHEW BURGESS
Theatre Production Arts 2017; Currently Stratford Festival Prop BuilderI learned something new every year. There’s such a variety of materials and so many talented people working with you one-on-one in a small group setting that it’s impressive what you can create. Setting the Scene is unique, it’s super affordable, it’s an amazing experience.
Jennifer Brickman
Setting the Scene 2016; Currently Lead builder, Macy’s Christmas Windows USALast week I attended Connie’s 4-day shoe making workshop and I couldn’t have had a better time. She is such an amazing teacher and such a prolific craftsperson. Thank you for providing this course, I hope to attend many more in the future. I also walked away with a superb pair of bespoke leather Oxfords! Priceless.
Jane Graydon
Shoe Making 2021I had a job interview yesterday to work in a scenic paint department in Burlington, and I’ve been offered the job! Thanks to my courses this summer at Off the Wall, I have been equipped with skills I could not have learned elsewhere. Off the Wall was the perfect launchpad for me to change course in my life, and I’m so grateful for the supportive artistic community I was welcomed into!
Jessica Nourse
Theatre Production Arts 2021; Currently Scenic PainterAfter being apart for so long, it was exhilarating to be in a room of passionate people all talking about theatre. Lela is so knowledgeable - you can hear the passion she has for her job in every story. OTW allowed me to tap into my creativity and learn a skill I normally wouldn’t have access to. For that I’m very grateful.
Kelsey Rae
Pattern Drafting 2022; Currently Stage ManagerOff the Wall’s Impact
I came to OTW because the theatre I volunteer at decided to send me here as kind of a thank you for the work I’ve done. Coming to OTW has been completely life-changing for me. I’m going to pursue a career in the prop-building world. I believe I’m supposed to.
MATTHEW BURGESS
Theatre Production Arts 2017; Currently Stratford Festival Prop BuilderI learned something new every year. There’s such a variety of materials and so many talented people working with you one-on-one in a small group setting that it’s impressive what you can create. Setting the Scene is unique, it’s super affordable, it’s an amazing experience.
Jennifer Brickman
Setting the Scene 2016; Currently Lead builder, Macy’s Christmas Windows USALast week I attended Connie’s 4-day shoe making workshop and I couldn’t have had a better time. She is such an amazing teacher and such a prolific craftsperson. Thank you for providing this course, I hope to attend many more in the future. I also walked away with a superb pair of bespoke leather Oxfords! Priceless.
Jane Graydon
Shoe Making 2021I had a job interview yesterday to work in a scenic paint department in Burlington, and I’ve been offered the job! Thanks to my courses this summer at Off the Wall, I have been equipped with skills I could not have learned elsewhere. Off the Wall was the perfect launchpad for me to change course in my life, and I’m so grateful for the supportive artistic community I was welcomed into!
Jessica Nourse
Theatre Production Arts 2021; Currently Scenic PainterAfter being apart for so long, it was exhilarating to be in a room of passionate people all talking about theatre. Lela is so knowledgeable - you can hear the passion she has for her job in every story. OTW allowed me to tap into my creativity and learn a skill I normally wouldn’t have access to. For that I’m very grateful.
Kelsey Rae
Pattern Drafting 2022; Currently Stage ManagerJoin Our Newsletter
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