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The Theatre Production Arts Certificate was created to encourage students to become knowledgeable in many facets of the theatre production world. To complete this program, participants take five one-week courses during our 2025 summer program. Spots for Theatre Productions Arts students are limited, so please sign up early. Upon completion of five courses, participants will earn an Off the Wall Theatre Production Arts certificate.
Through this program, students will receive comprehensive skills training, a significant reduction in course fees, the eligibility to apply for the Desmond Heeley Scholarship, and more!
Key Information
- The low student-to-teacher ratio ensures instruction is geared to each participant’s skill level and experience.
- Eligible courses in 2025: any of the summer courses (listed below) that have space at the time of your registration.
- You will choose your five courses during checkout.
TPA-Eligible Summer 2025 Courses
Artistic Summer Welding, Scenic Arts Props & Murals, Scenic Painting for the Theatre, Prop Making, Mask Making, Introduction to Costume Design, Set Design, Theatrical Carpentry 1, Makeup Intensive.
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This course is ideal for those who want to learn how to build costumes for community theatre, cosplay, or everyday clothing. In this two-day intro to Theatrical Sewing Workshop students will learn basic sewing skills and expand on:
- bodice with piping
- hand hemming
- hand-sewn snaps and closures
- darts and princess seams
- bias binding
- and quick changing shirts.
Note:
Students are to bring some supplies of their own: Basic sewing kit- scissors, thimbles, straight pins, shears, snips, rulers, and measuring tape. You may bring your own sewing machine if preferred, OTW has a few in the studio.
The Theatrical Sewing Workshop runs Saturday and Sunday, December 14-15, 2024, 9am-4pm
Instructor: Lela Stairs
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In this four day intensive artistic welding workshop discover the excitement and satisfaction of crafting in metal. Explore how to manipulate steel by bending, welding and texturing it to give life to your creative expression.
Learn and expand on these skills:
- Train in the safe and effective use of power tools and equipment;
- Explore the metal-working basics: welding, cutting, grinding, shaping and fitting;
- Practice and get creative with MIG welding;
- Discover Oxy-Acetylene gas brazing techniques; and
- Learn how to shape and hammer metal, including using jigs and applying heat.
This is not a ticketed course. This is an introductory artistic welding workshop meant to challenge students in the fascinating world of metalworking. All sessions of Artistic Welding cover the above techniques, enabling participants to heighten their skill levels with imaginative projects.
The low student-to-teacher ratio in each course ensures instruction is geared to the participant’s skill level and experience. Please indicate your related experience when you register.
Instructor: will offer a choice of pre planned projects to choose from that will cover all the basic skills, encouraging students to leave with the knowledge and confidence to expand their creativity further outside the classroom.
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In this Costume Design Workshop, students will learn and expand on the following skills:
- Examine text and character analysis;
- Explore concept development;
- Discuss constructive collaboration practices;
- Discover effective methods for research;
- Develop rendering skills through understanding figure and period silhouettes;
- Practice rendering techniques using pencil and watercolour.
- Learn presentation techniques;
- Create your own designs – from rough sketch to final costume design plate.
Previous drawing experience is an asset. Before the first class, participants are asked to read a play text, which they may purchase or download from an emailed copy and use for the duration of the course.
KEY INFORMATION
The low student-to-teacher ratio in each course ensures instruction is geared to the participant’s skill level and experience. Please indicate your related experience when you register.
Course fee includes materials for the Costume Design Workshop.
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Learn and expand on the following skills in this Scenic Painting Workshop:
- Train in the use and safe handling of painting materials and tools;
- Learn about colour theory;
- Gain confidence mixing scenic paints;
- Acquire skills in chemical compatibility;
- Experiment with marbling techniques;
- Create brick and concrete facades;
- Develop wood graining skills;
- Create effective aging and break down; and
- Paint using many different methods on different materials.
At the end of this course, you will have examples of all of these facades and techniques that you may take home with you.
KEY INFORMATION
The low student-to-teacher ratio in each of these courses ensures instruction is geared to the participant’s skill level and experience. Please indicate your related experience when you register.
Registration fee includes materials for this Scenic Painting Workshop.
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Multi-level Makeup Intensive Workshop
Stage Makeup: Practice basic male and female stage makeup and explore a variety of character looks, including aging techniques for both theatre and film.
Gore Galore: Learn gore & special FX techniques such as: bruising, scars, gashes and lacerations, burns, bullet holes, tooth dyes, and wounds of all kinds in various stages.
Prosthetics: Work with prosthetics and the proper application of: bald caps, false lashes, nose wax, gelatin flesh, liquid latex, and more.
Hair: Observe how receding hairlines and lace-backed mustaches, beards and mutton chops are created for professional theatre, and practice a low-cost alternative: laying your own crepe-wool facial hair. Discover how to use temporary hair dyes for aging techniques & other effects.
Body & Face Painting: Observe and practice body- and face-painting techniques; in particular, apply white-face specialty makeup used for cirque, mime, Geisha, sugar skull or zombie looks. Explore the ever-expanding and colourful world of face and body art, including the use of Metallics & Day Glo. Work with split cakes and sponge & brush techniques.
Tattoo You: Learn about the different types of temporary tattoos and their applications, including the products used on TV shows such as The Expanse. Explore alcohol-based tattoo paint for both hand painting and airbrushing with stencils. Observe transfers and learn how to make both stencils and transfers with your own designs, along with henna and glitter tattoos, gemstone & glitter techniques.
Drag: venture into the world of drag makeup and learn how these artists & masters of transformation prepare their looks, including blocking out eyebrows!
In this makeup intensive Workshop:
- Become familiar with makeup history, trends and careers;
- Learn hygienic procedures for applying makeup to others;
- Use a variety of application tools – brushes, sponges, airbrushes, stencils, transfers, & fingers;
- Work with a variety of sealers, adhesives and removers;
- Apply special effects products such as liquid latex, nose and scar wax, gelatin flesh effects, rigid collodion, hair & tooth dyes, and different fake-blood products;
- Discover where to purchase all products used;
- Explore resources for school & career options.
Materials are included in the course fee.
Instructor: Georgia Steel