Research Guides
Seattle Theatre Archives: Drama Schools
A guide to selected primary materials relating to theatrical companies and the history of theatre in Seattle available in Special Collections.
Drama Schools
Special Collections holds records from two major drama training programs in Seattle: the University of Washington School of Drama and the Cornish College of the Arts. The University of Washington School of Drama records span the years 1927 to 2004, with material found in multiple accessions. Additional information about more recent productions can be found on the UW Drama Past Seasons Production Programs site. The Cornish School of the Allied Arts records cover the years 1893 to 1989. Additional information about later archival materials for Cornish can be found on the Cornish College of the Arts Library site.
Undated picture postcard of Cornish School
- Cornish School of Allied Arts recordsThe Cornish School of Allied Arts was founded by Nellie C. Cornish in 1914. It was the first school in the western United States to offer comprehensive training in the arts. In 1986 the name changed to the Cornish College of the Arts in order to convey the mission of the college to provide the best possible training at a college level for professional artists.
- University of Washington School of Drama recordsThe University of Washington School of Drama was founded in 1942 by Professor Glenn Hughes. Prior to that time it had been a division of the English Department. The School of Drama offers courses in acting, directing, design, theory, and criticism. The program includes an undergraduate major, a Masters of Fine Arts, and a Ph.D. The MFA program includes the Professional Actor Training Program.