Performing Arts
Industry Essentials
Taught by People Who Work in Performing Arts
Learn from NYU Tisch School of the Arts faculty alongside working professionals across the performing arts.
Built to Launch Your Career in Performing Arts, Not Just Your Knowledge
Real Industry Projects
Hands-on, project-based assignments grounded in how the the performing arts industry actually works.
Start Immediately
On-demand video lessons and projects you can begin the day you enroll.
Insider Expertise
Learn from NYU Tisch faculty and working the performing arts professionals.
A NYU Tisch Credential
Earn a certificate from New York University Tisch School of the Arts and Yellowbrick, a credential employers recognize.
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Understand how a live performance is launched from concept to a run
- Identify the full range of roles, on-stage and off
- Grasp how productions are funded, developed, and managed
- Understand design, staging, and stage-management disciplines
- Navigate auditions, unions, and arts marketing
- Find your personal focus within the performing arts
Skills You'll Gain
Build Your Portfolio
The course is built around hands-on projects, so you leave with real, portfolio-ready work, not just a certificate.
The Performing Arts Landscape
Get an overview of theatre's history and how a show fulfills its promise as society's mirror.
Getting It Off the Ground
Meet the people who get a show moving, from securing funding to setting the artistic vision.
Setting the Stage
Discover the design and staging roles that turn an empty space into the world of the show.
The Performance
Step into the world of the performers who bring the show to life each night.
After Opening Night & the Wider World
Explore the technical, organizational, and critical roles that keep a show and the wider industry running.
The Full Performing Arts Curriculum
Each module is broken into short video lessons with assignments and hands-on projects you complete at your own pace.
The Performing Arts Landscape
Getting It Off the Ground
Setting the Stage
The Performance
After Opening Night and the Wider World of Performance
Results, Not Just Lessons
This course has helped me grow both artistically and professionally. I now have a clearer sense of my creative voice as a director, and I feel more prepared to approach future projects with confidence, organization, and purpose.
I have definitely expanded my knowledge in many aspects of the world of the performing arts, not just the role of a performer in a production. I have also become more grounded in knowing what makes a good show and team.
I was able to get a job at my dream theatre!
The course provides a decent, basic education on everything there is to know about working in the theatre. It is a jumpstart for anyone who wants to have theatre in their life, either as a career or as a hobby.
I received a job as a Tour Guide for a college campus and had mentioned this course as part of my training.
I've gotten two shows/jobs as a stage manager by mentioning I'm taking this course.
I was promoted to a Marketing Liaison at my company while taking this course.
I incorporated this certificate into my portfolio, and I was cast for a TV show.
Including this experience in my portfolio and resume definitely helped better my chances of landing acting roles in the film industry.
I am a much more disciplined person and can confidently and attentively study by myself. I have also become a more creative person and have been pursuing new opportunities due to the knowledge acquired during the course.
Choose How You Pay
Same full course either way: 5 modules, real industry projects, and your NYU Tisch Certificate of Completion.
One-Time Payment
4 Monthly Payments
12 Monthly Payments
Have a discount code? Add it at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
People at any career stage with a passion for the performing arts, whether breaking in, advancing, or switching careers, who want to understand how live performance comes together.
5 self-paced modules. Most learners finish in under 40 hours on their own schedule.
Yes. The course is 100% online and on-demand, so you can study on your own schedule from anywhere.
A non-credit Certificate of Completion from New York University Tisch School of the Arts and Yellowbrick that you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
No. The course starts with the fundamentals and is designed for newcomers as well as those already working in the field.
Yes. Request the course catalog and a program advisor can walk you through payment options and any current offers.
Performing Arts Industry Essentials includes five on-demand courses covering topics such as the Performing Arts Landscape, Getting It Off the Ground, Setting the Stage, The Performance, and the Wider World of Performance. Each course is 2 to 3 hours and is broken into shorter modules and activities that you complete at your own pace.
Courses are taught by NYU Tisch faculty from the renowned Institute of Performing Arts. You will also receive career insights from industry experts from Backstage and other industry leaders.
By the end of the course, you will have developed skills and knowledge to help launch or advance a career in the performing arts, explored the various career paths in the industry, and identified your areas of passion. You will also receive a non-credit Certificate of Completion from New York University Tisch School of the Arts and Yellowbrick that you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Students must be at least 13 years old to enroll.
Enrollment includes unlimited access to all course videos and materials for one year from your enrollment date. If you need more time after that, you can pay a monthly subscription fee to extend your access.
Most major credit and debit cards are accepted, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. If you enroll outside the United States, tuition is charged in your local currency at the prevailing exchange rate.
You can withdraw within 24 hours of enrollment for a full refund. After that, you have up to 7 days to withdraw for a full refund minus a $100 cancellation fee. No refunds are issued after 7 days. Subscription plans can be canceled before your renewal date by emailing [email protected].
Tuition is $999 when paid in full. Two payment plans are also available at checkout: 4 monthly payments of $269 or 12 monthly payments of $99.
