Education
Upcoming Workshop Offerings
Immersive Makers: Writing, Devising, and Crafting Meaningful Works that Center the Audience Experience
Zoom Workshops w/ Tom Pearson
Wednesdays 19:00-21:00 (CET) / 1:00-3:00pm (EST)
February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 2026
$300 for 4 Sessions
ON ZOOM
In this four week, four part series, we will dive deep into the tools and methodologies used by Tom Pearson and Third Rail Projects to create meaningful immersive theatrical experiences. We will look at the art of devising and directing from the audience perspective, mapping through associations, writing and crafting scenarios for immersive theater, and creative practices that support collaboration. Likewise, we will explore sensory design and world-building, along with site observation and exploration which leads to rich environmental design. We will discuss concepts and applications of time and time-keeping, character development and functionality, frameworks like ritual, tasks, games, and ceremony that support immersive work, and overall structural and audience-model considerations.
Finally, we will look at examples of how projects might come to fruition, from inception, through iterative development, and finally to performance, with considerations as well for longer runs and after-care. This workshop series proposes a methodology developed through Tom’s work with the Global Performance Studio for cultural listening and learning, making spaces for us to create shared experiences—so that we may dialogue around a topic from embodied perspectives of analysis and care. Several of Tom’s collaborative works will serve as references, including recent works like Yours To Lose, UN-[TITLED], and This Between Shadow. Other works through the Global Performance Studio as well as techniques derived from site-specific and immersive projects including Ikaros, Then She Fell, and The Grand Paradise, and others will be discussed.
NOTE: This is a four-part series that will build cumulatively and participants will sign-up for the full series (all four dates) to participate. We cannot accommodate drop-ins for this class.
To ensure an atmosphere conducive to sharing and collaboration, these sessions are not recorded. However, key takeaways and segments of in-class exercises will be distributed as PDFs, notes, or links after the sessions
$300 for full Series
Limited number of subsidized tickets available for those experiencing financial hardship: $200
Enter code IMWDC at checkout
For any questions about this workshop, please reach out to info@thirdrailprojects.com
Educational Offerings
Workshops | Lecture Presentations | Residencies
Our education program reflects twenty years of experience as storytellers and crafters of audiences experiences across many platforms. Designed to welcome artists and creatives from a variety of backgrounds, disciplines, and communities, our
TRP Immersive Performance Workshop
educational offerings are available both privately and to the public through various organizational partnerships. We cultivate positive environments where collaboration, inquiry, and experimentation are integral to the learning process.
Creative Process Intensive at Gibney Dance
Chinook Festival
Private Offerings
We offer private workshops and lecture presentations for arts organizations, academic institutions, and companies representing a wide variety of industries. These customized engagements are tailored to meet the specific interests of each unique group and range from half or full-day workshops to multi day intensives.
Control Group Productions, Denver
Future of Storytelling Workshop, NYC
Brandeis University, Massachusetts
Our private engagements are currently being offered remotely through Zoom and are available nationally and internationally on mutually agreed upon dates, times and intervals.
Connect with us at edu@thirdrailprojects.com to schedule an offering for your group.
Chaney High School, Ohio
Lincoln Center Young Patrons NYC
Devised Work Panel, Denver
Materials for the Arts, NYC
MindPark 2018, Shenzhen
Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation
Academic & Partner Residencies
For a comprehensive Third Rail educational experience, we offer residencies that take place over a span of weeks or months and culminate in a performance project. Residency participants are encouraged to bring their unique voices and perspectives into a collaborative creative process, experiencing this approach to art-making first-hand as an integral aspect of Third Rail Projects’ work. Our residencies are
Past Residency Projects
Olin College of Engineering
Texas A&M University
customized for each institution and may take place in one concentrated time frame or be spread over several intensive periods. Final projects range in scope from informal class showings to fully realized productions.
To discuss a creative residency with Third Rail Projects, connect with us at edu@thirdrailprojects.com
Wesleyan University
Florida State University
Princeton University
Albany Park Theater Project