So You Want to Work Backstage?
A Practical Course Series in Backstage Performing Arts Medicine
Five sessions | Four live virtual workshops + One in-person intensive
Working backstage requires a unique combination of clinical expertise, adaptability, communication, and quick decision-making. Whether you're interested in treating Broadway performers, dancers, or other performing artists, this five-part course series will help you develop the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to deliver effective care in a backstage environment.
Led by Marissa Schaeffer, PT, DPT, MBA experienced performing arts physical therapist and owner of FlySpace Physical Therapy, this series takes you beyond traditional clinical practice to explore the realities of working behind the scenes. Marissa will be joined by special guest instructor Brittney Mims, PT, DPT, owner of Mims Method Physical Therapy, for Sessions 3 and 5, bringing additional clinical expertise and perspective to the series.
What You'll Learn
Across five sessions, we'll explore:
The role and responsibilities of a backstage physical therapist
Navigating Workers' Compensation and communicating with production teams
Clinical reasoning and triage under time and space constraints
Adapting assessments and treatment to the unique demands of backstage care
Applying your skills through interactive cases and hands-on practice
Course Breakdown
Session 1: Introduction to Backstage Treatment
Explore the backstage environment, the role of the physical therapist, and the unique demands of treating performing artists.
Session 2: Workers' Compensation + Communication
Learn the fundamentals of Workers' Compensation in performing arts medicine and how to communicate effectively with performers, management, and healthcare professionals.
Session 3: Backstage Clinical Reasoning — The Framework
Develop a structured approach to efficient assessment, clinical decision-making, and treatment planning backstage.
Guest co-instructor: Brittney Mims, PT, DPT
Session 4: Backstage Clinical Reasoning — Framework in Action
Apply your clinical reasoning framework to realistic backstage scenarios, navigating time constraints and competing priorities.
Session 5: Backstage Triage Round Robin
Put your skills into practice during a five-hour, in-person intensive featuring hands-on scenarios, collaborative problem-solving, and practical decision-making.
Guest go-instructor: Brittney Mims, PT, DPT
Who Should Attend?
This series is designed for physical therapists in their first few years of practice, clinicians new to performing arts medicine, and experienced PTs interested in transitioning into backstage work. Third-year physical therapy students are also welcome.
No previous backstage experience is required.
Course Details
Format: Four live, 90-minute virtual sessions and one five-hour in-person intensive
In-person location: FlySpace Physical Therapy, 252 W 81st Street, Level C, New York, NY
Dates and times:
Week 1 (Virtual): November 8, 2026 - 3:30-5:00pm Eastern
Week 2 (Virtual): November 15, 2026 - 3:30-5:00pm Eastern
Week 3 (Virtual): November 22, 2026 - 3:30-5:00pm Eastern
Week 4 (Virtual): December 6, 2026 - 3:30-5:00pm Eastern
Week 5 (In-Person): December 13, 2025 - 10:00am-3:00pm Eastern
Full-series registration: $549
Savings: $61 compared with purchasing all five sessions individually
Continuing education credits are not currently offered for this series.
Ready to Take Your Skills Backstage?
Register for the complete series to build your knowledge, strengthen your clinical reasoning, and gain practical experience in backstage performing arts medicine.
So You Want to Work Backstage?
A Practical Course Series in Backstage Performing Arts Medicine
Backstage physical therapy requires more than strong orthopedic skills. You may have limited time, limited space, an concerned performer, a performance starting in 20 minutes—and a production and medical team that needs clear, thoughtful communication.
So You Want to Be a Backstage Physical Therapist? is a five-part hybrid course series designed to help clinicians translate their existing skills to the unique demands of backstage performing arts medicine.
Across four 90-minute virtual sessions and a five-hour in-person intensive, participants will build practical skills in backstage care, communication, Workers’ Compensation, triage, clinical reasoning, and treatment in environments ranging from Broadway to ballet and contemporary dance.
The focus is on efficient, effective clinical care in the backstage environment—from understanding the system around the performer to answering one of the most important questions you may face before curtain: Is this performer safe to go on?
Best for: Physical therapists and athletic trainers early in their careers or new to performing arts medicine, as well as experienced clinicians interested in translating their existing skills to backstage care. Third-year physical therapy students are welcome.
Courses may be taken individually when prerequisites allow, or participants may register for the complete five-course series at a discounted rate.
Complete five-course series: $549
Register for the full series and save 10%.
Continuing Education
Continuing education credit is not currently available for this course series.