Theatre (Directing), MFA

Program Overview

The Theatre (Directing) MFA program at [Institution Name] emphasizes collaboration, new work development, and professional skill-building. Through hands-on mentorship and coursework in directing, acting, design, and theory, students cultivate their artistry and prepare for careers in directing, teaching, and community-engaged theatre. The program recruits every three years and offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative creative processes and engage with diverse artistic perspectives.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Name: Theatre (Directing), MFA
• Focus: Developing new work in collaboration with playwrights and in the devising and creation process.
• Objectives:
• Exploring new work with gifted playwrights, devisors, and community-engaged artists.
• Building the skill, artistry, and communication abilities required for a professional director.
• Audience: Students who demonstrate serious purpose, professional aspirations, theatrical daring, and a desire to explore new creative processes.

Outline:

• Coursework:
• Directing classes & mentored directing projects (approximately 50% of coursework)
• Acting (viewpoints and composition)
• Assistant directing for a professional/faculty director
• Design collaboration
• Devising methodologies
• Directing the new play
• Dramatic theory and criticism
• Dramaturgy
• Performance technology
• Projects in community-based drama
• Reenvisioning
• Research methods
• Theatre for social change
• Theatre history and literature
• Projects:
• Directing a new play by an MFA playwright
• Directing one applied project in the Theatre or Music Theatre season
• Guiding an ensemble in the devising process and directing the resulting devised piece
• Duration: 3 years
• Format: Hands-on, mentor-student approach

Assessment:

• MFA directors direct a new work every year.
• Major assignments may include: creating and directing an adaptation of an existing work, directing a new play by an MFA playwright, directing one applied project in the Theatre or Music Theatre season, guiding an ensemble in the devising process and directing the resulting devised piece.
• Academic and artistic progress is evaluated at the end of each semester by a faculty committee.
• Program continuation is contingent on a successful review.

Teaching:

• Focuses on a hands-on, mentor-student approach.
• Directing faculty members mentor all student projects.
• Program introduces students to varied critical viewpoints from select artists and scholars.

Careers:

• Possible roles:
• Creating and producing original devised theatre for festivals or communities
• Directing at theaters
• Teaching in a variety of contexts
• Working as a teaching artist at a public or community school

Other:

• Program recruits every three years.
• Applications will be accepted in January 2024 for fall 2024.