Program Overview

Introduction to the LSU MFA in Acting Program

The LSU MFA in Acting Program is a rigorous, two-year training program designed for professional actors. The program provides daily practice and seeks to develop the actor's body, voice, imagination, and critical thinking, enabling actors to live truthfully and playfully within given circumstances.

Program Overview

The program comprises six consecutive semesters of training, beginning in August 2025 and graduating in August 2027. The program recruits a new cohort every two years. The training offers in-depth actor training in contemporary and classic texts, with a focus on both theatre and film.

Program Features

• Accelerated Program: The LSU MFA Acting Program provides an accelerated, two-year training program designed for professional actors who generally have two to four years of professional experience after earning their undergraduate degree.
• Assistantships and Tuition Waiver: The program offers assistantships of $30,667 annually, along with a waiver of tuition, non-resident fee (if applicable), all other associated fees with enrollment (with the exception of professional program fees), and a 75% health insurance waiver.
• Professional Equity Resident Theatre: The MFA cohort is eligible for competitive casting in all Swine Palace productions.
• Louisiana Film Industry: Louisiana is one of the top states for film production in the nation, providing opportunities for students to work in professional film and television.
• Influential Guest Artists: Students have the opportunity to work alongside professional theatre artists and scholars with international reputations of excellence.
• Professional Reentry Focus: The program focuses on retooling photo/resumes, an actor's reel, auditioning, and other strategies for entering a new market upon graduation.

Guiding Principles

The program is guided by the following principles:

• Simplicity: Strive to do one thing at a time, be direct and concise in communication, and search for a single path within complex options.
• Authenticity: Strive to be genuine, find comfort and confidence in being true to oneself, and present oneself openly and truthfully to others.
• Humanity: Strive to be kind, gracious, and accommodating, be slow to judge and quick to forgive, and strive to find perspective and humor.
• Autonomy: Strive to be independent, solve problems on one's own before seeking help, and cultivate self-discipline to set and meet personal goals.
• Mastery: Strive for a command of acting technique and its foundational knowledge, regularly work on self-improvement with focus and enthusiasm, and know that risk-taking and failure make one stronger.
• Purpose: Strive for an exact reason for one's work, a determination, a resoluteness to define the subject at hand, the point at issue.
• Courage: Strive to stay strong, resolute, and determined in the face of fear and the unknown, dive deep into one's heart and imagination, and speak up and claim one's rights.

Facilities

All classes are held in the newly renovated LSU Music and Dramatic Arts building, in state-of-the-art rehearsal and teaching spaces. The building also houses the beautiful art-deco proscenium Shaver Theatre and a flexible black box Studio Theatre.

Casting

The LSU School of Theatre endeavors to provide all students, both graduate and undergraduate, with multiple potential casting opportunities in both theatre and film throughout each school year. Graduate students are a primary source of casting for the professional theatre, Swine Palace.

Faculty

The Faculty and Staff of the LSU School of Theatre are comprised of talented and dedicated theatre professionals.

Admissions Process

Applicants are admitted into the program only through an audition and interview with the program heads. One can audition and interview through the University/Resident Theatre Association (URTA) auditions or by direct submission. To apply, please submit:

• A professional actor headshot
• An acting resume
• A statement of purpose detailing why you are pursuing graduate training at LSU
• Three letters of recommendation
• A link to a YouTube audition video no longer than 3 minutes, performing a minimum of two contrasting monologues of one minute each, and speaking about your career goals and how LSU is key to your plans.

Once accepted into the LSU MFA Acting Program, students must then apply to the LSU Graduate School. The GRE is not required. Official transcripts verifying an accredited undergraduate degree will be required before formal acceptance.