Program Overview

Introduction to the Graduate Program in Theatre

The Graduate Program in Theatre at York University is a five-semester program that offers rigorous training to meet the needs of artists. The program is designed to investigate the essential questions of theatre and provides concentrations in Performance/Creation, Design, and Directing.

Program Overview

The MFA in Theatre is the terminal degree in its field, and at York, it is offered with a focus on producing socially-conscious artists. The program aims to develop artists who are aware of and capable of participating in challenging dialogues about social injustice and inequality. The courses, public events, and productions often grapple with difficult subject matter, including sex, violence, terror, and illness, to promote diverse experiences and develop students' critical faculties, empathy, and understanding of the world.

Concentrations

The program offers concentrations in:

• Performance/Creation
• Design
• Directing

Program Structure

The program is extremely intense, with small classes, long hours, and high expectations from the faculty. Graduates from the program work in every aspect of the performing arts in Canada, the United States, and internationally.

Ten Reasons to Choose the Program

The following are ten reasons to choose the Graduate Program in Theatre at York University:

1. Tradition: Since 1980, York's Graduate Program in Theatre has been training actors and directors at the highest level for the profession of theatre.
2. Unique Programs: York offers MFA programs in Performance, Directing, and Design, with remarkable opportunities for graduate directors to work with seasoned graduate actors.
3. Faculty and Staff: Collectively, the faculty and staff have written, produced, directed, performed, coached, and otherwise created hundreds of plays and films.
4. Alumni: Former students have gone on to successful careers as actors, directors, playwrights, producers, professors, and creators for theatre, film, and television in Canada, the US, and abroad.
5. Local Theatre Scene: Toronto is the theatre capital of Canada and a major player in North American theatre and film, with many leading theatre companies and festivals.
6. Facilities and Resources: The program has great facilities, including the cutting-edge Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre, the black-box Joseph G. Green Studio Theatre, and the Robert & Julia Foster Acting Studio.
7. Support for Students: York University and the Graduate Program in Theatre are strongly committed to providing necessary support for students, with generous admission scholarships and awards, and assistance for continuing students.
8. Great City: Toronto is a diverse and vibrant city, home to more than 100 cultures, with a population of over 2.8 million.
9. Theatre @ York Season: Each year, Theatre @ York presents a season of plays drawn from the contemporary and classical repertoire, showcasing the talents of students in the undergraduate and graduate programs.
10. Students: By limiting enrollment to a select few each year, the program ensures that students are among the most creative, professional, and dedicated in Canada, with student work of the highest caliber.