Master of Fine Arts in Drama

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Master of Fine Arts in Drama is a terminal, pre-professional degree preparatory for work in the academic, regional, and commercial theatre. Every three years the Department of Drama recruits nineteen graduate students who train in one of five program areas: Acting, Scenic Design, Costume Design and Technology, Lighting Design, and Technical Direction. Through structured coursework, one-on-one faculty mentoring, and realized production work, students are challenged to express their talent, vision, and creativity both in and out of the classroom. Program start dates are: Fall 2008, Fall 2011, etc.

Candidates for the M.F.A. program must hold a bachelors degree from an accredited institution and are selected based on an audition or portfolio interview in addition to the general application requirements of the Graduate School. Three years (six semesters) in residence and completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours of coursework is required. Specific course requirements must be satisfied in each degree area, culminating in the M.F.A. Thesis Project.

Assistantships/Fellowships

All graduate students in the Department of Drama serve as Graduate Teaching Assistants and receive full tuition remission, a stipend, and a UVA health insurance voucher. Graduate students serve as instructors for undergraduate courses, teaching assistants, graders, production lab instructors, and/or in various production positions.

Degree Areas

Acting

Eight actors are selected for their demonstrated acting ability, vocal and physical flexibility, and suitability for ensemble work with peers and faculty in seminars, studios, and public performance. All work is closely monitored and evaluated in order to produce serious, versatile, informed, and articulate actors. This three-year, 60-72 credit program coordinates production work with four integrated, progressive training sequences: voice and speech, movement, acting styles, and core academic courses. Throughout, the emphasis is on discipline, inventiveness, and depth. A thesis project involving a mainstage performance and an original composition is required. Each actor has an opportunity to perform with the Heritage Repertory Theatre in its summer residency.

Scenic Design, Costume Design and Technology, Lighting Design, Technical Direction

A total of eleven design and technology students are admitted into each cycle of the program. Each program consists of 60-72 credit hours of coursework in related design and technical classes, studios, seminars, labs, and individually-mentored projects.

In addition to coursework, students participate in the mainstage production seasons as designers and technicians, in collaboration with guest artists, faculty, staff, and other students. Each degree area culminates in a thesis project that includes a written, research-based project and/or the design or technical execution of a mainstage production. Students in the design and technology programs are prepared for careers in a wide range of theatrical and performance-related professions.

Production Programs

The production activities of the Drama Department include the main-stage season of plays, musicals, and dance performances; guest artist residencies and performances; and student-produced class and studio productions. The Drama Department’s resident professional company, Heritage Repertory Theatre, produces a season of five plays and musicals each summer. All productions are presented in the Culbreth or Helms Theatres, located within the Drama Building on Culbreth Road.

Facilities

All activities of the Department of Drama take place in the Drama Building located at the center of the newly developed Arts Grounds on Culbreth Road. The modern, well-equipped building houses two theatres; rehearsal and studio spaces; scenery, costume, and lighting shops; classrooms; and offices. The Culbreth Theatre is a 575-seat proscenium theatre with an electric winch fly system, hydraulic orchestra pit, and state of the art sound and lighting systems. The Helms Theatre is a 200-seat black-box theatre with flexible seating, walking catwalks, and state of the art sound and lighting systems.

Course Descriptions

DRAM 504 - Early American Theatre and Drama Credits: 3
DRAM 506 - Modernism in the Theatre Credits: 3
DRAM 507 - History of American Popular Entertainment: From Minstrelsy to Madonna Credits: 3
DRAM 508 - Performance in the Postmodernism Era Credits: 3
DRAM 555 - Performing Arts Management Credits: 3
DRAM 571 - Playwriting V Credits: 3
DRAM 572 - Playwriting VI Credits: 3
DRAM 702 - Theatre Makeup Credits: 3
DRAM 703 - Independent Study Credits: 1 to 12
DRAM 707 - Script Analysis Credits: 3
DRAM 708 - Performance: From the Modern to the Post Modern Credits: 3
DRAM 709 - Script Analysis: Dramatic Structure and Theatrical Production Credits: 3
DRAM 710 - Graphics for the Theatre Credits: 3
DRAM 713 - Production Laboratory: Lighting Credits: 2
DRAM 716 - Lighting Design I: Elements of Design Credits: 3
DRAM 717 - Principles of Technology Credits: 3
DRAM 718 - Digital Media for Design Credits: 3
DRAM 719 - Mentored Study: Lighting Credits: 3 to 9
DRAM 723 - Production Laboratory: Scenery Credits: 2
DRAM 726 - Scene Design I: Design Studio-Realism Credits: 3
DRAM 728 - Scene Painting Credits: 3
DRAM 729 - Mentored Study: Scene Design Credits: 3 to 9
DRAM 733 - Production Laboratory: Costume Credits: 2
DRAM 735 - Costume Technology: Principles Credits: 3
DRAM 736 - Costume Design: Research Credits: 3
DRAM 738 - Costume Technology: Patterning & Draping Credits: 3
DRAM 739 - Mentored Study: Costume Credits: 3 to 9
DRAM 740 - Mentored Study: Acting Credits: 3
DRAM 741 - Movement: Fundamental Tools Credits: 3
DRAM 742 - Movement: Creating Physical Character Credits: 3
DRAM 743 - Voice: Breath, Structure, Sound Credits: 2
DRAM 744 - Voice: Tone, Speech, Text Credits: 2
DRAM 745 - Acting: Impulse into Action Credits: 2
DRAM 746 - Acting: Character into Relationship Credits: 2
DRAM 747 - Acting: Production and Performance Credits: 1
DRAM 762 - Mentored Study in Sound Design Credits: 3
DRAM 763 - Production Laboratory: Technical Direction Credits: 2
DRAM 766 - Technical Direction Credits: 3
DRAM 768 - Construction Credits: 3
DRAM 769 - Mentored Study: Technical Direction Credits: 3 to 9
DRAM 792 - Design: Psychology of Space, Light and Attire Credits: 2
DRAM 801 - Heritage of Design Credits: 3
DRAM 813 - Production Laboratory: Lighting Credits: 2
DRAM 815 - Lighting Design 2: Alternative Forms Credits: 3
DRAM 816 - Lighting Design 3: Special Topics Credits: 3
DRAM 823 - Production Laboratory: Scenery Credits: 2
DRAM 825 - Scenic Design 2: Design Studio-The Classics Credits: 3
DRAM 827 - Period Decor Credits: 3
DRAM 831 - History of Dress and Textiles Credits: 3
DRAM 833 - Production Laboratory: Costume Credits: 2
DRAM 835 - Costume Design: Character Credits: 3
DRAM 836 - Costume Design: Production Styles Credits: 3
DRAM 837 - Costume Technology: Tailoring Credits: 3
DRAM 841 - Movement: Stage Combat Skills Credits: 3
DRAM 842 - Movement: Period Movement and Dance Credits: 3
DRAM 843 - Voice: Shakespeare and Verse Credits: 2
DRAM 845 - Acting: Shakespeare Credits: 2
DRAM 846 - Acting: Period Styles Credits: 2
DRAM 847 - Acting: Production and Performance Credits: 1
DRAM 863 - Production Laboratory: Technical Direction Credits: 2
DRAM 865 - SPFX Special Effects Credits: 3
DRAM 867 - Properties Credits: 3
DRAM 868 - Rigging Credits: 3
DRAM 897 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research Credits: 3 to 12
DRAM 898 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research Credits: 3 to 12
DRAM 906 - Thesis Credits: 3
DRAM 913 - Production Laboratory: Lighting Credits: 2
DRAM 915 - Lighting Design 4: Portfolio Credits: 3
DRAM 917 - Advanced Lighting Technology Credits: 3
DRAM 923 - Production Laboratory: Scenery Credits: 2
DRAM 925 - Scene Design 3: Design Studio–Alternative Styles Credits: 3
DRAM 933 - Production Laboratory: Costume Credits: 2
DRAM 935 - Costume Design: Portfolio and Design Credits: 3
DRAM 937 - Costume Technology: Crafts Credits: 3
DRAM 943 - Voice: Dialects Credits: 2
DRAM 945 - Musical Theatre Performance Credits: 2
DRAM 946 - Acting: Portfolio Preparation Credits: 2
DRAM 947 - Acting: Production and Performance Credits: 1
DRAM 962 - Technical Design Credits: 3
DRAM 963 - Production Laboratory: Technical Direction Credits: 2
DRAM 971 - Playwriting XI: The Full-Length Play I Credits: 3
DRAM 972 - Playwriting XII: The Full-Length Play II Credits: 3
DRAM 973 - Dramaturgy II Credits: 3
DRAM 995 - Production Laboratory: Playwriting Credits: 2
DRAM 997 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research Credits: 3 to 12
DRAM 998 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research Credits: 3 to 12