Graduate Handbook

The requirements for the M.F.A. in Acting are divided into three elements: formal instruction, production requirements, and thesis work.

Formal Instruction

Students pursuing the MFA in Acting must complete a minimum of 70 total semester hours comprised of 68 hours of graduate course work and 2 hours of required performance credit. The three-year curriculum consists of the following courses:

Plan of Study

1st Semester

Orientation to Graduate Studies
Acting: Foundations
Voice: Foundations
Movement: Foundations

2nd Semester

Acting: Meisner Technique
Voice: Voice and Speech/Articulation
Movement: Stage Violence
Theatrical Analysis

3rd Semester

Acting: Psycho-Physical Acting -- Grotowski
Voice: Voice and Text/Power and Range
Movement: Yoga
Career Preparation

4th Semester

Acting: Poetic Drama – Shakespeare
Voice: Dialects
Movement: Lecoq Mime
Theatrical Analysis

5th Semester

Acting: Comedy
Voice: Voice and Text
Movement: Commedia dell’Arte
Period Style

6th Semester

Acting for the Camera
New Work Project
Thesis Role
Theatrical Analysis

NOTE: The sequence of classes may vary.

NOTE: Some candidates may enter the program with insufficient knowledge in basic areas, which may be important to their future success in the program. These students may be required to complete additional courses.

Performance Credit

Students must complete a total of two credits for performance in new works during the second and/or third years. One credit is awarded for each role and must be approved by the acting faculty. Acceptable venues for fulfillment of this requirement include Partnership in the Arts, Second Stage, Gallery, and Workshop productions, and performances in the Iowa New Play Festival.

Production Requirements

M.F.A. actors are required to audition for all Mainstage productions presented by the department and to perform as cast. Every student is required to perform at least one role each semester. Students must first obtain permission from the Head of Acting before auditioning for any roles outside of the department.

NOTE: The Director of Theatre must approve all casting.

Thesis Work

The thesis is comprised of a written analysis of the actor's personal creative process, and an annotated resume of works performed during the student's residency.

Continuation in the Program

The first year is a probationary period for all M.F.A. students in acting. At the end of the first year, the faculty evaluates each student’s work to determine her or his eligibility to continue in the program. This decision is based on demonstrated talent, potential, discipline, and satisfactory progress in academic and artistic learning situations.

Students who are accepted into the second year normally proceed to satisfactory completion of the degree. Nonetheless, evaluation is an ongoing process and students must continue to present work of distinction in their production assignments and maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better in their acting classes (see Graduate Guidelines). If a student’s grade point average falls below 3.0 it must be raised to that level by the end of the following semester. Failure to do so may be grounds for dismissal.

Performance/Production Evaluation

Evaluation of performance in productions is ongoing. At least one member of the acting faculty will be assigned to evaluate the student’s work in every production. Students are required to speak personally with the evaluating faculty member shortly after completion of the performance. Students are also encouraged to speak with as many other faculty members as possible about their work.

MFA Actors are also required to prepare two monologues and present them at every general departmental audition. Normally there are two general auditions each academic year. Monologues may not be repeated. Following each audition, students are required to schedule individual meetings with the Head of Acting, and their Movement and Voice teachers for feedback.

Academic and Program Evaluation

At the end of every semester, actors receive a formal oral evaluation of their course and production work. These discussions deal comprehensively with all aspects of the student’s progress.

At the end of the first and second academic years students receive a written evaluation of their work, a copy of which is placed in their files. In conjunction with the end of year evaluation the student must write a summary statement

The purpose of the summary statement is to encourage a synergistic examination of the student’s creative process as it develops: a self-evaluation of the development of a personal approach to acting.

Three weeks prior to the end of the year evaluation the student must submit the summary statement to the evaluating committee.

In the second year of residency the summary statement is revised and serves as the student’s comprehensive examination.

In the final year the summary statement is revised once more and, with the annotated resume, forms the written portion of the Master’s Thesis.

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