Theatre (Performance), MFA
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
ASU is not currently accepting applications for this program.
Degree description
The Master of Fine Arts program in theatre with a concentration in performance focuses on cultivating you as an actor-creator and fostering you as a conceptual thinker and collaborator. This is accomplished by teaching you to develop and create original devised works and enabling you to develop your skills as an artist entrepreneur. You learn innovative performance applications in multimedia and transdisciplinary collaboration, which are informed by artistic integrity and social responsibility.
The school offers multiple approaches to devising and new work development:
- Fitzmaurice voicework
- Lecoq training
- new play development
- performance technology
- rasaboxes
- solo and collaborative performance
- various devising methodologies
- viewpoints
In addition to core physical and vocal training, the program offers undergraduate-level teaching opportunities, funding for national and international conference travel, and career development internship opportunities.
During the third year of study, you conduct professional career development internships. In the past, students have completed internships at:
- Childsplay Theatre Company
- Cleveland Playhouse
- Dah Theatre, Belgrade, Serbia
- North Coast Rep
- One Yellow Rabbit
- SITI Company
- Synetic Theatre
- The Actor's Gang (Los Angeles)
- Theatre L'Homme Dieu
- Victory Gardens
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
60 credit hours including the required applied project course (THP 693)
This is a three-year program culminating in an applied project. The first year is dedicated to intensive movement; acting and Fitzmaurice voice training; and ensemble-building and devising with a focus on Lecoq, rasaboxes, viewpoints and Meisner. Second-year training provides opportunities for students to explore their work in a wide range of performance modalities such as community-embedded drama, solo performance, and performance and technology, and to devise original work. Performers collaborate with MFA designers, directors and playwrights to devise a new scripted performance for the mainstage season. The third year culminates in an applied performance project, serving as a bridge between the educational and professional worlds and the communities they serve. Academic and artistic progress is evaluated at the end of each semester by a faculty committee. Program continuation is contingent upon a successful review. A professional career development internship is required.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Apply a variety of acting, movement, and voice methodologies and modalities to performance contexts.
- Apply advanced knowledge of history and theory to collaboration, development, and devising of original work.
- Synthesize one's skills towards substantial performance projects that integrate core specializations.
Apply a variety of acting, movement, and voice methodologies and modalities to performance contexts. Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information The letters of recommendation should be from professionals familiar with the student's work. Students are admitted to this program every three years, forming a cohort with their colleagues in the other MFA programs in theatre practice. An interview, either on campus or at one of the university or resident theatre association sites, is required. Students should see the program website for application deadlines and admission terms.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Professionals with a MFA in performance have successfully obtained tenure-track jobs in movement, voice, acting and devising as well as postgraduate fellowships, visiting faculty positions and adjunct faculty positions at prestigious colleges and universities across the country.
The program builds skills for creating one's own theatre and theatre company, and several of the program's graduates have successfully created their own theatre companies. Several graduates have become professional actors working in regional and professional theatres, have joined established theatre companies or are working within an established theatre company as teaching artists, program coordinators and event curators.
Professional examples include:
- creating and forming a theatre company
- creating and producing original devised work
- obtaining highly competitive local and national arts grants and arts residencies
- obtaining tenure-track jobs in acting, voice and movement
- obtaining visiting faculty and adjunct faculty positions
- performing and touring with established theatre companies
- presenting work at national and international conferences
- publishing articles and books that impact the field
- working within an established arts organization as a teaching artist, program coordinator or event curator
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Music, Dance and Theatre
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MUSIC E167
MDTAdmissions@asu.edu
480-965-5069
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
