Theatre
- Program Overview
MFA in Theatre
Southampton Arts offers an MFA in Theatre with tracks in Acting, Playwriting, Directing, Dramaturgy and Film. Students study with internationally acclaimed artists in an interdisciplinary, collaborative environment. We offer crossover opportunities between theatre and film, which include ensemble creation and digital filmmaking, as well as all genres of creative writing and the visual arts. The program is for entrepreneurial students who wish to explore multiple approaches—from traditional to experimental—to create and produce new work.
The MFA in Theatre is a three year program that includes a core curriculum, a specialization (track), lab projects, a culminating MFA performance project, MFA written thesis, and a professional internship.,
The curriculum requires 44-48 credits, including 30-31 required core and 14-17 track credits. All students take the required core courses and specialize in one of the four tracks.
Interested students should request information from the department and find application information at http://www.grad.sunysb.edu/admissions/app_info.shtml. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible, especially if they plan to apply for financial aid.
MFA in Theatre
Tracks in Acting, Playwriting, Directing, Dramaturgy, and Film
Southampton Graduate Arts
Director
Carla Caglioti, Chancellors Hall (631) 632-2576Administrative Coordinator
Margaret Grigonis, (631) 632-5028Degree Awarded
M.F.A. in TheatreWeb Site
http://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/mfa/taf/index.shtml - Admissions
Admission to the M.F.A. Program in Theatre
This M.F.A. program is intensive, and admission to it is highly selective. Upon review, finalists are invited for an on-campus interview. Interview requirements vary depending on track. . For admission, the following, in addition to the minimum Graduate School requirements, are normally required:
A. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
B. Undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0.
C. A minimum of three years of professional experience / training (preferred).
D. Three letters of recommendation.
E. A current resume
F. A written statement of artistic, educational and professional goals
G. The following are required for a chosen Track. Choose one:
Playwriting: 1) a completed play of any length that best represents your work; 2) a brief description of a play you are currently writing or wish to write while in our program
Directing: 1) a brief description of your approach (concept) to a chosen play, either one you have directed or one you wish to direct. You may provide select supporting materials, such as research (written or visual), and any other inspiration for your approach; 2) a list of plays and/or ideas for original devised pieces that you would like to direct / create while in our program
Dramaturgy: 1) three writing samples, including, critiques, production program notes, and/or literary criticism of a chosen play; 2) a play, screenplay or alternative performance piece if you have written one; 3) a brief statement describing your view of the role of the Dramaturg in today’s theatre, and particularly in relation to creating new work
Film: 1) a film you have written, directed and/or produced if you have one; 2) a screenplay if you have written one; 3) a list of proficiencies in various production skills: camera, lighting, editing, directing, production and/or production design.
Crossover between tracks is possible, depending on each student’s interests and professional goals. For the application, choose one track and indicate in your statement of goals (F) your interest, if any, in crossover
F. Acceptance by both the MFA in Theatre program and the Graduate School.
I. If a student accepted into the M.F.A. program wishes to offer, either for credit toward the degree or for exemption from enrollment in courses required by Stony Brook, analogous courses taken at another university, transcripts and other supporting material must be presented for consideration by the graduate program director before the end of the student’s first semester in the program (see Transfer of Credit from Other Universities).
- Degree Requirements
Requirements for the M.F.A. Degree in Theatre
In addition to the minimum Graduate School requirements, the following are required:
A. Courses
Courses required for the degree are:TAF 500: Introduction to Graduate Theatre, 3-4 credits
TAF 510: Theatre History and Literature I, 3 credits
One of the following : TAF 520: Theatre History and Literature II, 3 credits or TAF 530 Directed Readings in Theatre, 3 credits
TAF 523: Theatre in New York, 3 credits
TAF 525: Topics in Theatre, 3 credits
TAF 591: Independent Project, 3 credits
One of the following : TAF 690: Professional Internship, or TAF 550 Teaching Practicum, 3 credits
TAF 691: MFA Project, 3 credits
TAF 692: Thesis, 3 credits
One of the following:
Any additional SB Southampton TAF or CWL course with the permission of the MFA Director, or any other SBU graduate course with the permission of the MFA Director. Interdisciplinary studies are encouraged, 3-4 credits
B. TRACKS
Choose one of the following Tracks (14 – 17 credits)
ACTING (15 cr.)
TAF 560: Acting Theory & Practice, 3 credits
TAF 576: Theatre Workshop, 2-3 credits
TAF 576: Theatre Workshop, 2-3 credits
TAF 660: Acting Workshop, 3 credits
One of the following:TAF 638 Directing I, or TAF 639 Directing II, or TAF 670 Directing Workshop, or TAF 650 Playwriting I, or TAF 651 Playwriting Workshop II, 3 credits
Acting Track students will also participate in public readings, live performance and/or film projects associated with various workshops
DRAMATURGY (14-15 cr.)
TAF 505: Dramaturgy I, 3 credits
TAF 506: Dramaturgy II, 3 credits
TAF 575: Adaptation Workshop, 3 credits
TAF 576: Theatre Workshop, 2-3 credits
TAF 680: Dramaturgy Workshop, 3 credits
Dramaturgy Track students also participate in public readings, live performance and/or film projects associated with various workshops.
DIRECTING (14-15 cr.)
TAF 576: Theatre Workshop, 2-3
TAF 638: Directing I, 3 credits
TAF 639: Directing II, 3 credits
TAF 660: Acting Workshop, 3 credits
TAF 670: Directing Workshop, 3 credits
Directing Track students also participate in public readings, live performance and/or film projects associated with various workshops.
PLAYWRITING (14-16 cr.)
TAF 576: Theatre Workshop , 2-3 credits
TAF 650: Playwriting Workshop I , 3 credits
TAF 651: Playwriting Workshop II , 3 credits
Choose one of the following: CWL 510 Forms of Fiction, CWL 520 Forms of Poetry, or CWL 530 Forms of Scriptwriting, or TAF 575 Adaptation Workshop, 3-4 credits
TAF 660: Acting Workshop, 3 credits
Playwriting Track students also participate in public readings, live performance and/or film projects associated with various workshops.
FILM TRACK (14-17 cr.)
CWL 530: Forms of Scriptwriting: Screenwriting, 4 credits
Choose one of the following: CWL 510 Forms of Fiction, or CWL 520 Forms of Poetry, or CWL 530 Forms of Scriptwriting, TAF 640 Scenography & New Media, or TAF 575 Adaptation Workshop, 3-4 credits.
TAF 576: Theatre Workshop, 2-3 credits
TAF 660: Acting Workshop, 3 credits
Film Track students also participate in public readings, live performance and/or film projects associated with various workshops.
F. Residence Requirement
This program is normally completed in three years of full-time residency. One semester of the last year is typically spent in a professional internship program.H. Master’s Thesis
A master’s thesis must be successfully completed under the direction of a faculty advisor.University Requirements
The granting of master’s degree is based upon the completion of any special departmental requirements in addition to the items listed below:
A. Courses and Grade Point Average
A student must maintain a 3.0 overall grade point averageC. Registration
Degree candidates must be registered in the program granting their degree. Students must be registered for the semester in which they intend to graduate. Spring (May) and Fall (December) candidates must register for at least one graduate credit; Summer (August) candidates may register for zero credits in either summer session, but it still must be graduate level. - Facilities
Facilities
The MFA in Theatre is located on the Stony Brook Southampton campus which includes the Avram Theater and Gallery, a 429-seat theater that was substantially renovated in 2007. Students also work in a flexible black box studio, and a digital film studio. The program recently purchased Panasonic AG 150s, Kino flo and Arri light kits, Sennheiser lavaliers and booms, iMacs and Final Cut Studio.
The University Library holds in excess of 27,000 volumes related to the study of theatre arts which is easily accessible through interlibrary document delivery. Special collections of play texts, including translations, and theatre archives are being developed continually.
- Faculty
Faculty of MFA in Theatre Program
Professor
Mangano, Nick, Director. MFA, Columbia University, School of the Arts. Directing, Acting.Visiting Assistant Professors
Alda, Alan, BS, Fordham: Writing.Baitz, Jon Robin. Scriptwriting, Playwriting
Brandeis, Magdalene, MFA, Stony Brook University. Digital Film Production.
Feiffer, Jules, The Pratt Institute. Screenwriting.
Hamilton, Stephen. Playwriting.
Handley Chandler, Annette. Screenwriting.
Kriegman, Mitchell, Scriptwriting, Digital Film Production.
Norman, Marsha, M.A.T., University of Louisville. Playwriting, Musical Book
Lecturers
Burford, William. MFA, University of Texas-Austin. Playwriting, ProductionGuest Teaching Artists
Baker, Annie, MFA, PlaywritingBaldwin, Alec, Acting.
Bock, Adam, Playwriting.
Brancato, Paula, Screenwriting.
Carden, William, Acting
Hedges, Peter, Screenwriting.
Lazaridi, Christina, Screenwriting.
Mann, Emily, Playwriting, Directing.
Mantello, Joe, Directing
Marshall, Kathleen, Directing.
Pendleton, Austin, Directing.
Walton, Tony, Directing.
Wing-Davey, Mark, Directing.
- Contact
MFA in Theatre
Tracks in Acting, Playwriting, Directing, Dramaturgy, and Film
Southampton Graduate Arts
Director
Carla Caglioti, Chancellors Hall (631) 632-2576Administrative Coordinator
Margaret Grigonis, (631) 632-5028Degree Awarded
M.F.A. in TheatreWeb Site
http://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/mfa/taf/index.shtml