Every three years, the Department of Drama recruits a new group of graduate students to train together. Programs of study include Acting, Costume Design and Technology, Lighting Design, Scenic Design and Technical Direction.

Admission to the program is based on audition or design portfolio and supporting documents (see Admission Requirements below). The successful candidate must show promise of artistic growth and achievement within the M.F.A. program.

Audition and Interview Information

All interested applicants must audition and/or interview. Please find our audition and interview schedule below.

MFA in Acting Auditions and Interviews

Applications are not currently being accepted. Please check back! Auditions and interviews are typically held in the following three locations. For application information click here.

• New York
  
  
• Chicago
  
  
• Charlottesville
  University of Virginia
  Drama Department
  109 Culbreth Road
  Charlottesville, VA 22903

MFA in Costume Design & Technology, Scenic Design, Lighting Design and Technical Direction Auditions and Interviews

Applications are not currently being accepted for Costume Design & Technology, Lighting Design and Technical Direction.

Applications are being accepted for Scenic Design for the Fall 2012 through Spring 2015 cycle. Auditions and interviews will be held in the following three locations.

• New York
  
  
• Chicago
  
  
• Charlottesville
  University of Virginia
  Drama Department
  109 Culbreth Road
  Charlottesville, VA 22903

Auditions and interviews are by appointment only. To schedule yours, please contact:

• Thomas Bloom,  Associate Professor, Scenic Design tab4p@virginia.edu
• Barbara Koonin,  Graduate Administrator, blk2n@virginia.edu

Admission Requirements

Application Deadline is March 15, 2012. All applicants must successfully complete an undergraduate degree program and must formally apply to the University of Virginia's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.  Applications must include:

1. Resume
2. Personal Statement
3. Three letters of reference from working theatre professionals, at least one should be from a teacher in one's undergraduate major
4. General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores. A combined score of 1,000 or higher on the verbal and quantitative portions is desirable. (U.Va. school code is 5820)
5. Application Fee is $60.00, payable to the University of Virginia

Financial Aid and Responsibilities

All graduate students in the Department of Drama serve as Graduate Teaching Assistants and receive full tuition remission, a stipend (currently $18,000 per academic year) and a U.Va. Health Insurance voucher.

As part of this program, all students will be expected to work an equivalent of 20 hours per week each semester. Actors will be assigned in the following areas: teaching, assistant to faculty, publicity and promotion, or assistant business manager. Designers will be offered assistantships as technicians in the respective shops producing the main season with opportunities each term to assist area professors. Opportunities to teach may be available on an individual basis.

For All Applicants

Please go to the UVa Grad Arts and Sciences Interest Page to register for an account and start your online application.