Theater Arts, MFA
Degree: Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Field of Study: Theater Arts
Program Overview
In 1996, Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Play House joined forces to create a Master of Fine Arts program in Theater Arts. The MFA is a terminal professional degree, and candidacy for the program requires an undergraduate degree, some theatrical experience, or demonstrable potential for work at the graduate level. In addition, candidates must provide evidence of technical skill and creative ability through the audition process.
At the end of each semester in residence, each student's progress is evaluated. Only students who have clearly demonstrated growth and excellence are permitted to remain in the program. The award of the MFA degree is contingent upon the student’s academic progress and upon the assessment on the part of the faculty that the candidate possesses the potential to work in the field of theater on a professional level.
Graduate Policies
For graduate policies and procedures, please review the School of Graduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.
Program Requirements
Requirements for the MFA degree include:
- 82 credit hours of graduate work beyond the bachelor’s degree
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for all course work on the graduate level
- Completion of the course requirements for the MFA Thesis Portfolio
- Successful completion of the third-year internship at Cleveland Play House
Course requirements for the MFA in acting are as follows:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses in acting, including script analysis, acting theory, characterization, modernist playwrights, camera technique, and the classical canon. | 24 | |
| Courses in movement, including mask work, physical awareness, and stage combat. | 12 | |
| Courses in voice, including voice production, breath control, and integration with text. | 12 | |
| Courses in speech, including stage speech, dialects, and verse and lyric drama | 8 | |
| Courses in history and theory, professional internships, solo projects, and professional seminars | 20 | |
| Two courses in crafting a thesis portfolio | 6 | |
| Graduate Movement I: Dynamics of the Body/Freeing the Instrument | ||
| Graduate Movement II: Dynamics of the Body/Freeing the Instrument | ||
| Graduate Movement III: Dynamics of Composition I: Alive in the Theatrical Space | ||
| Graduate Movement IV: Dynamics of Composition/Presence, Character, and Embodied Research | ||
| Musical Theatre Voice I | ||
| Musical Theatre Voice II | ||
| Graduate Voice Technique I | ||
| Graduate Voice Technique II | ||
| Graduate Voice Technique III | ||
| Graduate Voice Technique IV | ||
| Graduate Stage Speech I: Phonetics | ||
| Dramatic Text Analysis | ||
| Performance History | ||
| Graduate Audition Lab | ||
| Ensemble Technique | ||
| Graduate Acting I: Performance Process | ||
| Graduate Acting II: Contemporary Scene Study | ||
| Graduate Acting III: The Modernists | ||
| Graduate Acting IV: Shakespeare/Heightened Language | ||
| Graduate Acting V: Camera Technique | ||
| Professional Orientation | ||
| Graduate Stage Speech II: Articulation | ||
| Graduate Stage Speech III: Dialects | ||
| Graduate Stage Speech IV: Classical Texts | ||
| Special Projects | ||
| Professional Internship | ||
| Professional Showcase | ||
| Performance Studio | ||
| Thesis Portfolio I | ||
| Thesis Portfolio II | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 82 | |
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| THTR 401 | Graduate Movement I: Dynamics of the Body/Freeing the Instrument | 3 |
| THTR 473 | Graduate Voice Technique I | 3 |
| THTR 479 | Graduate Stage Speech I: Phonetics | 2 |
| THTR 501 | Dramatic Text Analysis | 1 |
| THTR 509 | Performance History | 1 |
| THTR 530 | Ensemble Technique | 2 |
| THTR 531 | Graduate Acting I: Performance Process | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| THTR 402 | Graduate Movement II: Dynamics of the Body/Freeing the Instrument | 3 |
| THTR 474 | Graduate Voice Technique II | 3 |
| THTR 501 | Dramatic Text Analysis | 1 |
| THTR 532 | Graduate Acting II: Contemporary Scene Study | 3 |
| THTR 579 | Graduate Stage Speech II: Articulation | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| THTR 403 | Graduate Movement III: Dynamics of Composition I: Alive in the Theatrical Space | 3 |
| THTR 440 | Musical Theatre Voice I | 0 |
| THTR 475 | Graduate Voice Technique III | 3 |
| THTR 501 | Dramatic Text Analysis | 1 |
| THTR 512 | Graduate Audition Lab | 1 |
| THTR 533 | Graduate Acting III: The Modernists | 3 |
| THTR 580 | Graduate Stage Speech III: Dialects | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| THTR 404 | Graduate Movement IV: Dynamics of Composition/Presence, Character, and Embodied Research | 3 |
| THTR 476 | Graduate Voice Technique IV | 3 |
| THTR 501 | Dramatic Text Analysis | 1 |
| THTR 534 | Graduate Acting IV: Shakespeare/Heightened Language | 3 |
| THTR 581 | Graduate Stage Speech IV: Classical Texts | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| THTR 441 | Musical Theatre Voice II | 0 |
| THTR 535 | Graduate Acting V: Camera Technique | 3 |
| THTR 540 | Professional Orientation | 2 |
| THTR 610 | Professional Internship | 4 |
| THTR 630 | Performance Studio | 3 |
| THTR 642 | Thesis Portfolio I | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| THTR 540 | Professional Orientation | 2 |
| THTR 610 | Professional Internship | 4 |
| THTR 611 | Professional Showcase | 3 |
| THTR 630 | Performance Studio | 3 |
| THTR 643 | Thesis Portfolio II | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 82 | |