The MFA in Theatre: Acting program recruits actors every year, but only brings a new class of eight actors to campus in the fall semester of odd-numbered calendar years.  The next class will enter in August of  2013.  Recruitment for this group was partially carried out in 2012, but will be completed between January and April of 2013.  Seven positions for the class of eight actors remain open at this stage.

The principal venue in which to audition for the MFA program at UT are the University/Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA) National Unified Auditions and Interviews (NUAI’s), which are held annually in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.  The dates of the 2013 U/RTA’s are:

New York:  January 26-30
Chicago:  February 1-6
San Francisco:  Feb 8-9

For more information about the U/RTA auditions, go to urta.com.

In addition to the U/RTA auditions, any actor interested in attending the MFA in Theatre:  Acting program at UT can arrange for a private audition in Knoxville, or in New York, Chicago, or San Francisco during the time period in which the U/RTA auditions are occurring.  If you are already scheduled to do the U/RTA auditions, you can send a photo and resume and your personal statement to us in advance and notify us as to the time of your auditions in the NUAI’s, so that we can look for you at that time.   If you are a viable candidate, you will be called back for an interview at the NUAI’s.

It is not necessary to apply to the Graduate School at UT or the Department of Theatre prior to your audition and interview, or to send transcripts or letters of recommendation.  If you are accepted into the program, there is time to submit an application at that point.

All MFA in Theatre: Acting candidates at UT receive a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) which qualifies them as employees of the Department of Theatre and provides for full tuition remission plus a generous stipend.  The stipend for the next class matriculating in fall of 2013 is expected to be in the range of $11 –  $12,000.00 annually, including some scholarship funds awarded in the second and third years of training.   Graduates discharge various GTA duties throughout their tenure at UT, including working with and mentoring BA students in the professional “laboratory” of the Clarence Brown Theatre, opportunities to assist and teach BA courses, coaching of BA students, acting as ambassadors for the department in the community, engaging in public relations and development activities, and so on.  Care is taken to align GTA duties with training objectives, and to prevent them from conflicting or compromising the core training.

If you are accepted into the program, you must apply to both the Graduate School and the Department of Theatre.   The Graduate School applications are submitted online.

1. Graduate School Requirements:

Graduate Application for Admission
Note: GRE exam not required.

2. Department of Theatre Requirements:

An audition:  you should be prepared to present 2 monologues that contrast in the following ways: classical and contemporary, comedic and dramatic.  Back up monologues are recommended.  You will also be asked to sing a brief selection of music, no more than 16 bars.

A current photograph of you and a professional resume

A brief essay (2 pages maximum) about your commitment
to a life in art, your interest in training, and your creative
and career interests
Two letters of recommendation

An interview:  if you are called back from your audition you will be interviewed and have a chance to personally inquire about the program.

Please send the above application materials via email and/or hard copy to:

The Department of Theatre
Professor Terry Weber
Director of Graduate Studies
206 McClung Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996-0420

Tel.: 865-974-7062
tweber@utk.ed

Also please feel free to contact Professor Weber with any questions about the audition or application process.

And for more information on the MFA in Theatre, Acting program, please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook, and the other links above left.