Recruiting Calendar

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville will be recruiting in early 2025 for a new cohort of eight actors to begin their training in August 2025. We will be recruiting at URTAs, SETC, and by private audition. Our program has repeatedly been ranked among the top-25 MFA performance programs in the U.S., U.K., and Australia.

Audition Dates:

• International applicant video audition deadline: December 1, 2024 (international applicants only!)
• Local Knoxville auditions: January 17, 2025 (Email Professor Katie Cunningham at kcunni12@utk.edu to register)
• URTAs: January – February 2025 (full details here)
• Private auditions by appointment in URTA tour cities (Philadelphia and Chicago), dates TBA

Application Format

Unless you are an international applicant, it is not necessary to apply to the Graduate School or the Department of Theatre prior to acceptance into the program. If you receive an offer to join the program, you may submit a formal application at that point.

Acceptance into the program is by audition and interview, followed by an application process to the UTK Graduate School. We encourage applicants to take advantage of the audition processes at URTA and SETC. Details on these processes can be found at the links above.

For information on requirements and deadlines for applying to the Graduate School (only necessary after you receive an offer for domestic students), go to:  

https://gradschool.utk.edu/admissions/applying-to-graduate-school/

There is a $60.00 application fee.  

If you are attending SETC or URTA auditions, we will not schedule a private audition with you until we have seen you at those events. However, we do encourage you to send us a photo and resume and/or website link in advance of your URTA audition.

Application Requirements

1. Audition

You should prepare to present: 

• Two contrasting monologues, each under two minutes
  • your pieces should contrast in tone (comedic vs. dramatic) and period (classical vs. contemporary)
  • your classical selection should be in verse
• Also, please consider preparing a brief excerpt of a song that you enjoy singing. We are not a musical theatre program, and being a singer is not required in your audition or for acceptance into the program. However, we often ask for a bit of song to learn more about you and your voice. There are casting opportunities in musicals in the Clarence Brown Theatre, as we typically produce one musical each season. Your song selection can be a capella or with recorded accompaniment. No accompanist will be provided.
• Please prepare at least one additional monologue, in case one is requested. 
• We also strongly encourage all candidates to be prepared to submit a video of your audition pieces. All candidates who are called back will be asked to do so. You may include an additional monologue and/or song in the video if you wish. You should prepare this video before your URTA auditions, as timeliness of your submission can affect being selected for a visit to the UTK campus.
  • Video Guidelines
    • Carefully attend to:
      • Background  
      • Lighting
      • Sound 
      • Clothing color and contrast
      • Editing for efficiency of viewing.
    • The video should begin with a brief introduction/slate, which must be filmed in portrait orientation so that you are visible from head to knees or feet.. Please clearly state:
      • Your first and last name, as well as any other names you may use
      • Your pronouns, should you choose to share them
      • What pieces you will be performing (character, title of play, and playwright)
    • After the introduction:
      • For the remaining 1 or 2 monologues, please use chest-up framing. Please do not submit close-ups of your head and face only.
      • Please also fully review your video before submitting, to be sure that you can be clearly seen and heard throughout.
        
        When submitting your video, please let us know of any additional recordings of your work that we might review.
• Submit a link to your video audition to Professor Katie Cunningham at kcunni12@utk.edu.
  

2. Interview

Based on your audition, you may receive a callback and interview.

3. Callback to UT Campus

Based on your callback and interview, you may receive an invitation to visit UTK as a finalist for acceptance. According to the availability of funds, the Department of Theatre will provide support for visits on a case-by-case basis.

4. Acceptance

If you are accepted, you must:

• Complete the ONLINE Graduate School Application
• Pay the $60 application fee by credit card or electronic check
• Upload/Enter the following materials into the Graduate School Application:
  • Unofficial transcripts of all prior Undergraduate and Graduate coursework and degree confirmations
  • A current photograph of you and a professional resume
  • A brief essay (two pages maximum) about your commitment to a life in art, your interest in training, and your creative and career interests
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Note: a GRE exam is not required

5. Applicants whose native language is not English may be required to submit English language certification test scores.

DO NOT SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL BY POSTAL MAIL UNLESS REQUESTED TO DO SO. THIS WILL DELAY PROCESSING YOUR APPLICATION.

For information regarding Department of Theatre application materials, questions about the  graduate school application process, to arrange a visit to UT, or for general information about our Department, please email Professor Kenton Yeager, Director of Graduate Studies, at kyeager2@utk.edu.

For more information on the MFA in Theatre, Acting program, contact Professor Katie Cunningham at kcunni12@utk.edu any time.

Thank you for your interest in the MFA in Theatre, Acting program at the University of Tennessee. We hope to hear from you!

Application Guidelines for International Students

International students are strongly encouraged to apply for the MFA in Theatre, Acting program. Before considering auditioning, please carefully review the “Required Funding for Student Visa Sponsorship” page from UTK’s International Student and Scholar Services.

Applying to the Graduate School is not necessary prior to auditioning. Please do not apply to the Graduate School unless and until instructed. If you audition (by video or in person) prior to December 1, one of three things will occur: 

1. You may receive an offer in January.
2. You may be placed on a waiting list.
3. You may be declined for admission.

If you receive an offer, you must then apply to the Graduate School prior to the February 1 deadline.  If you are placed on a waiting list, you will still need to apply to the Graduate School before the deadline, though you may not ultimately be offered a place in the MFA program. If you are declined for admission, there is no need to apply to the Graduate School.

We advise all those who audition to be prepared to apply to the Graduate School and to plan for payment of the $60.00 fee prior to February 1, in case you are accepted into the program or put on a waiting list. 

International students may audition by video submission. The final deadline for video submission is December 1. Guidelines for the video are provided above. 

Your video submission will be reviewed by a committee of faculty. Applicants will be notified of rejection or scheduled for a virtual “callback” audition and interview. Additional virtual callbacks may be requested. A visit to UTK is not required for admission. Some visits may be possible, to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Applicants will be informed of their status when the audition and interview process is completed.

To arrange an in person audition with the Department of Theatre, please email Professor Katie Cunningham at kcunni12@utk.edu.