Mar 29, 2024  
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

Theatre M.F.A.


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The Master of Fine Arts is a three-year program offering advanced concentrations in Design/Technology, Directing, Performance, Playwriting, and Stage Management. Actors, directors, playwrights, designers, stage managers, and technicians receive comprehensive and specialized training in preparation for careers in the professional theatre. While deeply committed to the individual theatre artist, the program fosters and encourages an integrated and collaborative approach to theatre. In each semester of training, graduate students share a two-credit graduate seminar committed to progressive and practical exploration of the essential theatre.

The Nevada Conservatory Theatre

The Nevada Conservatory Theatre engages national and international theatre professionals in all disciplines to work alongside the most advanced students from the UNLV Department of Theatre. It is a leading theatre in Las Vegas and southern Nevada. It enriches, strengthens, and challenges the cultural and artistic life of the city and strives to be the state’s premier theatre. It seeks the most advanced level of artistic achievement and to become a renowned regional theatre in America.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate College, applicants must submit to the Department of Theatre:

  1. An official transcript from all postsecondary institutions attended, showing an undergraduate degree in theatre and the date awarded. (An acceptable alternative undergraduate major coupled with satisfactory practical experience in theatre may be deemed equivalent to an undergraduate major in theatre.) M.F.A. candidates deemed to have deficiencies in their training may be required to take specific remedial course work. Students with deficiencies in theatre history will be required to take THTR 681 and THTR 682 (Theater History I and II). Remedial course work may not be counted toward the degree requirements.
  2. A written statement (500 words or less) of the applicant’s purpose in pursuing graduate study.
  3. Two letters of recommendation sent by former instructors, employers, or other professionals who can evaluate the applicant’s potential to complete graduate study. These materials, in addition to those required by the individual concentrations, may be sent to the following address:

Department of Theatre
Attn: Graduate Coordinator
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 S. Maryland Parkway
Box 455036
Las Vegas, NV 89154-5036

Required reading

A reading list will be given to each student upon entering the program. It contains major works in theatre history, performance theory, dramatic criticism and approximately one hundred play texts. It is expected that graduate students will read everything on the list and be prepared to answer questions of comprehension as part of their final examination.

Advancement to Candidacy

The candidacy of all first-year M.F.A. students is provisional. Upon completion of the first year of study, the faculty in each area formally review their students’ academic and artistic progress. If progress is deemed satisfactory, a student is advanced to M.F.A. candidacy. After advancement to candidacy, the student forms an examination committee comprised of four graduate faculty, three to be selected from the Department of Theatre and one representative from another department or college.

Termination of Candidacy

The faculty in each area of study periodically review the candidate’s progress. Termination of candidacy is determined by the faculty in consultation with the student’s advisor, the examination committee and the Graduate Coordinator.

Final Examination

All M.F.A. candidates will complete a two-hour oral examination at the end of their course of study. The first hour will focus on the student’s course of study and the intent, purpose, conceptualization and realization of the student’s creative project(s). The second hour will focus on the graduate reading list.

Design/Technology


Additional admission requirement

In addition to general materials requested by the Department of Theatre, please submit a portfolio of representative work.

Program of Study - Total Credits: 72


A minimum of 72 semester hours in a program approved by the student’s advisor and examination committee. A representative degree program might include:

Directing


Additional admission requirements

In addition to general materials requested by the Department of Theatre (see above), please submit a directorial analysis of a play chosen from the following list:

Othello (Shakespeare)
Tartuffe (Moliere)
She Stoops to Conquer (Goldsmith)
A Doll’s House (Ibsen)
Long Day’s Journey Into Night (O’Neill)
A Streetcar Named Desire (Williams)
All My Sons (Miller)
Glengarry Glen Ross (Mamet)
Take Me Out (Greenberg)
The Heidi Chronicles (Wasserstein)
Fences (Wilson)
Lips Together Teeth Apart (McNally)
Wit (Edson)
The Goat (Albee)

The analysis should not exceed five double-spaced typewritten pages and should include:

  1. A brief statement of the director’s reason for selecting this play.
  2. A single sentence summary of the plot.
  3. A single sentence expressing the essence of the play in a metaphor.
  4. A simple description of the theatrical style the director is contemplating. (This may best be achieved by comparing the production to other well-known works.)
  5. A selected, annotated bibliography of historical, social, political or aesthetic research.
  6. A brief discussion of time and location of the action. If the director intends to reset the action to a locale or time not indicated in the script, there must be a clear description and justification of that choice.
  7. Three color copies of visual images you would submit to your designers as a point of departure for your collaboration.

All directing students are required to interview with members of the directing faculty. Interviews will be arranged after required materials have been received.

The M.F.A. Directing Program has a three-year admission cycle.

Program of Study - Total Credits: 72


A minimum of 72 semester hours in a program approved by the student’s advisor and examination committee. A representative degree program might include:

Performance


Additional admission requirements

In addition to general materials requested by the Department of Theatre (see above), students must audition either in person or through submission of a VHS tape (audition tapes cannot be returned). The audition should contain the following:

  1. Two contrasting selections, one of which must be Shakespeare. The total audition should not exceed four minutes in length.
  2. A song selected from a Broadway musical not to exceed one minute in length. A CD or cassette recording of your accompaniment is recommended as accompaniment cannot be provided.

The M.F.A. in Performance Program admits a new class every three years.

Program of Study - Total Credits: 72


A minimum of 72 semester hours in a program approved by the student’s advisor and examination committee. In addition to required course work, graduate students in performance must audition for all productions affiliated with the Nevada Conservatory Theatre and the University Theatre Season. The degree program might include:

Playwriting


Additional admission requirement

In addition to general materials requested by the Department of Theatre (see above), submit two original plays, including at least one full-length play, and a one page statement of personal aesthetics. Materials cannot be returned.

Program of Study - Total Credits: 72


A minimum of 72 semester hours in a program approved by the student’s advisor and examination committee. A representative degree program might include:

Stage Management


Additional admission requirement

In addition to general materials requested by the Department of Theatre (see above), submit several pages from a sample prompt script (cannot be returned). An interview with Stage Management faculty will be scheduled after application materials have been received.

Program of Study - Total Credits: 72


A minimum of 72 semester hours in a program approved by the student’s advisor and examination committee. A representative degree program might include:

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