Dedicated to Art in Action and offering the only Graduate Certificate in African American Theatre in the United States, the MFA in Performance at University of Louisville offers a three-prong approach. We train artists to act, teach, and make theatre that resonates locally, nationally, and internationally. Our students push boundaries of thinking and challenge conventions of theatre and society through exploration of classical, contemporary, and global dramatic forms. Marrying theory, practice, and engaged outreach, we encourage the application of research, creativity, and sustainability in embodied, socially-conscious performances.
Students in our three-year MFA in Performance program take classes in acting, movement, voice, and performance theory. While completing their coursework, they act in Mainstage shows directed by faculty and guest artists, perform in the UofL Repertory Company’s theatre for young audiences touring productions, and/or work on their own performance projects.
The Graduate Certificate in African American Theatre, which can be completed in conjunction with the MFA in Performance, focuses on the theory and craft of acting and directing for African American theatre.
Applicants to our program are automatically considered for Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantships that include full tuition, stipend, and health insurance for the academic year.
Acceptance to our program requires an audition with two prepared, contrasting monologues, one classical (pre-1800) and one contemporary. We are holding on-campus auditions at our February 22, 2019 Open House. The Open House is an opportunity for applicants to take a master acting class, meet faculty and students, observe a graduate course, visit our two theatres, and see one of our productions. The schedule of the day’s events is provided below:
Auditions: 9:30 to 11:30 AM
Lunch with current MFA students: 11:30 AM to 12:45 PM
Visit Dr. J. Ariadne Calvano’s Performing Circus and Spectacle Class: 1 to 2:30 PM
Master Acting Class with Dr. Baron Kelly and Professor Rachel Carter: 2:45-3:45 PM
Facilities Tour with Chair Kevin Gawley: 4 to 5 PM
African American Theatre Program (AATP) Hosted Happy Hour: 5 to 6:00 PM
Attendance at Shirley Lauro’s A Piece of My Heart, followed by a talkback with the director, Professor Sidney Williams, the cast, and the designers: 7:30-10 PM.
We are also holding auditions at the Southern Eastern Theatre Conference (SETC) on March 1, 2019 at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. Information about SETC auditions for graduate programs can be found at: https://www.setc.org/auditions/grad-school/.
Interested applicants unable to attend our February 22, 2019 Open House or March 1, 2019 SETC auditions can schedule an on-campus audition on an alternative date or can submit a YouTube or Vimeo video audition. Instructions for uploading a video audition can be found here: http://louisville.edu/theatrearts/graduates/auditions.
To schedule an on-campus audition during the February 22, 2019 Open House or on an alternative date, please contact Ms. LaShondra Hood, Assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies, at lashondra.hood@louisville.edu.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Dr. Janna Segal, Director of Graduate Studies, at janna.segal@louisville.edu or at (502) 852-8445. You can also visit our website (http://louisville.edu/theatrearts) and contact our Program Coordinator, Ms. Jessica Key, at jessica.key@louisville.edu or at (502) 852-5922.