Top US Graduate Acting Programs
by Chad Gracia
If you're serious about becoming a working actor, one path you may
want to take is graduate study. Many theater professionals have
perfected their skills in MFA drama programs. I've selected -- with
the help of my acting coaches -- some of the best in the United
States.
1. New York University
Each year, 18 actors (out of 900 auditions) are invited to join the
graduate acting program at NYU. The training is intensive, with
classes daily from 10am to 6pm, focusing on acting; voice, speech,
and text; and movement. Located in the heart of New York City, it
is the perfect place to make theater connections. And as Sean
Lewis, one of our coaches, pointed out, they have just added the
excellent Richard Feldman of Juilliard fame to their staff. Alumni
include Marcia Gay Harden (Mystic River) and Frank Wood (Tony
winner).
2. Yale - Connecticut
The graduate drama program at Yale focuses on preparing students
for the stage, although they have also turned out leading actors
and directors in film and television. Yale is one of the most
respected universities in the country, and actors who study here
have a huge head start when trying to get work.
3. Rutgers - New Jersey
The graduate drama program at Rutger's is one of the best. It is
headed by Israel Hicks (a current Tony nominee and "the man who
built Purchase and Temple's programs"). Many have also pointed out
that the school's Deborah Hedwall is one of the best acting
teachers around. Each year, the school showcases its students at
events in Los Angeles and New York.
4. USD/Old Globe - San Diego
The University of San Diego offers an MFA in Dramatic Arts in
collaboration with the world renown Old Globe theater. This
partnership makes one of the finest acting programs anywhere. Only
seven students are chosen each year, and they are given full
scholarships and stipends (worth more than $50,000/year). But most
important, students are given the chance to perform at the Old
Globe, one of America's finest regional theaters. Guest directors
have included Jack O'Brien, Daniel Sullivan, Nicholas Martin, John
Rando and Matthew August.
5. UC-San Diego
The University of California at San Diego offers a three-year
graduate acting program. Founded in 1974, the department has a
partnership with the famed La Jolla Playhouse (Tony Outstanding
Regional Theater,1993) where students are guaranteed a professional
residency. They also offer a PhD program in Theatre and Drama. Past
adjunct and visiting faculty include: Anne Bogart, Joesph Chaiken,
Robert Egan, Richard Forman, Andrei Serban, and Robert Woodruf.
6. ACT - San Francisco
Not associated with any university or college, the American
Conservatory Theater (ACT) offers an MFA program in actor training.
One of the advantages to studying here is that you will work
intimately with a leading professional theater company.
7. Harvard/ART - Boston
The Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard is a
two-year program conducted in association with the American
Repertory Theater (ART). One of the unique aspects of this program
is that it includes a three month residency at the Moscow Theatre
Art school, where students work closely with their professional
acting company on mainstage productions. Upon graduation, students
receive a Certificate of Achievement from the A.R.T. at Harvard
University and an MFA from the Moscow Art Theatre.
8. UC-Irvine
This is another excellent graduate program, with many alumni
heading straight out of school to Broadway and work in Hollywood.
The graduate professional training program is ranked among the top
12 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and listed in the
"most highly recommended" category by ARCO The Performing Arts
Major's College Guide.
9. The Actors Studio Drama School - New York
This is a three-year intensive program made famous by James
Lipton's Bravo series, "Inside the Actor's Studio." The program is,
according to its materials, "rooted in 'The Method,' as it was
developed by Constantin Stanislavski in Russia and as it evolved in
the United States through The Group Theatre and The Actors Studio.
All core faculty are life members or associates of The Actors
Studio; as such, they all speak a common language, while
maintaining individual approaches both to theatre and to teaching.
The goal of the program is to produce theatre artists who have
access to emotional truth and moment-to-moment reality while
maintaining a sense of stage-craft and professionalism, and to
present those artists to the theatrical community in the third-year
Repertory Season. The Actors Studio Drama School is a joint program
of New School University and The Actors Studio."
10. National Theatre Conservatory (NTC) - Denver
Affiliated with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA),
the NTC offers a three-year MFA program. For those lucky eight
students who are accepted, tuition is free and a stipend is granted
for living expenses. The DCPA provides students with access to nine
theatres, the Tony award winning Denver Center Theatre Company, the
Emmy award winning film and television studios, and the National
Center for Voice and Speech. Students are also given opportunities
to explore the behind-the-scenes workings of touring Broadway
productions.
Honorable Mentions:
The following schools have strong acting programs: University of Miami (FL),
DePaul, Boston University, University of Delaware and UMKC.
"Actor Tips" is copyright 2006 by Chad Gracia and ActorTips.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
For more articles on acting, as well as free monologues and acting supplies, visit
www.actortips.com.
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