M.F.A. ACTING AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY

*  An intensive, 3 year experience
*  A highly selective program of 9 M.F.A. actors
*  Personalized attention to one’s artistic growth
*  Training in methodology; text and scene study;
ensemble creation; realism, styles, non-realism;
audition process; camera work
*  Voice and Speech every semester
*  Movement every semester/stage combat annually
*  Professional preparation/auditions/opportunities
*  2 courses in theatre history/theory/literature
*  Guest artists
*  Immediate casting opportunities; 2 roles per year
*  Acting at the Brown County Playhouse
*  Thesis role with actor input on casting
*  Full tuition waivers; assistantships - $11,000 min.
*  Teaching opportunities
*  Travel grant funds
*  Membership in a large and vital department of        
over 250 students from B.A. to Ph.D.
*  A sophisticated university with a beautiful campus
and a broad range of academic disciplines
*  Residence in a vibrant, arts friendly community

     CONTACT US - CONSIDER THE IU PROGRAM

M.F.A. ACTING AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY

Our acting program provides training with an emphasis on individual attention to technique and growth.  We have a total number of 9 actors in our three year program and a performance faculty of 10 teacher/artists who are full time.  Even though the faculty teach undergraduate courses, the ratio of 9 actors to 10 teachers
still indicates that an M.F.A. actor will not get lost in the shuffle, and he/she will have several teachers to turn to for training, guidance, and inspiration.  Our faculty bring varied strengths to teaching and creative activity, and all are united in preparing actors for the professional theatre through specific classes in technique and process while making a commitment to working on demanding texts of the classical and contemporary theatre.

Actors will have the opportunity to develop several approaches to acting, and they will work with many types of teachers and artists to be successful.  We believe that a specific journey can be created for training, and that is why we start with a methodology class on individual access to truth before moving on to text, scene study, styles, audition work, and a camera class.  This is all complemented by comprehensive work in movement and voice and speech.

We produce 8 full productions in our theatrical season and 4 full productions at our summer theatre the Brown County Playhouse.  Actors perform 2 or more roles during the academic year, and they also have the opportunity for casting during the summer.  When you add in the summer casting it is not uncommon that our actors will play 7 to 10 roles in a three year period.

We strive to cast all actors in the first semester, and there is evaluation and discussion with the faculty about the first role played each year, in what we call a project role.  An actor is assigned an advisor for this project, and the advisor works with the actor to articulate goals for the actor and also attends rehearsals and provides feedback to the actor during the rehearsal process.  In the third year a thesis role is played, and there is discussion with the actor on which roles will suitably challenge him/her.  The actor decides which faculty will serve on his/her thesis committee.   

Guest artists are brought into the studio, the rehearsal process, and production in order to supplement training and experience.  Casting agents, artistic directors, and prominent artists are part of our commitment to keeping our actors engaged in the profession.

Our students work in many professional theatres across the country with current and recent examples being Broadway, Chicago Shakespeare, Utah Shakespeare, PCPA Rep, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Victory Gardens Theatre.

We also feel that teaching sharpens your skills as an actor, and we provide guidance and support in your work as a teacher.  We also believe that a well read actor is a prepared actor, so a reading list is given to all actors for subsequent discussion with faculty.

We provide a competitive financial package with all actors receiving tuition waivers and assistantships for Departmental work and teaching. 

Go to our website and visit the bios of our performance faculty, and for that matter, all of our faculty.  You will find an array of experienced, professionally connected teacher/artists  and scholars who are dedicated to the mission of providing comprehensive training with individual attention.

Comprehensive training, professional access, dedicated teachers, financial support, and a vibrant atmosphere: these are some of the highlights of what we have to offer.

Feel free to contact any of our performance faculty if you have questions as you consider your next step in actor training.

Dale McFadden
Head of Acting and Directing Program
Indiana University
mcfadden@indiana.edu
812-855-4080

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