Acting

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance degree complements rigorous conservatory training with a rich academic curriculum. We are committed to guiding students to be artful and commercial in preparation for a professional career in entertainment. What sets us apart is small class sizes and the intimate instruction students receive.

The program develops basic through advanced actor skills, including auditioning, acting for the camera, stage combat, voice, dialects, movement, and heightened text. Empowerment is the aim where the actor is in control of their creative process and career development.

Graduate

The MFA in Acting degree challenges and focuses the advanced artist-scholar through rigorous professionally-oriented exploration in the studio and in public performance. The program (typically completed in three years) includes 60 credits of course work, end-of-semester student performance feedback meetings with an active nationally and internationally recognized faculty, a culminating performance project in the final year, and completion of an off-campus professional internship, as well as guest-artist workshops and residencies, an industry showcase, and opportunities at The Hippodrome, Gainesville’s resident Equity theatre.

Current Curriculum Summary:

• Acting (5 semesters): including Realism, Shakespeare, Period Styles, Contemporary, and Acting for the Camera/Digital Media
• Movement (4 semesters): including Somatic Technique, Laban, and Stage Combat
• Voice (4 semesters): including Linklater, Dialects, and Voice-overs
• History, Literature and Criticism (2 semesters)
• Singing for the Actor
• Rotating Topics for the Modern Actor
• Project in Lieu of Thesis
• Professional Internship

Admission to the Master of Fine Arts-Theatre (Acting) degree program is based on artistry and scholarship. Placement in the program is determined through a holistic admission process and candidates should have adequate training in theatre. The review consists of the following elements:

• Audition
• Review of academic credentials (undergraduate GPA is reviewed for Graduate School 3.0 minimum GPA average, for coursework earned beyond the initial 60 credits; the school also carefully reviews grades earned in all Theatre coursework)
• an academic writing sample
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Interview

Writing deficiencies may be addressed with a writing course, which is in addition to the standard MFA curriculum and not covered by the tuition waiver; offers of conditional admission will include specific requirements to address within the first year.

UF faculty audition prospective MFA students at the URTA auditions and interviews each year. Please find the current audition dates, follow the URTA recommended guidelines in the Candidate Handbook, review the FAQs, complete the online application, and avail yourself of any other pertinent event information on the URTA website: https://urta.com/.

Only those applicants invited to apply should submit materials. Unsolicited applications will not be successful.

See Admissions Information (in the links on the left) for details regarding auditioning and admission requirements.