The Department of Dramatic Art offers professional training programs in acting, costume production, and technical production leading to the master of fine arts (M.F.A.) degree. The production facilities in the Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art include the Paul Green Theatre and the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre along with studios, rehearsal hall, costume complex, and scene shops.
Generally, only first-year applicants are considered for admission. Candidates should check with the department for admission information pertaining to their specific area of specialization (i.e., acting, technical production, or costume production).
All applicants must meet admission requirements established by The Graduate School of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Each area of specialization within the department requires additional application materials. In the costuming and technical areas, applicants are required to submit portfolios. Candidates should check with the department for further information as to what each area entails. All acting candidates must audition. In addition to on-campus auditions, the department holds auditions every other year in January in New York and Chicago. Applications must be received by January 10 to be considered.
Each student is responsible for becoming familiar with the general regulations of The Graduate School and particularly with the dates indicated on the calendar for the academic year. This information is contained elsewhere in the Graduate Catalog. Please note that, due to the nature of the professional training programs, the calendar for graduate students in the Department of Dramatic Art will not always coincide with that of the University. Graduate students in the department are frequently required to work on productions during University-scheduled holidays.
A limited number of graduate appointments are available in the department. Appointments are presently awarded in the areas of acting, technical production, and costume production in support of courses. All appointments involve instructional or laboratory supervisory responsibility.
Through disciplined classroom training and a progressive involvement in performance or production opportunities, students in the master of fine arts (M.F.A.) program are challenged to develop the skills and attitudes that enable them to compete in the professional theatre. Emphasizing accomplishment in a range of performance and production styles, the programs complement the variety of theatrical experiences available in the PlayMakers Repertory Company (PRC), a professional full-season equity company and a member of The League of Resident Theatres. Within his or her area of specialization, a student will be ready upon graduation to perform a variety of roles or assume a range of responsibilities onstage or backstage in stage, film, or television. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a member of URTA (University/Resident Theatre Association, Inc.).
Each candidate pursues a course of study in a conservatory environment. Classroom training offers a variety of approaches, each designed to develop and refine the candidate's artistic and professional potential. Classroom work is augmented by participation in the professional season of PlayMakers Repertory Company. In addition to the PRC, students find performance opportunities in studio projects and productions.
At least once each semester, the faculty formally evaluates the candidate's progress and makes recommendations concerning his or her continuation in the program. Evaluations are made of each individual on the basis of classroom and performance or production work. Letter grades (H, P, L, F) are assigned for work in all courses.
All candidates are required to be in residence for three years, six consecutive semesters. The departmental system of evaluation requires that the student be invited to continue in the second and then in the final year of the program. While all programs require their students to complete 60 credit hours, those hours are apportioned differently from program to program. In addition to 60 credit hours, each area of specialization carries its own graduation requirements. Candidates are encouraged to ascertain individual requirements for graduation as soon as possible.
Detailed information can be obtained by addressing inquiries to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Dramatic Art, CB# 3230, Center for Dramatic Art, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27599-3230. Additional information is available on the department's Web site.
Janet A. Chambers, Design
McKay Coble, Design
Michael J. Rolleri, Head of Technical Production
Tracy Bersley, Co-Head of M.F.A. Acting, Movement
Julia Gibson, Co-Head of M.F.A. Acting, Actor
Letitia James, Voice and Speech
Gwendolyn Schwinke, Voice and Speech
Adam Maxfield, Technical Director
Aubrey Snowden, Head of Graduate Studies