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2024-2025 Academic Calendar | York University Faculty of Graduate Studies

Theatre

Posted on 17 August 2022

All Programs

LocationEmail AddressProgram Website
Centre for Film & Theatre (CFT) 324gradthea@yorku.cayorku.ca/gradstudies/theatre/

The Graduate Program in Theatre is a conservatory program set in the atmosphere of a multifaceted university. York’s program is unique in Canada and one of the very few of its kind and intensity in North America. Its fundamental mission is to help each student/artist fulfill her or his own potential as a creator.

The program rests on the principle that professional training in theatre is most effectively carried out in an atmosphere that approximates the profession to which the students aspire.

The program investigates the nature of the art and the skills needed for performance in today’s theatre, film and television industries. The program is geared to the advanced student who has a dedication to craft and performance-creation; to the highly talented student right out of undergraduate school; and to the professional in need of re-evaluation and a fuller understanding of the art form. The purpose of the training is to involve the developing artist in intensive explorations under the guidance of leading experts and specialists from the theatre department faculty, from across Canada and from the international theatre community.

The Graduate Program in Theatre at York University is located in one of North America’s major centres for theatrical film, television and media production.

Students may obtain their Master of Fine Arts in combination with a Master of Business Administration degree. Please see the Combined MBA/MFA/MA section of this Calendar for more information.

The graduate program consists of a highly select group of up to twelve actors, four directors, three playwrights, two voice teachers, two acting teachers and two movement teachers.

Performance students focus their studies on preparation for the work they will encounter in the profession. Day to day training includes vocal, physical, and emotional work, improvisation, textual preparation, language preparation, mask work, clown work and scene study.

Directing students learn an appreciation of the craft of the actor by participating in some of the actor training. They take part in directing workshops and study approaches to research. They direct productions for the department.

Playwriting students. The objective of the playwriting area is to develop imagination and powers of observation, to stretch the playwrights’ reach and to help them discover a wide variety of options.

Design students. The design for performing arts field supports the development of committed professionals as master designers for theatre, dance and opera who understand the need to re-examine existing theatre practices and, while retaining their artistic and intellectual goal, do so in a sustainable and ecological manner.

Voice Teacher Diploma students.*
*This graduate diploma is not accepting new registrants. In addition to the actor training, the voice teacher diploma candidates engage in weekly seminars, observations, assist senior faculty and teach under supervision. The training includes voice, voice science, anatomy and physiology, language, speech sounds, phonetics, dialect, coaching techniques, and traditional and non-traditional approaches to voice.

For all students the first year of the program consists primarily of intensive studio work leading to a final project. The summer session is devoted to research, and the second year leads to a repertory of plays.

Admission Requirements

Candidates for admission for the performance, directing and playwriting fields are expected to satisfy one of the following requirements:

1) an honours four-year BA or BFA degree with a minimum “B” average;

OR,

2) an Ordinary three-year degree with a minimum “B” average and a minimum of three years additional theatre or related experience.

Exceptions may be made for mature students with additional professional theatre credits.

All candidates must attend an audition/interview.

Playwriting candidates must submit examples of their work. Directing candidates must present audition material and additionally they are given an assignment prior to their evaluation. Performance candidates must present audition material. Students are admitted every two years (next in Fall 2023). Auditions are held in major centres across the country. Please see the Admissions website for deadlines.

Candidates for admission to the design in performing arts field are expected to satisfy one or more of the following requirements:

1) An Honours undergraduate degree or equivalent (typically a four-year full-time program) in theatre, film, environmental studies, engineering, or architecture or related discipline from a recognized postsecondary institution with a minimum grade point average of “B” in the final two years of full-time equivalent study, or an undergraduate degree program or equivalent in theatre, environmental studies, engineering, or architecture from a recognized postsecondary institution with a minimum grade point average of B in the final two years of full-time equivalent study plus a minimum of three years of professional theatre or other design related experience;

2) Completion of a program at a recognized training academy;

3) Documented design or production experience in professional theatre; and,

4) Documented professional design experience in other fields.

Since students are not admitted to the proposed field straight out of an undergraduate program, more attention is paid to the student’s early career.

Candidates are also expected to submit a portfolio, including:

  • Letter of interest;
  • résumé;
  • two letters of reference;
  • academic transcripts from all universities and colleges attended; visual documentation of candidate’s work in theatre or other fields; other visual materials, as applicable.

This graduate diploma is not accepting new registrants.

  1. Only students who qualify for the Graduate Program in Theatre, in either the acting or directing stream, may enrol in the Graduate Diploma in Voice Teaching. This diploma can only be taken concurrently with the full-time five-semester MFA in Theatre.
  2. Candidate voice teachers are expected to have professional acting experience and/or teaching experience subsequent to their Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
  3. Candidates must have other advanced training, for example, from the National Voice Intensive, Equity Showcase Theatre or other professional voice training programs.
  4. Prospective voice teachers must attend an interview specifically related to the voice teaching.

This graduate diploma is not accepting new registrants.

Two different kinds of candidates are considered for admission to the diploma. They must be either:

  1. Students who have a theatre background and have completed an MFA in Theatre, in either acting or directing.
    OR
  2. Students who do not come from a theatre background but have an advanced degree (MA or PhD) in linguistics, speech and hearing pathology, speech, mass communications or other related fields. They must be able to demonstrate experience and knowledge in theatre performance skills.

Additional Admission Interview and Audition

  1. Candidates must have an advanced degree (MFA or equivalent) and therefore require more than the minimum academic admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Program in Theatre.
  2. Voice teacher candidates are expected to have professional performing arts performance experience and/or teaching experience. Teaching experience may include traditional schooling at all levels as well as professional actor training studios.
  3. Candidates must have other advanced performance training, for example: the National Voice Intensive, Equity Showcase Theatre or other professional voice training programs.
  4. Prospective voice teachers must attend an interview/audition specifically related to voice teaching with the voice faculty where they demonstrate familiarity with various styles and forms of voice training through demonstration and performance.

Degree and Diploma Requirements

Students must successfully complete all degree requirements. The Graduate Program Director, in conjunction with the teaching faculty, prepares an evaluation of each student’s work once each term. If the work is not satisfactory, students can expect a notice of warning before being asked to leave the program. Since the first year is primarily studio exploration and the second year has a performance orientation, all students are reviewed at the end of the first year and must be invited into the second year. Thesis requirements vary
according to the student’s area of specialization, but may include the following:

Performance Students

  • Summer research project
  • Rehearsal/research log for final season of plays in the second year
  • Satisfactory participation in and the oral defence of their MFA thesis role

Directing Students

  • Summer research project
  • Satisfactory direction of several productions, plus one MFA thesis production
  • Oral defence of MFA thesis production

Playwriting Students

  • Summer research project
  • One-act play
  • Full-length play
  • Adaptation
  • Oral defence of full-length play

Design for the Performing Arts Students
The normal program length for design students is five terms.

First Year (Fall and Winter terms)

  • Theatre 5210 6.0: Graduate Research Seminar
  • Theatre 5410 6.0: History of Visual Sources Special Project
  • Theatre 5413 3.0: Graduate One Design for Performing Arts
  • Theatre 5412 6.0: Graduate One Directing and Design

Second Year (Fall and Winter terms)

  • Theatre 6413 3.0: Graduate Two Design for Performing Arts
  • Theatre 6000 0.0: MFA Thesis Research

Additional Course Requirements

  • Six credits in courses chosen from those offered by the Graduate Program in Theatre
  • Six credits in courses chosen from an approved cognate field at the graduate level. These courses should include environmental studies courses and fine arts courses that would be useful in the development of the final thesis project.

Comprehensive Examination

100 plays comprehensive test (normally completed by the second term of study).

Summer Research Project

The summer research project is normally completed in the third term (i.e., summer of first year of study). The project involving researching and developing ecological practices for design in theatre, whether sets, costumes or sound and lighting. A project proposal must be submitted to the Graduate Program Director and design instructor. A research paper is the end result and can be the basis of the sustainable technology of a student’s thesis project.

Thesis Project

Students are required to successfully complete a thesis project, including oral examination, in one of the following areas:

  • theoretical design for performing arts
  • practical design for performing arts
  • sustainable technology in performing arts

A theoretical design thesis is composed of four distinct parts: a thesis proposal, research paper, documented design and oral defence. Documented design should include a research paper, both from a sustainable point of view and historical/artistic, design drawings, technical drawings, and additional materials requested by the supervising professor.

A practical design thesis is composed of five distinctive parts: a thesis proposal, research paper, both from a sustainable point of view and historical/artistic, documented design, realized production and oral defence. Documented design should include relevant research, design drawings, technical drawings, photos from production and additional materials requested by the supervising professor. This project does not take place at York University; rather, it may be in collaboration with The Canadian Stage Company or another professional group.

A sustainable technology thesis focuses on one of set design, costume design or lighting design, and may investigate alternate sustainable methods of design or develop a written conceptual design based on the ideals of ecological design. The thesis is composed of four distinct parts: a thesis proposal, research paper, documented design ideas and oral defence. The documented design should include both traditional and alternate techniques, necessary design and technical drawings and additional materials requested by the supervising professor.

Program Entry

The MFA program can be completed on a full-time basis. Entry is fall term.

Program Length

The expected degree completion time for full-time master’s students is 5 terms. Students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of 5 terms of full-time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.

Students must satisfy all graduate diploma requirements:

  • Summer research project
  • Special voice project
  • Everything expected of performance students

Students must satisfy all graduate diploma requirements:

  • Two full graduate courses
  • Teaching under supervision
  • Major voice training project