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Opportunities

Graduate Schools

Students who are interested in pursuing their education after receiving their degree from the Department of Theatre are encouraged to participate in the University/Resident Theatre Association (URTA) National Unified Auditions and Interviews.   

Each winter URTA holds a series of auditions and interviews involving hundreds of the country's outstanding undergraduate and advanced theatre students. The National Unified Auditions and Interviews are conducted in New York City, Chicago and San Francisco, with candidates coming from around the world. Candidates interested in acting, design (scenic, lighting, costume, sound), directing, theatre technology, stage management, playwriting and theatre management, are provided the opportunity to vie for numerous positions with graduate schools, and for seasonal employment with summer theatre companies, Shakespeare festivals and other professional producing organizations. Membership in U/RTA is not required for students to participate.

Of the more than 1200 candidates that are reviewed, many are students of prestigious undergraduate programs or theatre company schools, and winners of various national competitions, including the American College Theatre Festival. Acting candidates in NYC and Chicago are screened by panels of graduate program teachers, casting directors and/or other members of the professional community, and those who demonstrate ability, experience and theatrical promise are passed on to the final auditions.

Directing candidates are also screened through an interview process by similar groups from graduate theatre programs as well as professional regional theatres.  Design candidates are screened, again by similar groups, through portfolio reviews.  Candidates interested in areas including theatre technology, playwriting, stage management, and theatre management must also undergo similar screening.

Theatre students who apply to graduate school during their senior year are encouraged to ask for help from the faculty with audition coaching or portfolio review prior to any graduate school interviews or in preparation for URTA auditions.