Directing MFA

With an emphasis on the collaborative process, the Directing Program's purpose is to develop directors with a solid foundation in the components of production and the interpretation of text. Individuals are encouraged to make challenging choices, to break down barriers, and to create exciting, meaningful theatre.

Classes

The core curriculum of the program, Directing Process, offers students opportunities to hone their skills in text analysis and scene work in all three years. The first year student also completes a sequence in the acting process and the development of a visual vocabulary in theatrical design and visual arts courses. Also in the first year, the techniques of London's Joint Stock Theatre Group (originators of such work as Fanshen by David Hare as well as Fen and Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill) are explored in Collaborative Process, a course which explores community issues via theatrical means. The program also offers a class in site-specific theatre, in which students have workshopped plays by international writers Chuck Mee, Caryl Churchill, and Timberlake Wirtenbaker.

Productions

Directing students will direct from two to four department-scheduled and faculty supervised productions in the Mandell Weiss Center for the Performing Arts during their time at UCSD. The production season offers opportunities to assist guest and faculty directors. In addition, workshop and cabaret productions of the director's choosing are strongly encouraged.

Externship

In the second year, the Tony award-winning La Jolla Playhouse provides a residency during which student directors typically serve as an Assistant Director with such directors as Robert Falls, Athol Fugard, Michael Greif, Neel Keller, Des McAnuff, Mark Rucker, Robert Woodruff and Tina Landau.

Research and Other Opportunities

It is common for the directing faculty to take MFA directors with them to work as Assistant Directors at theatres around the United States. Students have worked as Assistant Directors to Richard Foreman in France and to Athol Fugard on the premiere of a new play in South Africa. Others have produced shows in San Diego, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

Faculty

The permanent directing faculty is frequently augmented by guest directors who teach in the program. Those who have held full-term appointments in recent years include Anne Bogart, Robert Egan, Des McAnuff, Andrei Serban, Robert Woodruff, Joseph Chaikin, Richard Foreman, David Esbjornson, Loretta Greco, and Brian Kulick. Emeritus Faculty: Theodore Shank. To see a list of our current faculty, with photos and bios, please visit our faculty page.