Office: 3225 Old Main; 313-577-3508
Chairperson and Director, University Theatres: Blair Anderson
Graduate Officer: James Thomas
Academic Service Officer: Michael Donohue
Website: http://www.theatre.wayne.edu
N. Joseph Calarco, Robert T. Hazzard (Emeritus), Lazar Kaushansky, Leonard Leone (Distinguished Professor Emeritus), David J. Magidson, Nira Pullin, Anthony B. Schmitt (Emeritus), Thomas Schraeder, Russell E. Smith (Emeritus), James Thomas
Michael Barnes, Fred Florkowski, Lavinia Hart, James Luse, Anthony Rhine
Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School; for requirements, see Admission, Regular. In addition, applicants must have at least a 3.0 (`B') grade point average. A minimum of fifteen semester credits in the area of specialization is required.
Candidacy must be established by the time twelve credits have been earned.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: The Master of Arts degree is offered by this department under the following options:
Plan A: Thirty-two credits, including an eight-credit thesis.
Plan B: Thirty-two credits, including a three-credit essay.
Plan A - Thesis: Thirty-two credits (24 credits in course work plus 8 credits in thesis)
Literature Sequence (6 credits)
Criticism, Playwriting Sequence (6-8 credits)
Electives (5-9 credits, including at least one course from the following seminars)
Plus other electives with approval of adviser
Oral Examination: A final oral examination covering the thesis, the Graduate Reading List and all course work taken at Wayne State University will also be required.
Plan B - Essay: (29 credits in course work plus 3 credits in essay)
Research Methods (3 credits from the following or equivalent)
Literature Sequence (6 credits)
Criticism, Playwriting Sequence (6 credits)
Electives (10-14 credits, including at least one course from the following seminars)
Plus other electives with approval of adviser
Oral Examination: A final oral examination covering the essay, the Graduate Reading List and all course work taken at Wayne State will also be required.
The Master of Fine Arts curriculum in theatre is a three-year program of intensive professional training in the student's area of specialization and is offered in acting, theatre stage design, stage costume design, stage lighting design, theatre management or stage management.
Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School; for requirements, see Admission, Regular. In addition, applicants must satisfy the following criteria.
Students with a bachelor's degree are eligible to enroll in the M.F.A. program if they have successfully completed an audition or personal interview with the theatre arts faculty. Students with background deficiencies may be provisionally admitted to the M.F.A. program provided that they enroll in work prescribed to eliminate these deficiencies.
Students must declare their area of specialization upon entry into the program. The M.F.A. program is open only to members of the Hilberry Repertory Theatre Company.
The Master of Fine Arts with a major in theatre is offered only as a Plan C master's program, requiring sixty credits in the area of specialization. All programs require a final project and a final oral examination relevant to the degree specialization. Major requirements are as follows:
ACTING: Sixty Credits.
(Open only to members of the Hilberry Company.)
THEATRE MANAGEMENT: Sixty Credits.
STAGE MANAGEMENT: Variations in curricula are possible within the Theatre Management program for students interested in Stage Management. The variations include replacement of THR 7170, Internship in Theatre Management, with THR 8190 and THR 8200, Teaching Internship I and II, plus courses in scenic, costume, and lighting design, selected in consultation with an adviser.
THEATRE STAGE DESIGN: Sixty Credits.
STAGE LIGHTING DESIGN: Sixty Credits.
STAGE COSTUMING: Sixty Credits.
STAGE COSTUME DESIGN: Sixty Credits.
The Ph.D. program in theatre at Wayne State University is designed to train the scholar/director. Courses in the Department are designed to promote research and study in all aspects of the theatre arts, and to provide intensive training in theatre.
Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School; for requirements, see Admission, Regular. In addition, applicants must satisfy the following criteria. Required prerequisites include an M.A. degree with a 3.3 (`B'=3.0) grade point average, undergraduate and graduate work in the theatre arts, the ability to write effectively, and demonstrated proficiency in speaking and reading.
Only students with significant training and experience in directing who have a major creative interest in directing will be considered for admission. The Department reserves the right to restrict doctoral admissions due to limitations on production resources.
In addition to completing all admission procedures of the Graduate School, the applicant for graduate study in theatre should provide:
1) copies of all academic transcripts;
2) graduate record examination scores;
3) at least three letters of recommendation addressing applicant's academic and artistic talent or promise;
4) a scholarly paper of at least 2,000 words or thesis demonstrating research ability;
5) applicant's Statement of Goals (100-150 words);
6) reviews and/or other documents of performance achievement, if available. The applicant should consult the Chairperson of the Departmental Graduate Committee for details.
Candidates for the doctoral degree must complete ninety credits beyond the baccalaureate including thirty credits of dissertation direction. The thirty credit dissertation registration requirement is fulfilled by registering for the courses 9991, 9992, 9993, and 9994 (Doctoral Dissertation Research and Direction I, II, III, and IV, respectively), in consecutive academic year semesters. Additional requirements include: one course in graduate research techniques or its equivalent; a departmental major or minor; and a minor outside the department. Dissertations characteristically employ critical or historical methods. Specific guidelines are available in the Office of the Chairperson of the Departmental Graduate Committee. Additional requirements may be made by the student's advisory committee and the Departmental Graduate Committee.
The qualifying examinations will cover major and minor areas in the student's Plan of Work.
Sources of financial aid for graduate students may be found at Financial Assistance, Graduate. See also the Academic Regulations section of the College, above. The following information applies to the Theatre Department.
Each year a number of graduate assistantships are awarded to qualified students. Hilberry Repertory Theatre student assistantships are awarded annually on the basis of auditions. For information, write to the Chairperson of the Department or the Chairperson of the Departmental Graduate Committee.
Francis Selfo Scholarship: An award of variable amount open to any student of Albanian descent who is studying theatre. Application deadline is May 15. Contact the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid for details.