If you are not attending U/RTAs but wish to be considered for admission into the Acting Program, you must make sure you are aware of all of the deadlines and that you meet the minimum requirements for entry.

Graduate College Deadlines and Requirements

International Student Admission Requirements

Application procedure

1. Submit an application and official transcript clearly indicating a final grade-point average of 3.00 or better to the Graduate College. The GRE exam is not required.
2. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email instructing you on how to upload your supporting documents and submit letters of recommendation. These will be uploaded from your admissions profile in MyUI, our online service center for applicants and students. You can only access MyUI after you have submitted your application. Supporting documents that will be uploaded to your admissions profile on MyUI:
   • A resume of previous experience
   • A current headshot
   • Three letters of recommendation
   • A written statement explaining why you are seeking the MFA in acting at Iowa
   • Those wishing to audition need to contact the Head of Acting (paul-kalina@uiowa.edu) to schedule an online audition and brief interview. See the following section for audition requirements.
3. For the audition, students should prepare two contrasting monologues not to exceed three minutes total time.
   • It is important that your selections demonstrate your range. Avoid pieces that are similar in intention, genre, period, or style.
   • Live online auditions may be scheduled with the head of acting, Paul Kalina (paul-kalina@uiowa.edu).
   • Program representatives also attend the national auditions of the University/Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA) in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.

We recommend that prospective students visit Iowa City to see the campus and discuss the acting program with our current students and faculty. For those students seriously considering the University of Iowa, the program will provide contact information for our alumni in the profession.

All MFA actors receive a tuition scholarship from the Graduate College, which offsets the amount of the current tuition. General fees are not included in this scholarship. Additionally, most MFA actors receive paid teaching assistantships. Departmental scholarships of varying amounts are also awarded to some students on a year-by-year basis.

The Department of Theatre Arts seeks highly creative students who bring a special vision to their work. For this reason, the department welcomes applicants from a variety of fields who are committed to a career in theatre design.

To be admitted to the design program, candidates must show skill and sensitivity in design or related artistic or technical endeavors and provide evidence of growth and development in their work. Candidates must demonstrate competence in the relevant crafts of their chosen specialty, which may include drafting, painting, drawing, pattern making, computer design, stagecraft, sculpture, photography, graphic design, and/or media design.

To be considered for admission into the program, you must make sure you are aware of all of the deadlines and that you meet the minimum requirements for entry.

Graduate College Deadlines and Requirements

International Student Admission Requirements

Application procedure

1. Submit an application and official transcript clearly indicating a final grade-point average of 3.00 or better to the Graduate College. The GRE exam is not required.

2. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email instructing you on how to upload your supporting documents and submit letters of recommendation. These will be uploaded from your admissions profile in MyUI, our online service center for applicants and students. You can only access MyUI after you have submitted your application. Supporting documents that will be uploaded to your admissions profile on MyUI:

   • A resume of previous theatre training and experience

   • Three letters of recommendation that speak specifically to the candidate’s skill in the areas listed above and to the capacity for growth in design

   • A written statement explaining why you are seeking the MFA in design at Iowa, including what your primary and secondary area of focus may be and why

We recommend that prospective students visit Iowa City to see the campus and discuss the design program with our current students and us. The visits need to be coordinated in advance with the design faculty.

All MFA designers receive a full tuition scholarship from the Graduate College (some schools will call this a tuition waiver). General fees are not included in this scholarship. Additionally, most MFA designers hold paid research assistantships or teaching assistantships. Departmental scholarships also may be awarded, with the amounts varying on an annual basis.

Iowa at U/RTA and USITT

Members of the design faculty regularly attend LDI in October, U/RTA in January and USITT in March. If you are interested in applying to the department, please let us know that you will be at one of those events. Note that the USITT conference is well past the annual Jan. 15 deadline.

You can also arrange for a campus visit. For international applicants, contact Loyce Arthur to inquire about having a remote portfolio review online.

Application portfolio

The candidate's portfolio should indicate skill and an artistic sensibility. Demonstrated design or related artistic or technical competency is highly desirable.

This portfolio must illustrate abilities in the relevant crafts of their chosen specialty, which may include drafting, painting, drawing, pattern making, cutting and draping, mask making, stagecraft, sculpture, photography, and graphic design.

The portfolio should include designs appropriate to your intended primary area of specialization: scenery, lighting, or costumes. Project designs may be included along with executed productions. Please include photos of any realized productions. Show your process in the creation of your design, as well as the final product on stage.

Scenery portfolios

Scenery portfolios should include sketching, drafting, model work, and paint elevations: Rough sketches as well as final renderings (include samples of Adobe Photoshop and SketchUp work, if available); samples of drafting packages (hand drafting and vectorworks, if available), prop drawings/sketches; 1/4” rough models, finished 1/4” models; 1/2” and paint elevations. Photographs of designs for projects and executed productions; Samples of scenic artwork and construction work in properties or scenery are welcome.

Costume portfolios

Costume portfolios should include: sketches and or renderings of projects and executed productions, as well as additional materials such as scale pattern drafting, evidence of special construction or techniques, design paperwork, and make-up or hair drawings.

Lighting portfolios

Lighting portfolios should include: light plots and sections of projects and executed productions. Hookups, instrument schedules and photographic prints or slides of executed productions are expected. Sketches can also be included.

In addition to a primary area of specialization, some candidates may wish to include material relating to a second area of specialization.

All portfolios may include additional supporting material in other areas of visual design. These areas might include drawing, painting, and sculpture, fashion design, architecture, photography, and music composition, graphic, computer, or industrial design.

Each piece or group of pieces in the portfolio should be cited; for theatre work citations should include production title, theatre, director, your production title (if not that as designer) and date of execution. Supporting non-theatre work should have parallel information.

Students admitted to the MFA program in directing should have:

1. An undergraduate degree in theatre or equivalent training
2. Experience in directing a variety of plays

To be considered for admission into the directing program, you must make sure you are aware of all of the deadlines and that you meet the minimum requirements for entry.

Graduate College Deadlines and Requirements

International Student Admission Requirements

Application procedure

1. Submit an application to the Graduate College. GRE exam is not required.
2. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email instructing you on how to upload your supporting documents and submit letters of recommendation. These will be uploaded from your admissions profile in MyUI, our online service center for applicants and students. You can only access MyUI after you have submitted your application. Supporting documents that will be uploaded to your admissions profile on MyUI:
   • A resume of previous theatre and other relevant training and experience
   • Three letters of recommendation from people who have seen your directing work
   • A written statement that sets out your unique, artistic vision and professional goals, and explains why you are seeking the MFA in Directing at Iowa
   • Official copies of all undergraduate (and any graduate) transcripts clearly indicating a final grade-point average. If GPA is below 3.00, please include a written statement indicating the reason.
3. Have a personal interview with the head of directing or another member of the program faculty. Interviews may be arranged at U/RTA, at the University of Iowa, or by telephone/Skype. Be prepared to share copies of relevant production materials: programs, plans or sketches, production and/or rehearsal photos, and writing(s) suggesting your conceptual approach to previous work.

We recommend but do not require, that prospective students visit Iowa City to see the campus and discuss the directing program with our current students and us.

Admission for the Dramaturgy MFA is highly selective. The program currently enrolls three students for the degree and expects to maintain enrollment at this level.

We seek mature students with:

• A strong background in theatre history, theory, literature, and/or related fields
• Well-developed analytical and writing skills
• A demonstrated ability in collaborating with theatre artists
• A vision of how you might ultimately serve the American theatre as a dramaturg in the future

To be considered for admission into the program, you must make sure you are aware of all of the deadlines and that you meet the minimum requirements for entry.

Graduate College Deadlines and Requirements

International Student Admission Requirements

Application procedure

1. Submit an application and official transcript clearly indicating a final grade-point average of 3.00 or better to the Graduate College. The GRE exam is not required.
2. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email instructing you on how to upload your supporting documents and submit letters of recommendation. These will be uploaded from your Admissions Profile in MyUI, our online service center for applicants and students. You can only access MyUI after you have submitted your application. Supporting documents that will be uploaded to your Admissions Profile on MyUI:
   • Two samples of critical writing:
     • Critical articles or essays on drama, theatre, or performance or one sample of critical writing and one portfolio of work as a production dramaturg (e.g, research, program essays, study guides)
     • Note: The writing samples should be long enough to demonstrate the candidate's capacity for sustained, cogent analysis of theatrical works
   • The admissions committee also welcomes (but does not require) samples of dramatic writing which you deem relevant to your interest in the program’s focus on the creation of new works
   • A resume of previous theatrical work, including experience as a dramaturg and in other theatrical disciplines
   • Three letters of recommendation by individuals familiar with your academic and theatrical experience and potential
   • A personal statement (two-three pages) detailing your personal, academic, and theatrical background, including your reasons for pursuing graduate study in dramaturgy and your professional goals after completing the MFA in Dramaturgy at Iowa.
3. If selected as a finalist for admission, the candidate will be interviewed by phone. On-campus interviews are not required. However, if a prospective candidate visits Iowa City, he or she is welcome to meet with our students and us.

All MFA dramaturgs receive a tuition scholarship from the Graduate College, which offsets the amount of the current tuition. General fees are not included in this scholarship. Additionally, all MFA dramaturgy hold paid teaching or research assistantships. Departmental scholarships also may be awarded, with the amounts varying on an annual basis.

We seek mature students with:

• An undergraduate degree completed in good academic standing
• A demonstrated talent and ability as a writer for the stage
• A clear potential for growth as a writer
• Experience in theatrical areas outside playwriting

To be considered for admission into the program, you must make sure you are aware of all of the deadlines and that you meet the minimum requirements for entry.

Graduate College Deadlines and Requirements

International Student Admission Requirements

Application procedure

1. Submit an application and official transcript clearly indicating a final grade-point average of 3.00 or better to the Graduate College. The GRE exam is not required.
2. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email instructing you on how to upload your supporting documents and submit letters of recommendation. These will be uploaded from your Admissions Profile in MyUI, our online service center for applicants and students. You can only access MyUI after you have submitted your application. Supporting documents that will be uploaded to your Admissions Profile on MyUI:
   • Two full-length scripts
   • One full-length and one one-act play also accepted
   • 10-minute plays are accepted only as supplementary to these primary submissions
   • Include all contact information on title page
   • A resume of relevant academic, theatrical, and work experience
   • Three letters of recommendation attesting to your experience as a writer and theatre artist, and potential for future growth
   • A short personal statement (one to two pages) outlining your objectives in applying to the Playwrights Workshop and after completing the MFA in Playwriting at Iowa

If selected as a finalist for admission, the candidate will be interviewed by phone. On-campus interviews are not required. However, if a prospective candidate visits Iowa City, they are welcome to meet with our students and us.

All MFA playwrights receive a tuition scholarship from the Graduate College, which offsets the amount of the current tuition. General fees are not included in this scholarship. Additionally, all MFA playwrights hold paid teaching or research assistantships. Departmental scholarships also may be awarded, with the amounts varying on an annual basis.

To be considered for admission into Stage Management Program, you must make sure you are aware of all of the deadlines and that you meet the minimum requirements for entry:

Graduate College Deadlines and Requirements

International Student Admission Requirements

You must complete the following steps to be considered for the MFA in Stage Management:

1. Start an application file. If you are applying through URTA, file directly through URTA. If applying independently, create your application file for the University of Iowa.
2. Submit the following documents. URTA applicants should e-mail the head of stage management these documents. Independent applicants should upload documents to their UI application file.
   • Cover letter/letter of interest
   • Resume
   • Official transcript clearly indicating a final grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. The GRE exam is not required
   • Three letters of recommendation about your skills in stage management
   • Statement of purpose, including your reasons for pursuing graduate study in stage management and your professional goals after completing the MFA in Stage Management at Iowa
   • Two writing samples (four to 10 pages each, either previous academic or professional work). If you are invited to interview, we will request samples of your stage management paperwork (promptbook or selected organizational and cuing documents).
   • For URTA candidates, the due date for the common packet is set by URTA. For independent candidates, all documents must be received no later than Jan.15.
3. Participate in a personal interview with the Head of Stage Management or other program faculty by Feb. 1. Interviews may be scheduled as campus visits at the University of Iowa or via video conferencing. We will conduct interviews for URTA candidates in New York City. We seek the best overall candidates; we do not weight in-person interviews more than video conferences so as to not disadvantage students who are unable to interview in-person due to cost or show commitments.

Prior to your application, we are available for informational interviews. Whenever possible, we do recommend that prospective students visit Iowa City to see the campus and discuss the stage management program with our current students and us. Please contact us if you would like to have an informational meeting prior to the application interview or if you would like to meet with our current students.

All MFA stage managers receive a tuition scholarship from the Graduate College, which offsets the amount of the current tuition. General fees are not included in this scholarship. Additionally, all MFA stage managers hold paid teaching or research assistantships. Departmental scholarships also may be awarded, with the amounts varying on an annual basis.