MFA in Directing

Our Master of Fine Arts in Directing program provides developing theatre professionals with the opportunity to cultivate their own individual artistic identity, and innovative and collaborative creative process, while refining and enhancing their craft.

Our program seeks to:

• Extend, intensify, and focus the director’s theatrical versatility, sensibilities, scholarship, and imagination.
• Enhance artistic expression, critical thinking, communication, and directing skills through hands-on, mentored experiences within a wide range of directing opportunities and classroom instruction.
• Explore creative collaborations to tell important stories to today’s audiences.
• Create inclusive and accessible forms of theatrical expression for the next generation and envision possibilities for new artistic leadership in American theatre.

MFA Directing students are prepared for substantive careers, either as resident or freelance directors, in the professional world of theatre and the related performing arts. Training includes a rigorous curriculum, directing opportunities, and exposure to the profession. Students are regularly mentored by working professional faculty and advisors through their studio coursework; hands-on, in-process Theatre in Practice advising; and end-of-term conferences.

Financial aid is available to some students in the form of scholarships, living stipends, and teaching assistantships. Admission is highly selective, with the School of Theatre admitting one or two students each year into the Directing program.

Curriculum Highlights

• Robust schedule of guest artists, workshops, and intensives for special topics.
• Mentored portfolio and résumé development, with introductions to Professional Theatre Initiative affiliates for summer opportunities following the first year.
• Eligible for funded travel grants to assist/observe faculty and/or industry professionals.
• Curated portfolio and introduction to professional theatre and live performing industry network contacts provided at the successful completion of the program.
• One-year associate membership to the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) provided at the successful completion of the program.
• Available “artistic director” option that joins the MFA Directing curricula with a graduate certificate program in Arts Management or Commercial Theatre Development at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (separate application required).

Learning Outcomes

The Directing program aims to develop a complete theatre artist by fostering a passion for theatre, storytelling, and the collaborative process. Through their required coursework and design assignments, Directing students will:

• Demonstrate a deep understanding of theatre as an art form and the essential role it plays in contemporary society.
• Demonstrate spoken and written critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills in an arts-based discipline.
• Demonstrate an ability to enrich creative storytelling and take artistic risks.
• Demonstrate an awareness of and ability to engage in the diverse community of theatre artists.
• Demonstrate a high level of artistic, interpretive, and craft skills and techniques in Directing as a foundation for entering into a career in theatre and the live performing arts.

Program of Study

(minimum of 60 units‡)

First Year	1st	2nd
CFA TH 701 Graduate Salon	2	2
CFA TH 607 Collaboration Forum 1	2	–
CFA TH 549 Theatre in Practice	–	2
CFA TH 745 Directing Colloquium	2	2
CFA TH 609 & 610 Directing Studio 1 & 2	3	3
CFA TH 707 & 708 Scenography Studio 1 & 2	3	3
Approved elective(s)	3	3
Total units (minimum)	15	15

Second Year	1st	2nd
CFA TH 701 Graduate Salon	2	2
CFA TH 549 Theatre in Practice	2	2
CFA TH 745 Directing Colloquium	2	2
CFA TH 709 & 710 Directing Studio 3 & 4	3	3
Approved elective(s)	6	6
Total units (minimum)	15	15

Approved Electives (18 units)

Students select graduate-level courses (500+) offered by Boston University in consultation with their faculty mentor.

Suggested courses:

• CFA TH 509 Choreography and Design: Experiments in Light and Movement
• CFA TH 584 Designing for Opera
• CFA TH 590 Theatre Management
• CFA TH 608 Collaboration Forum 2
• CFA TH 625 Classical Theatre through a Contemporary Lens
• CFA TH 626 Contemporary Theatre
• CFA TH 695 Production Management Studio 1
• CFA TH 699 Production Management Studio 2
• CFA TH 793 Production Management Studio 3
• CFA TH 794 Production Management Studio 4
• CFA TH 807 Scenography Studio 3
• CFA TH 808 Scenography Studio 4
• MET AR 690 The Art World
• MET AR 750 Financial Management for Nonprofits
• MET AR 751 Commercial Production: The Broadway Model
• MET AR 752 Strategies for Performing Arts Businesses
• MET AR 753 Current Trends in the Performing Arts Industry
• MET AR 754 Global Performing Arts Presenting and Producing
• MET AR 778 Legal Issues in Arts Administration

Directing students may apply their Approved Elective(s) toward pursuit of an “artistic director” option that joins the MFA Directing curricula with a graduate certificate program in Arts Management or Commercial Theatre Development at Boston University’s Metropolitan College.

‡This program requires completion of a minimum of 60 units in continuous, sequential terms, and generally takes two years to complete. All requirements for the MFA must be completed within five years of matriculation.