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Theatre + Dance Theatre + Dance
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  2. Academics
  3. MFA and PhD Programs
  4. Directing MFA
a production still from Men on BoatsMen on Boats (2019). Photo: Manuel Rotenberg..

Directing MFA

The Directing Program develops directors who are creative, impactful leaders of highly collaborative theatrical processes. UCSD Directors create compelling theatrical events in direct dialogue with the contemporary landscape of American theater. They are strong visionaries who inspire collaborators to do their best work. Directing students balance specific production goals while also seeking discoveries in the unknown. Our curriculum focuses on text analysis, execution of narrative vision, production process, and new play development. With the audience at the center of attention, Directors make sophisticated choices about style and form to create engaging, relevant theater.

 

Financial Support

Students have the opportunity to earn income and receive teaching mentorship by serving as Teaching Assistants and Graduate Student Researchers. For a more detailed description of the financial support package for MFA students, download the MFA Program's Graduate Student Funding Policy.

 

Research, Externships and Other Opportunities

Each MFA Directing student receives a $3000 travel grant, SDC Associate Membership at graduation, domestic travel and accommodation for 2 VIP guests to thesis production, and for years with 3rd year acting cohorts, attendance at New York Showcase. 

Between a director’s second and third 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 Tyne Rafaeli, Christopher Ashley, Leigh Silverman, and Anne Kauffman.

Directing faculty may also bring MFA directors with them to work as Assistant Directors. Graduate directors have produced shows in New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

 

Classes

The core curriculum of the program, Directing Process, Directing Seminar, and Production, offers students diverse opportunities to hone their skills and deepen their knowledge over the course of three years (8 quarters). Directing Process classes ask Directing MFA students to practice and develop tools to support storytelling through the director/actor relationship, dynamic staging, and the execution of narrative vision. Directing Seminar classes explore pivotal historic moments of theatrical style, methods of leadership and collaboration, and rigorous text analysis. Alongside core directing courses, curriculum includes design, acting, new play development, and significant faculty mentorship. 

 

Productions

Students of the MFA Directing Program seek to deepen and expand who they are as leaders of a wide variety of creative processes. Over the course of the program, students will develop skills for both self-produced and fully-produced production. They will level up in scope and scale of production, from studio and black box venues to venues with upwards of 400 seats. Production work will be featured in the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theatre District facilities, the same stages used by the La Jolla Playhouse. 

In their first year, students will direct a First Year project in the fall quarter and a one act project written by an MFA Playwright as part of the Wagner New Play Festival in the spring quarter. 

In their second year, students will direct a Second Year production and a new play production by an MFA Playwright as part of the Wagner New Play Festival in the spring quarter.

In their third year, students will direct their Thesis production in either the fall or winter quarter, and complete their Thesis defense for graduation in the winter quarter.

 

Faculty

The department's faculty features artists and scholars with national and international profiles whose research and professional work is integral to their work as teachers. Scholars in the department are in the forefront of their respective fields and the work of faculty artists is seen regularly in New York, at major American regional theatres, in Europe and elsewhere around the world. Guest faculty in recent years has included directors Steve Broadnax, Robert Woodruff, Dominique Serrand, Robert O’Hara, and Katie Pearl.

Find out more on the Directing MFA Admissions page >>

If you have questions or would like more information about our Graduate programs, call the Graduate Coordinator at 858-534-1046 or email at tdgradcoord@ucsd.edu.