Master of Fine Arts in Theater - Scenic Design and Technology

Scenic design is how we welcome in the story and signal that something is about to happen. Scenic Design & Technology is an intensive three-year program where you'll experience hands-on learning through the design and implementation of a mainstage production season that serves as a teaching laboratory. You'll work through a rigorous curriculum and special topics in design and technology. Much of this work is connected to the mainstage season, where you'll have room to experiment, risk, and grow as designers and makers.Our classes are small, so you'll receive personal mentorship from professionals and the opportunity to customize your curriculum, whether you want to focus more on scenic design or technical design. We occasionally support dual design interests (e.g., scenery and costumes), depending on your level of experience. Collaboration is the backbone of the program. Through production assignments and Teaching Assistantships, you'll be involved with every production on our mainstage in roles ranging from design and technical direction to props and scenic painting. TAs in the scenic shop work an average of 20 hours per week on high intensity tasks involving technical design, project management, and innovative fabrication techniques. Each student receives one-on-one mentorship in the creative application of technology, which in turn enriches their design perspective. By the end of three years, you'll have participated in twelve productions. Typically, you'll have at least three mainstage production designs in your portfolio by the time you graduate.

All of the materials can be submitted online. Required of all MFA program areas:The main Graduate School application, including Personal Statement.Transcripts of all previous academic workResume of relevant professional experienceAt least two letters of recommendation (you may submit three)NOTE: We do not require the GREs for admission to any of our MFA programs.An applicant’s undergraduate degree need not be in Theater, but previous training and experience should be comparable to that required for the Bachelor of Arts in Theater at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Applicants with incomplete backgrounds in theater who show exceptional artistic promise may be admitted provisionally. Scenic Design also requires:A portfolio in a format of your choosing. The portfolio may include set design or other sketches, evidence of drawing/painting experience, images of realized and unrealized projects, models or props that you have built, hand or computer drafting samples, or samples of graphic or other applied arts. Descriptive accounts of each item in the portfolio should be included. We are interested in seeing how you can express yourself visually, and what your process looks like. Do not obsess over the graphic design aspect of your portfolio. As long as all images are labelled clearly to provide a sense of context, we are most interested in seeing how you express yourself visually, what your process looks like, and what manual skills you have.