Brown University's Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies is internationally recognized for the quality of its faculty and instruction. Trinity Rep, with its deep tradition of resident artists, provides powerful artistic assets and creates a firm foundation of real-world experience. Together, the two organizations have produced MFA programs and a model of theatre training that is rigorous and technically demanding, without intellectual or creative limitations.
Theatre Arts & Performance Studies
MFA in Acting and Directing
Brown/Trinity
Brown/Trinity includes the MFA programs in Acting and Directing. Students in each of the disciplines have many opportunities to study and work with fellow students from other areas, including the MFA Playwriting students and the PhD students in Brown's Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies. Through directly experiencing the techniques and processes involved in each discipline, students are encouraged to become true collaborators, and to break down the often artificial barriers that have traditionally separated actors, directors, and playwrights.
Acting
The primary focus in the acting training is in developing technically skilled, versatile actors capable of working in the variety of styles demanded by contemporary theatre.
Learn More About the Acting Program
Directing
Directors are given the opportunity to develop their own vision, working in collaboration with actors, creating new work and rediscovering existing texts.
Learn More About the Directing Program
Curriculum
The MFA curriculum provides a rigorous training program taught by a resident faculty, supplemented by guest artists from the professional and academic arenas.
Brown/Trinity Season
For more information about the current Brown/Trinity season, visit the the Trinity website.
Applications Requirements
Deadline
The application deadline for the Brown/Trinity MFA Acting Program is January 3, 2023.
Brown/Trinity has made the decision to pause admission to our Directing program for the upcoming FY23 application cycle. We look forward to utilizing the coming year to continue deepening and strengthening our pedagogy and training. We encourage interested applicants to investigate admission to our Acting program, which contains a full complement of acting, directing, physical theater, voice, and playwriting curriculum.
Contact
For questions about the MFA programs in Acting and Directing, contact the Academic Coordinator, Jill Jann: jill_jann@brown.edu.
For questions about the application process (including GRE/TOEFL submission, LORs, and other technical questions), please contact the Graduate School directly at graduate_admissions@brown.edu.
Applying
Applications to the PhD and MFA programs are submitted to, and managed through, the Graduate School. Please do not email the department with technical questions or requests to troubleshoot your online application submission. You can find detailed instructions about the application process and components on the Graduate School website. For additional information refer to the application FAQ.
Transcripts and letters of recommendation and any other supplementary materials should also be sent to directly to the Graduate School mailing address. Sending application materials to directly to TAPS will delay the processing of your application.
Additional Information
Brown/ Trinity Rep is pleased to announce our return to in-person auditions for the Acting program's current application cycle. We are not offering virtual auditions at this time, which includes international applicants.
Graduate students at Brown are offered a range of funding and support.