Physical Theatre, M.F.A.

The Master of Fine Arts in Physical Theatre is offered in conjunction with the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy. Students must be admitted to the graduate program at MUW prior to enrolling in courses leading to the MFA degree.

The MFA in Physical Theatre combines the study of movement/dance, Italian language, vocal study, and music with the study of circus arts, the techniques of the commedia dell’arte, and contemporary mime/masks. The program will provide students with a high level of technical training for the actor, as well as a study of the aesthetic, historical, and social contexts of the commedia dell’arte. The degree emphasizes the “actor as creator” and creative autonomy to prepare students for solo performance. As a terminal degree program, students also may opt for a career in teaching.

The MFA program takes place across a 26-month period divided into modules that range from 8 weeks to 12 weeks. The total instruction is approximately 1800 hours. The MFA requires 60 semester hours of coursework, including a performance project and a thesis. For additional information on this program, see the Graduate Bulletin.