Acting
We are seeking bold, adventurous artists eager to collaborate in an innovative acting curriculum for the theater of the future.
There are six key elements of the M.F.A. acting program at UCLA TFT:
- The study of classical and contemporary acting for theater, film, television and digital media: During the eight quarters of acting classes, at least four classes will focus on acting for the camera, microphone and motion capture.
- A highly physicalized approach to time-honored theater conservatory courses in voice, speech and movement, including, but not limited to, recurring training in the Suzuki and Viewpoints methods.
- The promotion of the collaborative ensemble: In their first year of the M.F.A., acting students collectively study acting, voice, movement, directing and playwriting. In subsequent quarters, students are encouraged to collaborate and acquire skills to reimagine the theater and film ensembles of the future.
- The study of film and theater history drawn from the extraordinary resources of the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Theater Special Collections.
- The “actor-producer”: Actors will learn to “capture” their collaborations not only on the stage, but also on film and with other contemporary technologies. Actors will also be able to take elective courses in producing and the business of new media platforms in order to learn how to develop their own projects.
- Central to the actor training is the participation in performance as part of the annual UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television production season: Projects include performances of classical and contemporary plays, film and television projects, and new student-generated work.
Proud member of
Required Courses
- 205ABC: Background of Theatrical Art
- 420ABC: Advanced Acting I
- 421ABC: Advanced Acting II
- 422: Advanced Acting for Theater, Film and Television
- 424ABC: Advanced Voice and Speech I
- 424DEF: Advanced Voice and Speech II
- 425ABC: Advanced Movement I
- 425DEF: Advanced Movement II
- 472: Production Practice in Theater, Film, Video and Digital Media
Students are required to enroll in a minimum of twelve units per quarter. Required courses will be scheduled to permit completion of the program within a three-year period. In addition to the successful completion of a minimum of 94 units or 23.5 courses, candidates for the degree must pass a comprehensive examination, including critical evaluation of production projects which culminate in a manner to show professional competence in the field.
A minimum of 82 units or 20.5 courses at the graduate level are required. A maximum of 12 undergraduate units may be counted toward the degree. A maximum of 12 units of 596 courses may be counted toward the degree.
The Master of Fine Arts degree is awarded on the basis of successful completion of the required courses and critical evaluation of student work. The Department expects consistent progress as well as attainment of professional skills. These and other factors will also influence the Department's allocation of production resources including the number, scale, and scheduling of projects and productions.
The Theater M.F.A. in Acting is a three year program taught by nationally recognized teachers of acting, voice, speech, movement, and dance, as well as professional directors in theater, film and television. The training combines classroom study with intensive studio training and is eclectic and not rooted in any one methodology or dogma. The goal of the training is to help each actor find the methods of working best suited to his or her individual talents and to give actors the opportunity to acquire the skills and techniques needed for working in all kinds of theater, all styles and genres of plays, and in front of the camera in television and film. Practical production experience is an integral part of the training during the entire three years; in the final year, students present an actor's showcase for the entertainment community in Los Angeles.
THE GRADUATE ACTING PROGRAM IS NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FALL 2024 ACADEMIC YEAR.
All degree programs are full-time. The Theater graduate programs have daytime classes and evening production activities. The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television only accepts applicants for admittance for the Fall. The admissions information below is for Fall 2021.
Application Deadline: January 15, 2021 (Not accepting applications.)
Please complete all of the following steps:
Step 1: Online
- Complete the Application for Graduate Admission.
- Indicate M.F.A. as the degree, Theater as the major, and Acting as the emphasis.
- Submit the application and pay the application fee by January 15.
- Upload the statement of purpose.
- Upload a resume of training and experience in Theater or other related work.
- Upload unofficial copies of all transcripts
- Submit three letters of recommendation.
- Enter the names and emails of all recommenders into the Application for Graduate Admission.
Step 2: In-person Audition
- Sign up for a live interview/audition.
- Attend the live interview/audition with Theater Faculty
- Prepare two monologues – one classical and one contemporary – each no more than one-and-a-half minutes.
- Bring an 8×10 glossy headshot and resume to the interview/audition.
- For more interview/audition information, CLICK HERE
- NOTE: UCLA is participating in the U/RTA auditions in New York (Jan 18-21), Chicago (Jan 26-29), and San Francisco on (Feb 1-2).
- M.F.A. acting audition dates and locations in 2021 (Not accepting applications.)
- New York: January 18 and 19, 2019 @ 8 p.m.
- Chicago: January 25, 2019
- Los Angeles: February 10, 2019
Step 3: Mail
- Mail an official copy of transcripts from all institutions attended.
- NOTE: Community college transcripts are not necessary, as the coursework will be reflected on the undergraduate transcript.
- a. If applicable, request that all test scores be sent directly to UCLA.
- Only test scores taken by the end of December 31, 2020 will be accepted.
- The UCLA Code is 4837 and the Theater Code is 2403.
- NOTE: THE GRE IS NOT REQUIRED FOR M.F.A. APPLICANTS.
Mailing Address
Please send all applicable materials to:
Graduate Theater Admissions: Acting
UCLA Department of Theater
103 East Melnitz Hall, Box 951622
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622
Application Deadline: January 15, 2021 (Not accepting applications.)
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
English Proficiency: Any international applicant whose first language is not English must certify proficiency in English when applying to UCLA, and, if admitted, upon arrival. Such applicants must submit scores received on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as part of their application. The UCLA Code is 4837 and the Theater Code is 2403. Only test scores taken by the end of December 31, 2019 will be accepted. For more information about this requirement, visit https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/english-requirements/
Academic Records: Although the Application for Graduate Admission enables applicants to upload an unofficial copy of their academic records, all applicants are required to submit official records from each academic institution attended. For more information about this requirement, visit https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/required-academic-records/. Proof of Funding for Visa: U.S. immigration law requires that international applicants, if admitted, show documented evidence that sufficient funds to cover all tuition, fees, transportation, and living expenses are available for the first year of their studies at UCLA. This must be proved before a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS2019) for a visa can be issued. For more information about this requirement, visit https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/visa-procedures/
FAFSA
For U.S. citizens and permanent Residents interested in receiving financial aid in the 2020-2021 year, note that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline for UCLA is March 2, 2020. Applicants must complete the FAFSA by this date if they want to be eligible for all awards, work-study, and scholarships that UCLA offers. If applying after March 2, please check with the Financial Aid Office for available funding opportunities. www.financialaid.ucla.edu
DREAM Act
For non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent pesidents who are approved to pay in-state tuition because they graduated from a high school in California; they will need to complete the California DREAM application by the March 2, 2020 deadline. The DREAM application can be accessed at https://dream.csac.ca.gov. If applying after March 2, please check with the Financial Aid Office for available funding opportunities. www.financialaid.ucla.edu
By the time of entrance, Theater graduate applicants must:
- Have at least a 3.0 GPA.
- Satisfy the University of California’s Graduate Admission Requirements.
- Complete equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree.
Please visit the FAQ page for additional questions, call 310-206-8441, or e-mail theatergrad@tft.ucla.edu. For audition questions, e-mail audition@tft.ucla.edu.
For Prospective Students:
- E-mail: theatergrad@tft.ucla.edu
- Phone: 310-206-8441
- Office: 103 East Melnitz Hall
For Interview/Audition Questions:
- E-mail: audition@tft.ucla.edu
- Phone: 310-206-4418