Theatre Graduate Programs

Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, located in Sarasota, Florida, is a three-year graduate program culminating in a Master of Fine Arts degree through the Florida State University School of Theatre. Considered to be one of America’s leading acting schools, the Conservatory trains actors of the highest caliber in a professional theatre environment through classroom work and production experience. The program has been recognized in The New York Times, U.S. News, World Report, and The Princeton Review through their national rankings and articles about top graduate level training programs.

The Master of Fine Arts in Costume Design program at Florida State University provides students with training in the art and practice of costume design. The program is designed to give students the skills they need to continue their growth as costume designers in the performing arts or in entertainment.

It is the mission of the MFA Directing Program to provide students with training that emulates the best practices of the theatre industry.  Our goal is to help shape the artistic voices and leaders of the future, empowering students to be artist citizens in the theatre community and in our global society.  The program is designed to give students the skills they will need to continue individual development and growth as directors in professional theatre.

The Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design program at Florida State University provides students with training in the art and practice of lighting design. The program is designed to give students the skills they need to continue their growth as lighting designers in the performing arts or live entertainment.

The MFA Technical Production program at Florida State University provides students with skills necessary to succeed as a technical manager.

Students gain essential skills and knowledge of technical theatre through academic and practical experience. A wide array of courses provides many paths towards specialized interests such as production management or stage machinery design. Courses include training of computer aided drafting, structural analysis, physics of stage machinery, electronics, mechanical design, technical and production management, show control, safety, and more.

The mission of the Master of Fine Arts Theatre Management program is to profoundly impact the arts around the world. Students are provided a considered education through practical training and hands-on experiences in a working theatre environment.

The MA Program in Theatre & Performance Research trains individuals interested in creating theoretically engaged scholarship or innovative theatre, or who plan to pursue diverse careers beyond the academy. We believe that graduate education in Theatre & Performance Research contributes to contemporary society by confronting difficult questions, finding humanity in multiple perspectives, and contributing to a culturally diverse, democratic society.

This Ph. D. in Theatre program trains artist-scholars who create theoretically engaged work at the intersections of theatre and performance research and practice. We believe that graduate education in Theatre & Performance Research contributes vitally to contemporary society and facilitates the pursuit of a broad array of career paths in and beyond the academy.