Ph.D. in Theatre & Performance Research
The Ph.D. in Theatre & Performance Research 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 contributes vitally to contemporary society and facilitates the pursuit of a broad array of career paths in and beyond the academy.
Program Overview
Grounded in both new theoretical approaches and traditional research methods, the PhD provides students with rigorous scholarly foundations in history, critical theory, literature, and pedagogy, as well as personalized artistic experiences. This degree emphasizes theatre and performance research as a set of practices: the practice of scholarly research and writing, including practice-based research; the practice of pedagogy; and the practices of directing, devising, dramaturgy, and design. Our focus on diverse practices and interdisciplinary research prepares graduates of Theatre for careers within and beyond the academy.
PhD students in Theatre enjoy the resources of a top-tier research institution, the close mentorship of faculty in a small degree program, and the student and faculty-produced world-class performances of the Florida State University School of Theatre. Our internationally recognized faculty pursue a broad array of creative and research projects: Jerzy Grotowski and the Workcenter; performances of history and cultural memory in the United States; the Global South; Middle East North Africa performance; histories of regional theatre and the Federal Theatre Project; economic policy and the arts; trauma, politics, and sexual violence and their intersections with performance; musical theatre and opera; queer theatre; and graduate theatre education. Our critical approaches encompass performance & cultural studies, intercultural performance theory, postcolonial theories, ethnography, digital humanities, interdisciplinary art-science and socially engaged performance, museum studies, sexuality studies, phenomenology, and violence & trauma studies.
How to Apply
Application Deadlines
January 16th: For best consideration for the University’s Graduate School fellowships and the School of Theatre’s Graduate Assistantships. We will review applications throughout the Spring Semester until all Theatre & Performance Research assistantships are filled.
April 1st: Students with complete applications will be considered for any remaining funding.
If you have questions about the application process, you may contact Abby Lawson at 850-644-7234 or awl23b@fsu.edu.
Qualifications for Ideal Candidates
Ideal candidates for this program:
- Have a clear research agenda that the Theatre & Performance Research faculty can support
- Are passionate about engaging in research and sharing their discoveries
- Want to think deeply about history, theory, literature, and theatre practice
- Ask questions and engage with rigorous work
- Are willing to reconceptualize and reimagine preconceived ideas
- Are enthusiastic about long-term research projects, and will persevere through the hard parts!
- Recognize the many ways that arts degrees contribute to society at large–both inside the academy and beyond!
Application Requirements
Application to the University: We will not start reviewing your application until you have uploaded your materials to the FSU Graduate Application Portal and finalized the application by choosing the submit button.
Statement of Purpose: A three-to-five-page statement addressing your research interests, career goals within and/or beyond the academy, reasons you are applying to this program, and any relevant academic, professional, and/or creative background. PhD applicants: please include a description of how your doctoral work builds on or differs from your previous graduate work.
Curriculum Vitae: Include information on your academic background and relevant professional experience (presentations, publications, creative work, etc.)
Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation from those familiar with your work. At least two of these letters should come from academic sources.
Examples of Scholarly Work: Two writing samples (roughly 12-20 pages each) that demonstrate your ability to conduct original scholarly research at the graduate level.
Creative Portfolio (Optional): In addition to the academic writing samples, applicants may submit digital evidence of creative work.
Official English Language Proficiency Scores: Required only for international students. We recommend submitting TOEFL iBT scores. For additional information on international applications, see the Graduate School’s page on International Admissions.
Official Academic Transcripts: Applications are not complete until the University receives official transcripts.
When you have submitted all application materials and requested all exam scores and transcripts, email Abby Lawson to confirm receipt.
Funding & Support
Students admitted to the PhD in Theatre & Performance Research are eligible to apply for graduate assistantships and university fellowships. Doctoral students receive five years of funding. We encourage all U.S. students, including MA students, to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), regardless of income. The FSU Office of Financial Aid offers additional resources and recommended timelines.
Assistantships: Assistantships are competitive and the number and type of funded positions vary from one year to the next. Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Assistantships, and Research Assistantships provide students with a stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance subsidy—valued at over $165,000 for out-of-state PhD students.
Teaching Assistantships provide first-hand experience in teaching—face-to-face and virtually—and place students in mentored teaching assistant positions or as instructors of record. Graduate and Research Assistantships offer opportunities to aid faculty research, gain library experience in the Degen Resource Room, assist with departmental administration, support professional service work, plan special events, or explore other tasks as needed by the faculty and department.
Research & Travel Funding: The prestigious Jay & Dr. Sue Newman Award in Theatre Studies supports student research, excellence, or conference participation with annual awards of $500-$3000.
The School of Theatre recognizes the importance of networking, conference attendance, and research travel for graduate students. Thus, School of Theatre graduate students may apply for dedicated departmental research and travel funding annually.
Professional Development Opportunities
We offer regular professional development opportunities that delve into pedagogy, research, creative opportunities, and careers both in and beyond the academy. In addition, we have developed partnerships with programs on campus and colleagues across other universities and professions to help our students gain certifications, develop skills, and build their own professional networks.
Professional Development Colloquia
Each semester brings new professional development colloquia, designed around the needs of our students. Past sessions have included intensive work on CVs, the job search, first publications, developing funding proposals, presenting research, developing a teaching persona, exploring new technologies, mental health and well-being, and more. Future programs will explore the paths of our network of alumni, many of whom have moved into careers outside of the academy.
LSU Exchange
Designed to enhance our students’ professional development and grow their networks in the field, our exchange program with Louisiana State University’s PhD program in Theatre brings students and faculty from our programs together. Each semester, faculty or students travel between Tallahassee and Baton Rouge to take part in a bounty of events, including sessions on publishing, the dissertation process, CV building, abstract writing, mental health and well-being, the job search, and more. Exchanges incorporate one-on-one discussions with faculty from the other institution, dinners, and social events–all of which help students to build deep relationships with faculty beyond our program, and to network with a cohort of students interested in future collaborations. LSU faculty who have participated include Shannon Walsh, John Fletcher, Alan Sikes, and Femi Euba.
Open House
Theatre and Performance Research (TaPR) regularly welcomes prospective masters and doctoral students to an open house. Designed to give applicants a taste of life in the program, the event features a notable guest scholar who presents their latest research, professional conversations with TaPR faculty members, attending rehearsals or performances, and tours of the School of Theatre and Tallahassee. Perhaps most important, it offers a chance to widen professional connections by socializing with potential student colleagues. Previous guest scholars have included Freddie Rokem, Paige McGinley, and Aaron C. Thomas.
Additional Programs at FSU
The Program for Instructional Excellence: A unit of the Graduate School, the Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE) strives to enrich the learning experience by supporting graduate student teaching efforts at FSU. PIE offers professional development programs and workshops to all graduate students. For those interested in focusing more deeply on their pedagogy, the PIE Teaching Associate Assistantship offers additional funding for students to serve as teaching mentors to their peers. Those graduate TAs that excel in teaching might also earn FSU’s highly competitive Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.
Center for Global Engagement: FSU’s internationally renowned Center for Global Engagements offers free Intercultural Communication workshops, as well as the Global Partner Certificate (GPC). The GPC is for FSU faculty, staff, and graduate students who are interested in becoming globally competent by improving their intercultural communication skills.
Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC): Housed in FSU’s School of Dance, the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC), sponsors research in dance and choreography. Through their residency program, they bring outstanding artists to campus to workshop new projects and show the work in progress to invited audiences. MANCC offers students in Theatre & Performance Research unique opportunities to engage the diverse figures who are shaping dance and movement-based art today.
Center for the Advancement of Human Rights (CAHR): Established in 2000, the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights offers opportunities for FSU students to engage in advocacy, conduct Human Rights-related research, and take interdisciplinary courses they sponsor in partnership with FSU’s academic colleges and departments. CAHR recognizes the significance of the arts in human rights activism and has supported both performance projects and classes in film, music, and theatre. By engaging with the Center, students can develop expertise in real world problems and demonstrate their commitment to social justice whether planning a career in law, public advocacy, or the arts.
FSU Certificate Programs: FSU offers many different certificate programs to degree-seeking students: Publishing & Editing, Digital Video Production, Online Teaching and Learning, Museum Education and Visitor-Centered Curation, and more. Completion of a program will mean a note on the student’s transcript, and they can help make students stand out on the job market inside academia or beyond.
Explore the Season
Each year, the Florida State University School of Theatre presents five exciting productions. See what the upcoming season has in store.
