The B.F.A. acting program is highly competitive. Each class is divided into two sections ensuring more individualized attention.
Design/Technical Direction The B.F.A. program in design/technical direction offers two areas of study: design -- incorporating study in scenic, lighting and costume design; and technical direction -- incorporating the study of theatrical design with training in the professional skills needed to execute stage designs.
Stage Management The B.F.A. program in stage management offers the student a combination of technical, management and design training. Students begin using this training as early as the first year of enrollment. The skills acquired in the classroom are further explored through stage management assignments in each year of the student's program.
Students in the design/technical direction and stage management programs design, build and stage manage the majority of the School of Theatre's productions under the supervision of a professional staff of designers and theatre technicians.
Admission to the B.A. program is determined by academic record, experience in drama, and information required on the USC application for admission and the School of Theatre supplementary application. Students applying for the B.A. program must contact the School of Theatre directly to obtain the theatre supplementary application. However, no audition is required.
In addition to submitting a USC application for admission, a theatre supplementary application and an in-person audition are required for the B.F.A. and M.F.A. programs. Auditions are held during January and February. Applicants should contact the School of Theatre directly to obtain supplementary application materials and to arrange for their audition.
The acting audition requires two monologues: one contemporary and one classical (preferably verse). Total audition time for undergraduates and graduates should be no more than five minutes. Students who wish to sing must limit the selection to 16 bars; they must provide their own taped music and portable tape player. The song should not be included as part of the audition time presentation.
Auditions and interviews for all programs are held in major cities around the country including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.
Students wishing to transfer from a community college or another four-year college or university into the Bachelor of Fine Arts curriculum must present training equivalent to their level of transfer or be prepared to take remedial work in acting, voice, movement, dramatic literature and stagecraft.
Admission to the B.F.A. and M.F.A. Design/Technical Direction and Stage Management programs are based on a personal interview and/or review of a portfolio. In addition, the student must submit a USC application for admission and a theatre supplementary application.
Applicants for the design programs must present a portfolio of their work at the time of their interview with the design faculty.
Graduate directing majors should send, one month in advance of their interview, production books (including blocking, analysis of play and characters, pictures and newspaper clippings). At the interview, directing majors will be asked for their directing approach to selected plays by the School of Theatre. A list of selected plays will be mailed to the applicant before the assigned date of the interview.
Interviews are held beginning in January for the following fall semester.
Admission to full graduate standing will be granted after the satisfactory completion of one semester. A satisfactory test score on the Graduate Record Examinations and a satisfactory grade point average are also required.
Application materials and details about audition dates and locations may be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, School of Theatre, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0791, (213) 740-1285.
Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995