The Theatre School’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Playwriting focuses on helping students explore and identify their voice and unique process of working as a writer in a variety of circumstances. The four-year curriculum provides students with the primary tools of dramatic writing and the space and opportunity to use them through a variety of classroom and workshop production experiences.
Students learn from a distinguished and award-winning faculty of professional playwrights, dramaturgs, directors and arts writers both in the classroom and through individual guidance and advising. Students receive formal and informal feedback from faculty through continual readings and workshops of their work.
First Year. The first year curriculum is taken in collaboration with other theatre studies students and is an immersion into the culture of theatrical production and literature. Students’ coursework includes script analysis, theatre history and acting to facilitate critical thinking and a physical understanding of the theatrical process. Students also participate in three production assignments in various areas of production.
Second Year. Students move into the specific playwriting curriculum and explore elements of writing for the stage – beats, obstacle, subtext and characterization – while working on a series of short plays. Students take coursework in design or technical areas as well as courses in English, literature and communication. Students can participate in the production season as assistant directors and dramaturgs and can have their scripts workshopped in the annual Wrights of Spring playwriting festival.
Third Year. Students continue to hone their writing skills and explore their individual interest and style though a year-long independent study under the guidance of playwriting faculty. Students also work closely with directing and acting students to explore the collaborative process of developing and staging new works. Students can continue to participate in the production season as assistant directors and dramaturgs and will have their scripts workshopped in the annual Wrights of Spring playwriting festival.
Fourth Year. The fourth year is a transition year, both further developing students abilities and preparing students to enter the profession. Students continue to develop more complex scripts through independent study and new play workshops. Coursework also includes study of various career and networking opportunities. Students can continue to participate in the production season as assistant directors and dramaturgs and will have their scripts workshopped in the annual Wrights of Spring playwriting festival.
Graduate Showcase. At the end of each year, The Theatre School hosts an event to showcase the work of our graduating students. Under the guidance of the faculty, graduating students prepare a showcase exhibit of their portfolio – which is presented in Chicago for artistic directors and other members of the theatre, film and television industries. The Graduate Showcase includes alumni networking events to introduce and connect our graduates to our large alumni network.
Liberal Studies. In addition to the playwriting training curriculum, students complete 52 quarterly credit hours (13 courses) in liberal studies. Courses are taken in theatre history, English composition and rhetoric, quantitative reasoning, philosophy, religion, lab or quantitative sciences, world history, multiculturalism and electives. These liberal studies courses are scheduled during the first three years of the program.
Evaluation. Every student receives quarterly evaluation and feedback from the faculty each year. Students’ evaluations are based on discipline, collaboration, professional potential and progress in the program. Based on this evaluation, students are continued from year to year at the invitation of the faculty. There are no pre-determined limits on the number of students returning to theatre studies programs. An invitation to return to the third year of a theatre studies program is for the duration of the respective program provided that all academic requirements are met, and that professional discipline is acceptable.
