Acting

The MFA Acting Track is a NAST-accredited pre-professional actor training program. Through intensive practical and theoretical classwork and production experience, students are prepared physically and vocally as artists to succeed in this demanding profession. The first two years are spent on campus in classes and performing in Theatre UCF productions. MFA Theatre students will serve as Graduate Teaching Assistants in the first and second years, and some will have the opportunity to be instructor or record for undergraduate classes in year two. The third year is spent as a resident company member at Orlando Shakes where students perform in mainstage and theatre for young audience productions, teach, study and assist with the operations of the theatre.

What performance opportunities will I have at UCF?

Students are guaranteed at least two roles in Theatre UCF productions and two roles at Orlando Shakes. The Theatre UCF season typically produces six shows per year and MFA Acting candidates can expect to appear in one to three shows per season during their first two years. While students are permitted to seek work outside the university, especially in the summer, they are expected to put UCF as their top priority and must obtain permission to appear in productions in the community during the school year.

What will I study in the classroom?

Course study includes voice and speech, movement, acting, theory, history, criticism, stage combat, acting for the camera and professional development. Students are exposed to Meisner, Stanislavsky, Chekhov and other acting techniques and study the Fitzmaurice technique, Laban movement analysis and mask work.

What gives UCF students a competitive advantage?

Most MFA Acting Track students graduate with enough equity points to join Actors Equity Association. Their resumes include several professional credits as well as teaching experience. The connections they make at Orlando Shakes often lead to professional engagements after graduation. The comprehensive study of acting, movement, voice, combat, camera acting and history/theory prepare them well for careers as professional actors as well as university professors.

News

Orlando Sentinel: A raucous Renaissance throwback at Theatre UCF

February 21, 2021  “Seamus Lea Daugherty is quite funny as the self-deluded father, and Juniper O’Hara has a lovely delivery of Ione’s noble and love-filled sentiments. As Bacchus, Drew Stark booms with authority, and Maddy La Roche makes an engaging wheeler-dealer Scaramouch. Ultimately, the work feels like an academic acting enterprise, lifted by...

Theatre MFA Students Take Center Stage This Valentine’s Day

February 10, 2021  Theatre UCF students will sweep audiences off their feet this Valentine’s weekend at Orlando Shakes’ Kiss Me, Shakespeare! A Valentine’s Cabaret.

Theatre UCF returns to the stage this spring

January 14, 2021  This spring, Theatre UCF is back on stage for three outdoor performances including a hopeful musical concert, a colorful commedia dell’arte play and a family-friendly show about wanting to be anything but average.

More News

Students interested in applying to the Acting MFA track must be accepted to both UCF Graduate Admissions and through an audition and interview through the UCF School of Performing Arts.

The MFA Acting Track admits students every two years to start the fall semester of each even-numbered year with interviews and auditions held early that same year.