Department of Theatre & Cinema

Graduate Program in Stage Management

Master of Fine Arts

Director: Robert H. Leonard

320 Henderson Hall West

Virginia Tech (0141)

Blacksburg, VA 24061

FAX: 540-231-7321

Phone: 540-231-9299 - Email: robert.leonard@vt.edu

Description and Objectives. The Master of Fine Arts program in Stage Management is a three-year, studio-based program of study. The program intends to provide professional training for a career in stage management and theater leadership within the evolving field of professional theater in the United States.

Personnel management, facilitation of group processes (creative, production and decision-making), team-building and leadership lie at the heart of the stage manager's craft. While it builds from a foundation of traditional methodologies, the program is designed to explore a wide range of approaches to theater and techniques of realizing theater. This design is intended to prepare the student for the rigor of working in a wide variety of artistic environments and on uncharted paths. The program is based on professional standards and practices. Part and parcel with this study is the identification and development of each student's own goals, ways of thinking, vocabulary, and sense of artistic center.

There is a particular focus on stage management of new play development, maintenance and growth of a theater ensemble, working with artists and non-artists in creative projects, forming and facilitating creative community partnerships – all within the context of the stage manager and theater artist as an engaged citizen. This training will include the development of

· the student’s own career vision

· skills and disciplines associated with stage managing in conventional and non-conventional theatre spaces and contexts

· leadership in the development, maintenance and growth of an ensemble of theatre artists

· documentation and record keeping for the artistic processes, as well as for management needs

· skills for negotiating and maintaining partnerships with individuals and organizations

· a grounding in theory and analysis of human interaction in the personal, social, and political frames of reference.

The Studio Approach. Each student admitted will work with a primary advisor from Theatre Arts in a one-on-one studio environment over the three-year period. In this context, all Theatre Arts faculty members are available to contribute graduate level seminar, classroom, and tutorial instruction to meet the goals of the program and the needs of the student. While based in the Department of Theatre & Cinema, the program may take advantage of the resources of other departments throughout the University.

The educational value of the studio experience is based on regularly planned stage management projects designed as experiential labs. The primary advisor mentors the artistic progress of the student through these projects, and guides the development of the student's overarching goals and curricular needs.

A unique curriculum, designed to serve the needs of each student, will examine a wide variety of artistic and production styles and formats. Final projects may be a stage management project, or may be a unique project designed out of the student’s program of study and career goals.

The Internship. The program includes a one-semester internship in a professional theater, designed to provide the student with professional practice and strong positioning for career development on graduation. The internship is usually conducted in the student's third year.

For a student to complete the program successfully, the student must demonstrate professional competencies and meet professional standards determined by the primary advisor, the graduate faculty, and her/his graduate committee.

Admission

1. Interested candidates should forward the following to the office of the director:

a. Cover letter,

b. Statement of personal philosophy of theatre and career goals,

c. Resume.

E-mail submissions are encouraged.

2. Those seeking admission must submit the following to the Virginia Tech Graduate School (www.grads.vt.edu):

a. A completed, signed application to the Graduate School

b. Official transcripts of all college-level work

c. Three letters of recommendation

Successful candidates must exhibit an appropriate level of experience indicating the desire and ability to complete the degree requirements and to thrive in a self-directed environment. Graduate admission tests (GRE, etc.) are not required.

In most academic years, the program will accept one student.

An assistantship of approximately $10,000 per academic year will be provided to each student accepted into the program. An assistantship will also include a full tuition waiver. As a function of their assistantships, students in this program will be assigned to teach the Stage Management for undergraduate majors, under the guidance of an experienced faculty member. Under their assistantships, students in the program will be assigned to work in specific production shops.

Primary Advisor. Robert H. Leonard is the founding artistic director of The Road Company, a small ensemble based in Johnson City, TN, from 1976 to 1998. He is a founding board member of Alternate ROOTS (Regional Organization of Theatres - South), an artist-driven, regional service organization for grass-roots, community-based theatres and artists. He is a co-director of the Community Arts Network (CAN), a Web-based project, <www.communityarts.net>, promoting information exchange, research, and critical dialogue with the field of community-based arts. He is a founding board member of the Network of Ensemble Theatres (NET), the national coalition of artist-driven theatres. He has recently completed service on the board of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization of not-for-profit theatres. He has headed the MFA program in Directing at Virginia Tech since 1989, graduating theatre directors who are currently at the forefront of contemporary theatre exploration. He brings nationwide connection with professional ensembles and grass roots theatre-making.