USC School of Dramatic Arts

USC School of Dramatic Arts (SDA( students in the 2023 SDA production of the musical

USC School of Dramatic Arts (SDA) students in the 2024 SDA production of the musical “Rent.” Photo by Craig Schwartz.

The USC School of Dramatic Arts (SDA) fosters the talents of artist-scholars who are dramatically different – who are willing to imagine the future of the entertainment industry and bring it to life. The faculty are working professionals from the stage and from the screen, from Los Angeles, from the nation and from around the world. SDA breaks the mold on professional development and career preparation by being the first drama school with a dedicated Professional Development Center devoted to supporting our students and recent graduates.

Dramatic Arts Building
(213) 740-1286
FAX: (213) 740-8888
Email: sdainfo@usc.edu
dramaticarts.usc.edu

Leadership

Emily Roxworthy, PhD, Dean

Lori Ray Fisher, MA, Vice Dean

Philip G. Allen, Chair Division of Design

Anita Dashiell-Sparks, MFA, Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Vice Chair Division of Performance

Scott Faris, Chair Division of Production and Stage Management

Rena M. Heinrich, PhD, Chair Division of Dramatic Writing and Critical Studies

Oliver Mayer, MFA, Associate Dean of Faculty & Strategic Initiatives

Michele Shay, MFA, Chair Division of Performance

Faculty

Distinguished Professor: Velina Hasu Houston, PhD

Professors: Sharon M. Carnicke, PhD; Meiling Cheng, DFA; Oliver Mayer, MFA

Associate Professors: Luis Alfaro; Alexandra Billings, MFA; Takeshi Kata, MFA; Stacy L. Smith, PhD; Sibyl Wickersheimer, MFA

Assistant Professors: Esther K. Chae, MFA; Ann Closs-Farley; Elizabeth Harper, MFA; Samantha C. Jones, MFA; Melissa Treinkman, DMA

Professors of Theatre Practice: Philip G. Allen; Brent Blair, PhD; Kate Burton, MFA; Paula Cizmar; Louis Colaianni; Anita Dashiell-Sparks, MFA; Joseph Hacker, MFA; Duncan Mahoney; Natsuko Ohama; Michele Shay, MFA; Stephanie Shroyer, MFA; David Warshofsky, MFA

Associate Professors of Theatre Practice: Kathleen Dunn-Muzingo, MFA; Melinda C. Finberg, PhD; Laura Flanagan, MFA; Scott Faris; Rena M. Heinrich, PhD

Assistant Professors of Theatre Practice: Bayo Akinfemi, MFA; Boni B. Alvarez, MFA; Kirstin Eggers; Stevie Johnson, MFA; Samantha Jones, MFA; Noel Nichols, MFA; Dan Shaner; Zachary Steel; Rodney To; Paul Urcioli

Adjunct/Part-Time Faculty: John Allis; Emily Alpren, MFA; Robert Bailey; Jenni Barber; Sarabeth Belón; Ahmed Best, MFA; Mallory Birkrem; Jenni Brandon; Danyé Brown, MFA; Tom Buderwitz; Heather Carson; Martha Carter; Frank Catalano, MPW; Adam Chambers; Lee Shallat Chmel, Julián Juaquín Conde, MFA; Jeff Crockett; Gregg T. Daniel, MFA; Debra De Liso, MFA; John DeMita, MFA; Shammy Dee; Amrita Dhaliwal; Gary Domasin; Kathryn Dunn; Wayne Federman; Matthew Felton; Laurie Fisher, PhD; Neisha Folkes; Lena Ford, MFA; Jenny Guthrie; Mireya Hepner, MFA; MaryAnn Hu; Finola Hughes; Paul Hungerford; Nicholas Hussong, MFA; Edgar Landa; Beverley Leech; Erik Liberman; Carvens Lissaint; Anthony Luca; Peter Marciano; Babette Markus; Nick Massouh; Kevin McCorkle; Matthew Montgomery, MFA; James Morosini; Ann Morrison; Patrick Murphy; Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, MFA; David O; Jeremiah O’Brian, MFA; Jenna Pasturszek; Stephanie Petagno; Larry Powell; Kosta Potamianos; Tomm Polos; Abdul Hamid Royal; Sheri Sanders; Gabriella Santinelli; Sim Sarna; Kenneth Sawyer; Nathan W. Scheuer; Judith Shelton; Tessa Slovis, MFA; Camille Thornton-Alson; Sabina Zuniga Varela, MFA

Emeritus Faculty: Don Llewellyn, Eve Roberts, Andy Robinson, Eric Trules, James Wilson

General Information

Degree Programs

The School of Dramatic Arts offers professional and academic degrees at the Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts levels. USC offers two degree programs to undergraduate students interested in the study of theatre arts. The professional degree programs — the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Acting for Stage and Screen; Theatrical Design; Musical Theatre; Sound Design; Stage Management; and Technical Direction — offer a conservatory approach to training for students committed to pursuing careers in the professional theatre, film and television industries. The Bachelor of Arts degree program (BA) incorporates a broad, general education in addition to a thorough study of drama. The Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts Studies provides students with a broad understanding of the various disciplines. The School of Dramatic Arts also offers minor programs in theatre, musical theatre (with the Thornton School of Music), performing arts studies, performing leadership, performing social change, comedy (performance) and playwriting.

Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) combines a liberal arts education with an intensive study of the dramatic arts. This program offers a firm grounding in all aspects of the dramatic arts, while allowing students the freedom to select courses they feel will benefit their own interests and career goals. From classical theatre to stand-up comedy, from playwriting to medical clowning, from critical studies to entrepreneurialism in the dramatic arts, the range of course offerings in this degree program is as wide as it is deep. Beginning the second semester of their first year, students may elect to choose an emphasis in acting, comedy or design to further focus their studies. The degree is offered in cooperation with the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Acting, Comedy, Design and Musical Theatre Emphases

Beginning the second semester of their first year, students may elect to choose an emphasis in acting, comedy, design or musical theatre to further focus their studies. Performance, production and professional opportunities remain key aspects of this program.

Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts Studies is an interdisciplinary degree offered jointly by the School of Dramatic Arts, the School of Architecture, the School of Cinematic Arts, the Roski School of Art and Design, the Thornton School of Music, and the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Acting for Stage and Screen:

The BFA in Acting for Stage and Screen connects the foundation of classical theatre with innovative training for the contemporary performing artist in the digital landscape — including on-camera techniques, voice over and much more. An emphasis on professional development and networking culminates this groundbreaking degree offering in the heart of Hollywood, envisioned to be the standard-bearer for the next generation of acting programs. The BFA in Acting for Stage and Screen program is unique and highly competitive.

Musical Theatre:

As a diverse and inclusive community of artists, the USC BFA in Musical Theatre Program welcomes and educates performers from all backgrounds, experiences and abilities to change the face of musical theatre for the 21st century. This unique program connects the classical methodologies of all cultures in drama, music and dance to contemporary performance expressions. The BFA program in musical theatre is a four-year, professional training program focusing on providing students with the foundational skills needed to be healthy and expressive artists.

Sound Design:

The BFA program in sound design offers the student a combination of technical, management and design training in sound design. The skills acquired in the classroom are further explored through sound design assignments on School of Dramatic Arts public productions in each subsequent semester of the student’s program. Students in the sound design program build and design the sound component for the majority of the School of Dramatic Arts’ productions under the supervision of a professional staff of designers and theatre technicians. An interview is required for admission.

Stage Management:

The BFA in Stage Management offers real-world experience in the technical aspects of production, management and design. Students hone skills in leadership, problem solving, and thinking creatively and collaboratively, while stage managing at least one production each academic year. An interview is required for admission.

Technical Direction:

The BFA in Technical Direction prepares students for a career implementing the designed elements utilized in live entertainment and associated industries. Through theoretical course work and practical experience during the USC School of Dramatic Arts’ rigorous production season, students are immersed in the design process and eventual construction, and installation of the scenic, lighting, projection and sound elements of production. An interview is required for admission.

Theatrical Design:

The BFA in Theatrical Design combines up-to-date training in scenic, lighting and costume design with practical experience in making such designs a production reality. Students receive one-on-one guidance from a faculty of award-winning working professionals and graduate the program with an extensive design portfolio. An interview is required for admission.

Students in the design, stage management, and technical direction programs design, stage manage, and build the majority of the School of Dramatic Arts’ productions under the supervision of a professional staff of designers and theatre technicians.

Minor Programs

Theatre:

This general minor in theatre invites students to explore the many facets of this exciting field. Students have the opportunity to take a variety of classes in acting, applied theatre arts, applied theatre arts/education, playwriting, literature, stage management, directing, costume design and production. The curriculum is very flexible and encourages students to develop a primary interest for upper-division course work. All minor students are eligible to participate in performance and production projects.

Comedy:

The minor in comedy (performance) is a 20-unit minor that focuses on the theory and practice of comedy-making from the performer’s perspective. Beginning with a foundation in the history of comic performance, and supplemented by courses in the fundamentals of acting and performance, the progression of the minor offers students a comprehensive theoretical and experiential education in the many differing disciplines of comedy.

Musical Theatre:

The minor in musical theatre, interdisciplinary in nature, is a 27-unit program incorporating the study of acting, dance or movement, vocal arts and related musical subjects presented in association with the USC Thornton School of Music .

Performing Arts Studies:

The minor in performing arts studies provides an interdisciplinary inquiry into the nature and aesthetics of the performing arts. It combines the disciplines of cinematic arts, dance, music and theatre. The minor is a unique course of study that looks at how the performing arts contribute to a culturally literate society.

Performing Social Change:

This minor creates opportunities for the exploration of social change through performance and theatrical practice.

Master of Fine Arts

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) with a major in theatre requires 48–64 units of course work at the 400 or 500 level. The areas of emphasis include acting and dramatic writing. These programs provide a high level of practical experience. To ensure this, the number of students accepted in each area of emphasis is strictly limited. An interview is required for admission.

Acting:

Working with a faculty of accomplished professionals with extensive experience in theatre, film and television, the program enjoys a close-knit, intimate scale that fosters individual attention. Students develop their craft and their vision as artists, and also gain the knowledge, skills, flexibility, experience and confidence to work in any medium, form or technology. We nurture artists who do not merely adapt to changes in technology or the “industry,” but will lead, create and innovate.

Dramatic Writing:

At the heart of this program, the MFADW teaches playwriting first and foremost, then expands into adaptation, screenwriting, television writing, digital media and beyond. Presentations occur each year as part of a yearly New Works Festival, presented in conjunction with prominent local and national theatres most recently including The Hero Theatre, The Latino Theatre Company and Pasadena Playhouse.

Auditions and Entrance to the Degree Programs

Admission to the various degree programs offered through the USC School of Dramatic Arts is granted through the university’s regular admission procedures in conjunction with the school’s supplementary application process. See the Admission section of this catalogue, Undergraduate and Graduate.

Admission to the BA in Theatre program is determined by academic record, expressed interest in theatre, and information required on the USC application for admission and the USC School of Dramatic Arts supplementary application. The supplementary application is accessible through the school’s website.

In addition to submitting a USC application for admission and a dramatic arts supplementary application, an audition is required from applicants to the BFA in Acting, Stage and Screen, the BFA in Musical Theatre and the MFA in Acting. Applicants to our MFA in Dramatic Writing will be expected to provide a writing supplement. For the latest details on the audition process and requirements, please visit the school’s website. Please note that the BA emphasis programs and the BA in Visual and Performing Arts Studies major are only available to current USC students. If you’re interested in any of these major options, please connect with your academic adviser once you’re at USC.

Students wishing to transfer from a community college or another four-year college or university into any of our Bachelor of Fine Arts programs must follow the same application and audition process as first-year applicants. If admitted to a Bachelor of Fine Arts program, it is possible that transfer applicants will begin the curriculum as first-year students.

Applicants to any of the Bachelor of Fine Arts production programs (Design, Sound Design, Stage Management, Technical Direction) must also participate in a portfolio review with our production faculty. For the latest details on the portfolio review process and requirements, please visit the school’s website.

More information on the admissions process and requirements may be obtained through the school’s website or by contacting the Office of Admissions and Student Services, School of Dramatic Arts, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0791 or via email at sdainfo@usc.edu.

International Study

In conjunction with Sarah Lawrence College and the British American Drama Academy, USC students have the opportunity to study theatre in London. For additional information, see International Study Options .

Programs

Bachelor’s Degree

Minor

Master’s Degree

Courses

Dramatic Arts

Dramatic Arts Expanded

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