Overview

We’re delighted to invite playwrights to apply to an exciting, rigorous Theater Arts programme at Rutgers University that challenges, engages and celebrates the playwright. There are multiple opportunities to work with actors, directors and designers, including the annual Playwrights Festival, which has productions of the playwrights’ work.

In the playwriting programme, each student is encouraged to develop, stretch, and experiment with their individual voice. This is a place to hone one’s craft, to engage with emerging and established theater artists, and to study the new, the ancient, and the innovative in the unique alchemy of performance.

The degree teaches the art and craft of playwriting through:

Technique/Skills

The study (reading, analyzing and attending productions) of classic and contemporary texts.

The completion of multiple writing exercises; the writing and revising several full-length plays.

Developing the vocabulary and approach to critique others’ works-in-progress in useful ways.

The engagement with various professional theatre makers currently working in the field.

The participation in the readings and productions of their plays.

Through courses in TV and screenwriting, the development of other crucial skills, essential to their future profession.

Collaboration

The Actor-Playwright Workshop where the playwrights bring in works-in-progress and develop the skills to discuss the work and receive notes on it.

Readings of works-in-progress, directed by professional directors and acted by professional actors (at EST) and actors in the Theatre Programme.

Productions of original plays, during with the playwrights participate in early conversations with the directors and in the casting and other production elements including the design choices; attendance at the rehearsals of the productions. Revisions of the play based on the rehearsal process.

Collaborative projects with Music to write scenes in collaboration with composing students to be set to music.

Theory and History

The Theater History classes that develop critical analysis skills and abstract thinking in the study of the plays of an era and the context in which they were written and performed.

Readings of critical theory and the analysis of plays and productions are also a component of all the Playwrights Seminar classes.

Creativity

To learn various theatrical forms and approaches and to open to one’s own material, themes and impulses all create the foundation for one’s own creative work.

Professionalism

The collaborative projects; the engagements with professional theatre artists; the study of historical and contemporary theatre; the development of one’s own craft and the ability to articulate a work’s meaning, purpose and goals all act to develop theatre artists who are ready to take on the professional world of theatre with good will, exciting ideas and excellent citizenship—as well as vibrant, original work.

Programme Structure

Curriculum:

In the first year, the playwrights will have a rehearsed reading of a new work, performed at the annual Playwrights Festival.

In the second year, playwrights will have a production of their play at the Playwrights Festival, collaborating with student designers, actors, stage management, and a professional director.

Each spring the playwrights will have a rehearsed reading in New York City with professional actors and a professional director.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-01 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-01 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

120

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IELTS

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Credits

30 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

New Brunswick, United States

Disciplines

Drama View 257 other Masters in Drama in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

$70 Rutgers application fee

University questionnaire

English proficiency test scores

Request for transcripts (completion of a bachelor’s degree at an accredited university is a required prerequisite)

Three letters of recommendation

Personal statement

Portfolio

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

37416 USD / year

≈ 37416 USD / year
Out-of-State

37416 USD / year

≈ 37416 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

23424 USD / year

≈ 23424 USD / year

Living costs

New Brunswick

United States

1204 - 2963 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Theater Arts.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

The degree teaches the art and craft of playwriting through:

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

New Brunswick

Financing

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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