Theatre Arts

Overview

The curriculum in this Theatre Arts - Acting program at California State University Long Beach is structured around a first year of core classes in Acting, Voice & Speech, Movement and pedagogy theory. Additional classes include Dramaturgy, Theory and Practice of Contemporary Theatre, and Aesthetic Theory and Conceptualization. The second year focuses on the individual’s desired area of teaching specialization through a more flexible and idiosyncratic curriculum. 

Actor training covers a variety of approaches to teaching and performance theory, and includes, but is not limited to: the Psycho-Physical work of Michael Chekhov, the fundamentals of Stanislavski’s system, Psychological Realism, Non-Linear Theatre, Ensemble Playing in Repertory, Improvisation, and other technique courses. Voice training is grounded in the work of Catherine Fitzmaurice while the Speech component is centered around the Knight/Thompson approach.

Features

Training covers enrichment and expansion of individual vocal skills, use of dialects and accents, and exploration of microphone techniques for radio, film, and voice-over work. Movement training covers body mechanics and nonverbal communication, unarmed and armed combat with safety techniques, movement styles, Commedia Dell’Arte and clown work.

This MFA also offers graduate students the opportunity to perform in a repertory-styled acting company - California Repertory Company (Cal Rep). The production repertoire of Cal Rep consists predominantly of highly theatrical work. Both national and international guest artists regularly complement the faculty. Click here to learn more about Production Opportunities for Graduate Students.