PRIORITY DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS TO THE ACTING AREA is February 1, 2026.  Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.

The Department of Theatre seeks eight to ten M.F.A. Actors for admission to our program beginning Fall 2026. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. Acceptance to the Acting area requires a preliminary video audition and a callback audition, either in-person or virtually. If you have any questions regarding the application or audition process, please contact Amy Herzberg, Head of Acting at: herzberg@uark.edu.

STEP ONE: (Due Feb. 1, 2026)

Applicants wishing to apply to the MFA Acting Program should prepare to provide:

• Applicant Information
• Undergraduate Degree and GPA
• Unofficial Transcript
• Resume and Headshot
• A Personal Statement, one- to two-pages, addressing the applicant’s reasons for wanting to pursue an M.F.A. in Acting. The statement should also discuss the applicant’s goals after completion of the program. Applicants are welcome to share other relevant information that might give the selection committee perspective on their application.
• A Preliminary Audition: Prepare three contrasting monologues (a contemporary comedic, a contemporary dramatic, and a Shakespeare or other classical piece), totaling no more than eight minutes. If desired, applicants can provide an additional song from the musical theatre repertoire of up to one minute. In this case, the audition should not exceed nine minutes.  All applicants must submit a video audition.
• Three Letters of Recommendation from theatre professionals, professors, or other people who are familiar with the applicant and/or their work. 
• After your preliminary audition is reviewed, you may be invited to a callback audition. Callbacks may be done in-person on our campus or via Zoom.  In some cases, additional video audition pieces may be requested.

STEP TWO: After official acceptance--due date to be determined with acceptance offer.

Final admission into the MFA Program requires a formal application to the University of Arkansas Graduate School. This step is not necessary until one has been granted admission into the MFA Program by the Department of Theatre. To apply to the Graduate School, one should expect to provide:

Current official transcript (official transcripts must come from a College or University Registrar or similar office)

If one’s undergraduate career is incomplete at the time of application, a final official transcript must be sent to the Graduate School before registration begins for one’s second semester.

The GRE Test is not required for admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School and standardized tests are not required for admission into the M.F.A. Program in Theatre.

The Department of Theatre seeks M.F.A. Directors for admission to our program beginning Fall 2026.  While the priority deadline for applications to the Directing Area is Feb, 1, 2026, applications will be accepted and considered until all the positions are filled. If you are considering applying, please promptly submit your application. 

If you have any questions, please contact Morgan Hicks, Head of Directing, with questions @ mhicks@uark.edu.

Applicants wishing to apply to the MFA Directing Program should prepare to provide:

• Applicant Information
• Unofficial Transcript, including GPA
• A résumé detailing academic experience, professional work in the theatre, and other relevant work experience.
• A Personal Statement, one- to two-pages, addressing the applicant’s reasons for wanting to pursue an M.F.A. in Directing. The statement should also discuss the applicant’s goals after completion of the program. Applicants are welcome to share other relevant information that might give the selection committee perspective on their application.
• A portfolio of work which should include:     
  • Video of up to 15 minutes that showcases the applicant's directing work. This may be from one production or a compilation of several productions. We prefer being sent an online link, although you can also upload a file.
  • A list of plays you’d be excited to direct, as well as any adaptations or other projects that intrigue you.
  • Optional: production photos of shows you have directed.

   

• Three Letters of Recommendation from theatre professionals, professors, or other people who are familiar with the applicant and/or their work.  One of the recommendations must speak directly to the applicant’s theatrical work.

Please note, select students will be invited to interview in February/March of 2026.

The GRE Test is not required for admission to the M.F.A. Program in Directing.

Final admission into the MFA Program requires a formal application to the University of Arkansas Graduate School. This step is not necessary until one has been invited to interview for the MFA Directing Program. To apply to the graduate School, one should expect to provide:

Current official transcript (official transcripts must come from a College or University Registrar or similar office)

If  one’s undergraduate career is incomplete at the time of application, a  final official transcript must be sent to the graduate school before  registration begins for one’s second semester.

The Department of Theatre seeks playwriting applicants for admission to our M.F.A. in Theatre program beginning Fall 2026. While the priority deadline for applications to the Playwriting Area is Feb, 1, 2026, applications will be accepted and considered until all the positions are filled and early applications are strongly encouraged. 

Applicants may reach out to John Walch, Head of Playwriting, (jswalch@uark.edu) with any questions.

Applicants are asked to provide the following information and materials:

• Applicant Information
• Unofficial Transcript, and college GPA
• A one- to two-page personal statement addressing the applicant’s reasons for wanting to pursue a M.F.A. in Playwriting at this moment in their development as a writer. The statement should also discuss the applicant’s goals and expectations coming into the program. Applicants are welcome to share other relevant information that might give the selection committee perspective on their application.
• Three letters of recommendation from theatre professionals, professors, or other people who are familiar with the applicant and/or their work. At least one of the recommendations must speak directly to the applicant’s work.
• A résumé detailing academic experience, professional work in the theatre, and other relevant work experience.
• A portfolio of their work that includes two writing samples.

1. The first work sample should be a full-length play that the applicant feels best reflects their theatrical sensibility and dramatic writing.
2. The second can be a full-length, a one-act, a work-in-progress, or something in a different genre/medium. Applicants should provide a 15-20 minute excerpt from this piece, plus a one to two paragraph description of the work and their reasons for selecting including it in this application.

The GRE Test is not required for admission to the M.F.A. Program in Playwriting.

Please Note: Final admission into the M.F.A. Program in Theatre requires a formal application to the University of Arkansas Graduate School. This step is not necessary until and applicant has been granted admission into the M.F.A. Program. To apply to the Graduate School, applicants will need to provide:

• Current official transcript (official transcripts must come from a College or University Registrar or similar office)
• If one’s undergraduate career is incomplete at the time of application, a final official transcript must be sent to the graduate school before registration begins for one’s second semester.

The Department of Theatre seeks M.F.A. Designers for admission to our program beginning Fall 2026. While the priority deadline for applications to the Design areas is Feb, 1, 2026, applications will be accepted and considered until all the positions are filled. If you are considering applying, please promptly apply.

If you have any questions, please contact Shawn Irish, Head of Design, with questions @ sirish@uark.edu. Applicants wishing to apply to the MFA Design Programs should prepare to provide:

• Applicant Information
• Unofficial Transcript, including GPA
• A résumé detailing academic experience, professional work in the theatre, and other relevant work experience.
• A Personal Statement, two pages (max), addressing the applicant’s reasons for wanting to pursue an M.F.A. in Costume, Scene or Lighting Design. The statement should also discuss the applicant’s goals after completion of the program. Applicants are welcome to share other relevant information that might give the selection committee perspective on their application.
• A portfolio of work that highlights your creative research, ideas, and design perspective. This could include photographs of realized productions, renderings, class projects,  costume construction, personal artwork, or any other materials that best showcase your skills and ideas including unrealized work. Lighting and Scenery portfolios should include drafting samples as well. We are interested in how your portfolio reflects your unique point of view as an artist and storyteller.  You may provide a link to your website or upload a PDF version of your portfolio. (Please make sure to include your first and last names in the filename if uploading a file.)
• Three Letters of Recommendation from theatre professionals, professors, or other people who are familiar with the applicant and/or their work. One of the recommendations must speak directly to the applicant’s theatrical work.

The GRE Test is not required for admission to the M.F.A. Program in Costume, Scene or Lighting Design. 

Note: Final admission into the MFA Program requires a formal application to the University of Arkansas Graduate School. This step is not necessary until one has been invited to interview for the MFA Programs in Costume, Scene or Lighting Design. To apply to the Graduate School (in addition to the above), applicants will need  to provide:

• Current official transcript (official transcripts must come from a College or University Registrar or similar office)

If an applicant's undergraduate career is incomplete at the time of application, a final, official transcript must be sent to the graduate school before registration can begin.

The Department of Theatre seeks M.F.A. Designers for admission to our program beginning Fall 2026. While the priority deadline for applications to the Design areas is Feb, 1, 2026, applications will be accepted and considered until all the positions are filled. If you are considering applying, please promptly apply.

If you have any questions, please contact Shawn Irish, Head of Design, with questions @ sirish@uark.edu. Applicants wishing to apply to the MFA Design Programs should prepare to provide:

• Applicant Information
• Unofficial Transcript, including GPA
• A résumé detailing academic experience, professional work in the theatre, and other relevant work experience.
• A Personal Statement, two pages (max), addressing the applicant’s reasons for wanting to pursue an M.F.A. in Costume, Scene or Lighting Design. The statement should also discuss the applicant’s goals after completion of the program. Applicants are welcome to share other relevant information that might give the selection committee perspective on their application.
• A portfolio of work that highlights your creative research, ideas, and design perspective. This could include photographs of realized productions, renderings, class projects,  costume construction, personal artwork, or any other materials that best showcase your skills and ideas including unrealized work. Lighting and Scenery portfolios should include drafting samples as well. We are interested in how your portfolio reflects your unique point of view as an artist and storyteller.  You may provide a link to your website or upload a PDF version of your portfolio. (Please make sure to include your first and last names in the filename if uploading a file.)
• Three Letters of Recommendation from theatre professionals, professors, or other people who are familiar with the applicant and/or their work. One of the recommendations must speak directly to the applicant’s theatrical work.

The GRE Test is not required for admission to the M.F.A. Program in Costume, Scene or Lighting Design. 

Note: Final admission into the MFA Program requires a formal application to the University of Arkansas Graduate School. This step is not necessary until one has been invited to interview for the MFA Programs in Costume, Scene or Lighting Design. To apply to the Graduate School (in addition to the above), applicants will need  to provide:

• Current official transcript (official transcripts must come from a College or University Registrar or similar office)

If an applicant's undergraduate career is incomplete at the time of application, a final, official transcript must be sent to the graduate school before registration can begin.

The Department of Theatre seeks M.F.A. Designers for admission to our program beginning Fall 2026. While the priority deadline for applications to the Design areas is Feb, 1, 2026, applications will be accepted and considered until all the positions are filled. If you are considering applying, please promptly apply.

If you have any questions, please contact Shawn Irish, Head of Design, with questions @ sirish@uark.edu. Applicants wishing to apply to the MFA Design Programs should prepare to provide:

• Applicant Information
• Unofficial Transcript, including GPA
• A résumé detailing academic experience, professional work in the theatre, and other relevant work experience.
• A Personal Statement, two pages (max), addressing the applicant’s reasons for wanting to pursue an M.F.A. in Costume, Scene or Lighting Design. The statement should also discuss the applicant’s goals after completion of the program. Applicants are welcome to share other relevant information that might give the selection committee perspective on their application.
• A portfolio of work that highlights your creative research, ideas, and design perspective. This could include photographs of realized productions, renderings, class projects,  costume construction, personal artwork, or any other materials that best showcase your skills and ideas including unrealized work. Lighting and Scenery portfolios should include drafting samples as well. We are interested in how your portfolio reflects your unique point of view as an artist and storyteller.  You may provide a link to your website or upload a PDF version of your portfolio. (Please make sure to include your first and last names in the filename if uploading a file.)
• Three Letters of Recommendation from theatre professionals, professors, or other people who are familiar with the applicant and/or their work. One of the recommendations must speak directly to the applicant’s theatrical work.

The GRE Test is not required for admission to the M.F.A. Program in Costume, Scene or Lighting Design. 

Note: Final admission into the MFA Program requires a formal application to the University of Arkansas Graduate School. This step is not necessary until one has been invited to interview for the MFA Programs in Costume, Scene or Lighting Design. To apply to the Graduate School (in addition to the above), applicants will need  to provide:

• Current official transcript (official transcripts must come from a College or University Registrar or similar office)

If an applicant's undergraduate career is incomplete at the time of application, a final, official transcript must be sent to the graduate school before registration can begin.