BFA Acting

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at the University of Connecticut is an intensive, conservatory-style program designed to prepare students for direct entry into performance careers in all areas of professional theatre, including television and film. Students are also thoroughly prepared to continue acting studies at the graduate, Master of Fine Arts level. Combining a four-year sequence of acting classes with extensive voice and movement training and a well-rounded course of studies in the art of theatre, the BFA Acting Program also offers outstanding performance opportunities through the Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT), the performance wing of the Department of Dramatic Arts. At the CRT, students work with professional actors and directors on the way to earning membership points in Actor's Equity, the American union for professional stage actors and stage managers.

BFA Acting-Margot Tyler hand

COURSE OF STUDY

Our program of study is unique among the Northeastern BFA acting programs in both state and private universities.  Our mission is to provide the tools, skills, experiences, and processes to empower the young actor…who strives toward greatness…for a career in the American Theatre in all of its manifestations.  Our program balances the artistic training with the academic learning.  This brings into focus the path of the professional actor with the maturation of the individual as a citizen of the world.
Below are a few examples of what makes our program unique:

  • All our instructors are working professionals as well as dedicated teachers.
  • Our class size is the smallest of any BFA Actor Training Program in the Northeast (typically 12 individuals), which allows us to provide significant individual attention.
  • Study Abroad with Semester in London.  Juniors will spend their Fall semester abroad studying in London. This will be a unique opportunity to study:  Acting Shakespeare, Speaking Shakespeare, Period Dance, Physical Theatre (taught by members of Theatre Complicite), Stage Combat with potential certification as actor/combatant by the British Society of Fight Directors.  The students will be in direct contact with directors, actors, and designers of current productions of the London Theatre. This will also include 8 to 10 performances as well as tours of The Globe and the National Theatre.
  • Learn from professional guest teaching artists: Such as comedy class with Jerry Adler who appears regularly on The Good Wife and with Pat McCorkle of McCorkle Casting who teaches Acting for the Camera class.
  • Opportunity to work with Puppet Arts majors on film and live action projects.
  • Casting at Connecticut Repertory Theatre where BFA actors work alongside MFA and Equity actors directed by outstanding professional directors while earning points towards their union affiliation.
  • Senior Showcase for NYC agents, casting directors and additional industry professionals.

YEARLY PLAN OF STUDY

PLEASE NOTE: This plan suggests a sequence of general education courses that would enable the acting major to complete the university requirements in four years. The following plan of study does not reflect any "remedial" courses in writing and math that the university may have required you to take or any foreign language requirements that you did not fulfill in high school. If you require any of these courses, the faculty strongly recommends that you consider taking some requirements during summers or intercessions. If you plan to take courses at any other university or college, be sure to check with the Transfer Admissions Office BEFORE enrolling to ensure that they will meet specific UConn requirements.

1st Year

Fall Semester
DRAM 1215 Theatre Production: Makeup & Wardrobe (3)
DRAM 1701 Acting Technique I (3)
DRAM 1801 Stage Movement I (3)
WRITING: ENGL 1010 or 1011 (4)
AREA 1: Arts and Humanities (3)

Total Credits: 16

Spring Semester
DRAM 1702  Acting Technique II (3)
DRAM 1802  Stage Movement II (3)
DRAM 1901  Voice & Speech I (3)
DRAM 1282  Practicum*- Costume, Light, Sound (1)
Q Course:  Math or Statistics (3-4)
AREA 2: Social Sciences (3)

Total Credits: 16-17

2nd Year

Fall Semester
DRAM 2701 Acting Technique III (3)
DRAM 2810 Stage Movement III (3)
DRAM 1902 Voice & Speech II (3)
DRAM 2130 History of Drama I (3)
DRAM 1282 Practicum*- Set Run Crew (1)
AREA 3: Science and Technology (3-4)

Total Credits: 17-18

Spring Semester
DRAM 2702 Acting Technique IV (3)
DRAM 2812 Stage Movement IV (3)
DRAM 2901 Voice & Speech III (3)
DRAM 3721 Performance Techniques: Suzuki Training*** (2)
DRAM 2131 History of Drama II (3)
DRAM 3182 Practicum** (1)
AREA 4: Diversity and Multiculturalism (3)

Total Credits:  16-18

3rd Year

Fall Semester in LONDON
DRAM 4701 Acting Technique V - Acting Shakespeare (3)
DRAM 4811 Stage Movement V - Period Dance & Physical Theatre (3)
DRAM 4911 Voice & Speech IV - Speaking Shakespeare (3)
DRAM 3721 Stage Combat (3)
DRAM 4135W British Theatre (3)

Total Credits:  15

Spring Semester
DRAM 4702 Acting Technique VI (3)
DRAM 4812 Stage Movement VI (3)
DRAM 4912 Voice & Speech V (3)
DRAM 3182 Practicum** (1)
DRAM (Hist/Lit) 3130, 3131W, 3132, 3133, 3138, 4135W (3)
AREA 1: Arts and Humanities (3)

Total Credits:  16

4th Year

Fall Semester
DRAM 2711  Introduction to Directing***(3)
DRAM 4703  Acting Technique VII (3)
DRAM 4931  Voice & Speech VI (3)
DRAM 3721 Performance Techniques: Aerial Dance*** (3)
AREA 2: Social Sciences (3)
AREA 3: Science and Technology / Q-course (3-4)

Total Credits:  18-19+

Spring Semester
DRAM 4704 Acting Technique VIII (3)
DRAM 4705  Acting for Media (3)
DRAM 3182 Practicum** (1)
DRAM 3721 Performance Techniques: Suzuki Training*** (2)
AREA 4: Diversity and Multiculturalism (3)
General Education courses or Electives as needed (3+)

Total Credits: 13+

* Acting majors work on three run crews (lights, costumes, sound or scenery) for Connecticut Repertory Theatre. The first crew assignment is part of the DRAM 1215 course. The next two crew assignments are DRAM 1282 Practicum in Dramatic Arts.

** Acting majors must complete three credits of 3182 in acting, stage management, dance, or theatre management.

*** Recommended course. Suzuki may be taken for credit three times in Spring semesters with different course numbers.

Two ‘W’ courses are required by the University, one of which must be taken from those offered by the Dramatic Arts Department. The other ‘W’ course may be a Dramatic Arts Department offering or an offering from a different department.

Two ‘Q’ courses are required by the University, one of which must be a Math or Statistics class.