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Knoxville, TN

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Program

Concentration

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person Only

Program profile

Highly SelectiveUnder 12 StudentsStudy Abroad

Program

Concentration

Quick links

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person Only

Program profile

Highly SelectiveUnder 12 StudentsStudy Abroad

Browse programs

Quick links

MFA Theatre

Acting

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredInterview RequiredUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person Only

Program profile

Highly SelectiveUnder 12 StudentsStudy Abroad

Program Recognition

Three-year MFA in Acting program ranked consistently among the top-25 MFA performance programs in the U.S., U.K., and Australia

Member of the University Resident Theatre Association (URTA)

Students eligible to join Actors' Equity Association upon graduation

Performance & Productions

Seven productions per season (four CBT mainstage, three Lab Theatre); MFA actors may be cast in any production

Three performance venues: Clarence Brown mainstage (574-seat proscenium/thrust), Jenny Boyd Theatre (~300-seat flexible/arena, opened 2025), and Lab Theatre (125-seat black box)

Guest directors include Broadway professionals such as Josh Rhodes (Spamalot), Rusty Mowery (Kinky Boots), and Hunter Foster (Goodspeed, Utah Shakespeare Festival)

Notable Alumni

Tramell Tillman — ('14, Severance, Hunters), Conrad Ricamora ('12, Fire Island, How to Get Away With Murder, Broadway's The King and I and Here Lies Love), and Obie Award-winning director Eric Ting

Faculty and alumni have credits on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and at major regional theatres including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Goodman, The Public, and Lincoln Center Theatre

Professional Development

Uniquely integrated with Clarence Brown Theatre (CBT), a LORT D Equity professional theatre

Students train during the day and rehearse/perform alongside faculty and national-caliber guest artists at night

Unified organizational structure: Department Head and Artistic Director are the same person

Location

Located in Knoxville, TN — a growing city of 850,000+ in the greater metro area, minutes from Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Value

All MFA Acting students receive full tuition waivers plus Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) stipends (~$21,000/year)

Health insurance included at no additional cost

Approximate total funding value ~$54,000/year (~$162,000 over three years)

Additional competitive fellowships available through the Graduate School ($5,000–$15,000)

School Info

Snapshot

4.17

Avg GPA (W)

42%

Admit Rate

school-wide

74%

Grad Rate

30.4K

Enrollment

$60K

Earnings

10yr after

Costs & Aid

In-State Tuition

$14,024

Before aid

Out-of-State Tuition

$34,478

Before aid

Cost of Attendance

$36,994

Before aid

Average Net Price

$18,976

After aid

Cost Of Attending Ut Undergraduate Student · onestop.utk.edu College Scorecard

Program info updated Aug 20, 2:54 PM

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

Three-year MFA in Acting program ranked consistently among the top-25 MFA performance programs in the U.S., U.K., and Australia

Member of the University Resident Theatre Association (URTA)

Students eligible to join Actors' Equity Association upon graduation

Performance & Productions

Seven productions per season (four CBT mainstage, three Lab Theatre); MFA actors may be cast in any production

Three performance venues: Clarence Brown mainstage (574-seat proscenium/thrust), Jenny Boyd Theatre (~300-seat flexible/arena, opened 2025), and Lab Theatre (125-seat black box)

Guest directors include Broadway professionals such as Josh Rhodes (Spamalot), Rusty Mowery (Kinky Boots), and Hunter Foster (Goodspeed, Utah Shakespeare Festival)

Notable Alumni

Tramell Tillman — ('14, Severance, Hunters), Conrad Ricamora ('12, Fire Island, How to Get Away With Murder, Broadway's The King and I and Here Lies Love), and Obie Award-winning director Eric Ting

Faculty and alumni have credits on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and at major regional theatres including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Goodman, The Public, and Lincoln Center Theatre

Professional Development

Uniquely integrated with Clarence Brown Theatre (CBT), a LORT D Equity professional theatre

Students train during the day and rehearse/perform alongside faculty and national-caliber guest artists at night

Unified organizational structure: Department Head and Artistic Director are the same person

Location

Located in Knoxville, TN — a growing city of 850,000+ in the greater metro area, minutes from Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Value

All MFA Acting students receive full tuition waivers plus Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) stipends (~$21,000/year)

Health insurance included at no additional cost

Approximate total funding value ~$54,000/year (~$162,000 over three years)

Additional competitive fellowships available through the Graduate School ($5,000–$15,000)

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

Three-year MFA in Acting program ranked consistently among the top-25 MFA performance programs in the U.S., U.K., and Australia

Member of the University Resident Theatre Association (URTA)

Students eligible to join Actors' Equity Association upon graduation

Performance & Productions

Seven productions per season (four CBT mainstage, three Lab Theatre); MFA actors may be cast in any production

Three performance venues: Clarence Brown mainstage (574-seat proscenium/thrust), Jenny Boyd Theatre (~300-seat flexible/arena, opened 2025), and Lab Theatre (125-seat black box)

Guest directors include Broadway professionals such as Josh Rhodes (Spamalot), Rusty Mowery (Kinky Boots), and Hunter Foster (Goodspeed, Utah Shakespeare Festival)

Notable Alumni

Tramell Tillman — ('14, Severance, Hunters), Conrad Ricamora ('12, Fire Island, How to Get Away With Murder, Broadway's The King and I and Here Lies Love), and Obie Award-winning director Eric Ting

Faculty and alumni have credits on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and at major regional theatres including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Goodman, The Public, and Lincoln Center Theatre

Professional Development

Uniquely integrated with Clarence Brown Theatre (CBT), a LORT D Equity professional theatre

Students train during the day and rehearse/perform alongside faculty and national-caliber guest artists at night

Unified organizational structure: Department Head and Artistic Director are the same person

Location

Located in Knoxville, TN — a growing city of 850,000+ in the greater metro area, minutes from Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Value

All MFA Acting students receive full tuition waivers plus Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) stipends (~$21,000/year)

Health insurance included at no additional cost

Approximate total funding value ~$54,000/year (~$162,000 over three years)

Additional competitive fellowships available through the Graduate School ($5,000–$15,000)

Key Info

Enrollment Term

Fall 2027

University AppApplication

Apply

School Website Common App School Website

Fee

Graduate School Application Fee

$60

Deadline

Early ActionNov 1, 2026

Regular DecisionDec 15, 2026

Enrollment Confirmation DeadlineMay 1, 2027

Important Dates And Deadlines · admissions.utk.edu

Program AppApplication

Apply

School Website

Deadline

International Video Audition DeadlineDec 1, 2026

International Graduate School Application Deadline (if accepted/waitlisted)Feb 1, 2027

Auditions

Local Knoxville AuditionDec 5, 2026

URTAs — January-February 2027

Private Auditions — Philadelphia and Chicago (TBA)

Application And Audition Guidelines · theatre.utk.edu

Audition Requirements

Songs

Optional Song (Encouraged)

Brief excerpt of a song you enjoy singing

This is not a musical theatre program; being a singer is not required for audition or acceptance

Song is used to learn more about you and your voice

Accompaniment

Selection can be a cappella or with recorded accompaniment

No accompanist will be provided

Monologues

Two Contrasting Monologues, Each Under Two Minutes

Pieces should contrast in tone (comedic vs. dramatic) and period (classical vs. contemporary)

Classical selection should be in verse

Prepare at least one additional monologue in case one is requested

Additional Materials

Headshot & Resume

Current photograph/headshot and professional resume

Applicants are encouraged to send photo, resume, or website link in advance of URTA audition

Video

Callback candidates are strongly encouraged to have video audition pieces prepared before URTA auditions

Submit video link to Professor Katie Cunningham at kcunni12@utk.edu when requested

Graduate School Materials

Unofficial transcripts of all prior undergraduate and graduate coursework and degree confirmations after offer or waitlist

Current photograph and professional resume

Brief essay, 2 pages maximum, about commitment to a life in art, interest in training, and creative/career interests

Two letters of recommendation

English language certification test scores may be required for applicants whose native language is not English

Application And Audition Guidelines · theatre.utk.edu

Verified for Fall 2027 entry

Good to Know

Application Logistics

GRE exam is not required

Domestic applicants do not apply to the Graduate School until receiving an offer of admission or waitlist instruction

International applicants who receive an offer or waitlist placement must apply to the Graduate School by February 1

Graduate School application fee is $60 when the formal application is required

Do not submit transcripts or other materials by postal mail unless specifically requested

Admission Pathway

Admission begins with audition and interview through URTA, SETC, or private audition

Callback candidates may be asked for virtual audition/interview materials and may be invited for a campus finalist visit

Program recruits in odd-numbered years for fall entry; current published cycle is Fall 2027

Important Notes

Eight acting students are recruited per cohort

What's The Process

Audition Process

The program is recruiting eight actors for a new cohort beginning training in August 2027

Local Knoxville audition: December 5, 2026

International applicant video audition deadline: December 1, 2026

URTAs take place January-February 2027

Based on audition, candidates may receive a callback and interview

Finalists may be invited to visit UTK; visit support is provided case-by-case

Audition Expectations

Program recruits at URTAs, SETC, the local Knoxville audition, and by private audition

If attending SETC or URTA auditions, the program will not schedule a private audition until it has seen you at those events

Private auditions by appointment in URTA tour cities (Philadelphia and Chicago), dates TBA

Video audition is required for callbacks and recommended for all candidates before URTA auditions

Submit video links to Professor Katie Cunningham at kcunni12@utk.edu

Scholarship Info

$2,500 Marian Brown Career Development Fellowships awarded to two students in each MFA acting class in their final semester of training

Average additional scholarships of $1,000–$1,200 per year available in 2nd and 3rd years (by application)

Competitive Graduate School fellowships ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 available on a competitive basis

School Info

Snapshot

4.17

Avg GPA (W)

42%

Admit Rate

school-wide

74%

Grad Rate

30.4K

Enrollment

$60K

Earnings

10yr after

Costs & Aid

In-State Tuition

$14,024

Before aid

Out-of-State Tuition

$34,478

Before aid

Cost of Attendance

$36,994

Before aid

Average Net Price

$18,976

After aid

Cost Of Attending Ut Undergraduate Student · onestop.utk.edu College Scorecard

Program Recognition

Three-year MFA in Acting program ranked consistently among the top-25 MFA performance programs in the U.S., U.K., and Australia

Member of the University Resident Theatre Association (URTA)

Students eligible to join Actors' Equity Association upon graduation

Performance & Productions

Seven productions per season (four CBT mainstage, three Lab Theatre); MFA actors may be cast in any production

Three performance venues: Clarence Brown mainstage (574-seat proscenium/thrust), Jenny Boyd Theatre (~300-seat flexible/arena, opened 2025), and Lab Theatre (125-seat black box)

Guest directors include Broadway professionals such as Josh Rhodes (Spamalot), Rusty Mowery (Kinky Boots), and Hunter Foster (Goodspeed, Utah Shakespeare Festival)

Notable Alumni

Tramell Tillman — ('14, Severance, Hunters), Conrad Ricamora ('12, Fire Island, How to Get Away With Murder, Broadway's The King and I and Here Lies Love), and Obie Award-winning director Eric Ting

Faculty and alumni have credits on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and at major regional theatres including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Goodman, The Public, and Lincoln Center Theatre

Professional Development

Uniquely integrated with Clarence Brown Theatre (CBT), a LORT D Equity professional theatre

Students train during the day and rehearse/perform alongside faculty and national-caliber guest artists at night

Unified organizational structure: Department Head and Artistic Director are the same person

Location

Located in Knoxville, TN — a growing city of 850,000+ in the greater metro area, minutes from Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Value

All MFA Acting students receive full tuition waivers plus Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) stipends (~$21,000/year)

Health insurance included at no additional cost

Approximate total funding value ~$54,000/year (~$162,000 over three years)

Additional competitive fellowships available through the Graduate School ($5,000–$15,000)

Updated Aug 20, 2:54 PM