York University’s Faculty of Fine Arts and Canadian Stage announce the next intake into their collaborative program in theatre directing Specialized MFA program to interview candidates in Fall 2012
The York University MFA in Theatre – Stage Direction in Collaboration with Canadian Stage brings together one of Canada’s pre-eminent theatre schools and one of the country’s leading not-for-profit contemporary theatre companies, to offer highly specialized, advanced training in large-scale theatre directing. The two-year program allows students to develop their creative and technical skills to the highest level within a rigorous academic and professional context.
Students are deeply immersed in the professional world of theatre as they integrate their studio work at York with involvement in artistic projects at Canadian Stage. The program is customized for each student based on their experience, artistic orientation and goals. Key elements of this enriched academic experience include the opportunity to direct a Canadian Stage production and an internship with a major national or international theatre. This year, MFA student Ted Witzel has an internship scheduled with Festspielhaus Baden-Baden to work on Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute,” while MFA student Ker Wells heads to Amsterdam to work on a play inspired by Ingmar Bergman at toeneelgroepamsterdam.
Both Artistic and General Director Matthew Jocelyn and Resident Artist Kim Collier serve as personal mentors for students in the MFA program, working closely with graduate faculty in York’s Department of Theatre. Collier, co-founder and artistic director of Vancouver’s Electric Company Theatre and 2010 Siminovitch Prize winner, works with the students to facilitate their professional development as theatre directors. In addition to her work with the York program, Collier contributes to Canadian Stage productions and artistic programming with her direction of Red in Fall 2011 and Tear the Curtain! in October 2012. Her position and Canadian Stage’s participation in the MFA program is generously supported by BMO Financial Group.
The next session of the MFA program in stage direction begins in September 2013, but York’s Graduate Program in Theatre is accepting applications now: the deadline for applications is August 1, 2012. Directors with extremely strong individual and interpretive voices and substantial professional experience are invited to apply. Candidates should be committed to developing their artistic and technical skills and have a clear interest in working on a large scale.
For more information, visit www.yorku.ca/gradthea/mfa/directing-canadianstagecollaboration.html
