Academics at MBC
What is the MLITT/MFA program?
In pursuit of their MLitt, students complete a core of both theoretical and practical theatre classes. Students research the textual, historical, cultural, and practical issues of early modern drama to engage more fully with the plays as performance scripts. Students explore Shakespeare’s texts in detail and hone their practical skills by staging early modern plays.
After their first year, students select a concentration in acting, directing, dramaturgy, or teaching. The close cooperation between students, faculty, and visiting artists and scholars leads to a rich intellectual environment for all. The standard to be achieved is daunting, not only because student work will be applied on the stage but also because the standard for written work is high.
To complete each degree, students integrate what they have learned into a culminating project — they write a thesis, stage it as a presentation, and defend it in a one-hour oral session with two or more examiners. Many students devise topics that are at the forefront of contemporary Shakespeare studies.