Boston University CFA School of Theatre

Coming up next weekend we have our annual Next Stage Workshops! These are workshops of all new plays written and directed by SOT BFA students. All free, general admission in the Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre ❤️🐾

MANSPREAD by Ava Laroche
September 22 • 5pm

PYRRHIC VICTORY by Alexa Connors
September 28 • 3pm

LLORONA, OR THE WEEPING WOMEN by Gaby Tovar
September 28 • 7pm

We are so excited to kick off the 2024-25 SOT production season with our annual Springboard Series! Facilitated by Kirsten Greenidge, Springboard Readings are new offerings by our BFA students. All tickets free, general admission at the door in CFA354, the David Copeland Black Box Theatre ❤️🐾

THE FRAT BOY MONOLOGUE by Rory Shea
September 14 • 4pm
MONDAY SCHOOL by Mimi Brown
September 14 • 4pm (immediately following “The Frat Boy Monologue”)
MY BROTHER’S KEEPER by Jaden Bridges
September 14 • 7pm
LOLLIE by Macy McGrail
September 21 • 4pm
BABYLON TO ROUGH by Amanda Reynolds
September 21 • 7pm
IT’S ONLY TUESDAY by Robbie Rodriguez
September 22 • 11am
SACRED HEART by Lucy Leahy
September 22 • 2pm
UNIVERSAL MOTHER, SACRED SOIL by Jayce Ross
September 22 • 4pm

🎭 Want to join a community of artists working to create the innovative and inclusive theatre of the future? Our application for BFA programs for the Class of 2029 opened this weekend; swipe and read below to learn more about the details and deadlines! You can also go to the link below to learn even more and begin your application now! ❤️🐾

There are 2️⃣ steps to apply to the BU School of Theatre (SOT)
1️⃣ Common App for BU (do this first!)
2️⃣ Acceptd Application for SOT

👉 Part 1: Common App
After completing your Common App, you will receive your BU ID to use on Acceptd. If you don’t complete your Common App in time to receive a BU ID for Acceptd, send your BU ID to [email protected] once you have it

👉 Part 2: Acceptd Application

📚 Apply for Performance Core or Design, Production & Management (DPM) core

🎤 Performance Core
At the end of your first year, you will choose to pursue BFA Acting or BFA Theatre Arts: Performance
Performance Core application requirements: Headshot, Resume, Slate, Monologue 1: Medium shot, Monologue 2: Site specific
Optional inclusions: Letter of recommendation, artistic snapshot, writing sample
Students interested in Theatre Arts: Performance should submit an explanation of their interest in Theatre Arts

💡Design, Production & Management Core
At the end of your first year, you will choose to pursue BFA Theatre Arts: Design, Production & Management, BFA Costume Design & Production, BFA Lighting Design, BFA Sound Design, BFA Scene Design, BFA Stage Management, BFA Technical Production
DPM Core application requirements: Resume, 18-piece portfolio
Optional inclusions: Letter of recommendation, writing sample

🔀Transfer applications
Performance Core: Headshot, resume, slate, Monologue: Medium shot, Self directed movement piece
Optional: Letter of recommendation, artistic snapshot, writing sample
DPM Core: Resume: Resume, 18-piece portfolio
Optional: Letter of recommendation, writing sample

📍BFA Admissions Deadlines:
Early Decision 1
Common App and Acceptd: Nov 1
Early Decision 2
Common App: Jan 6 // Acceptd: Dec 1
Regular Decision
Common App: Jan 6 // Acceptd: Dec 1
Transfer Applicants
Common App and Acceptd: Mar 15

https://www.bu.edu/cfa/theatre/admissions-auditions/undergraduate/

A Directing Hit | College of Fine Arts Independent director, producer, and casting director of stage productions Rosalind Bevan is woven into the Boston theater community.

Conversation: Gail Shalan and Erin Ruth Walker | College of Fine Arts Voice Actors Gail Shalan and Erin Ruth Walker discuss the art of audiobook narration

We are so excited to welcome 3️⃣ new Full Time Faculty members this fall! Please help give them a warm welcome to the SOT Community ❤️🐾

1️⃣ Harry Castle ➡️ Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre
Harry Castle is a British composer, lyricist and music director. He works at the intersection of musical theatre, contemporary classical, pop and jazz genres, and writes music as frequently at home in concert halls as it is in bars. Harry is particularly drawn to musical storytelling, and is especially interested in work that centers q***r and marginalized narratives.
2️⃣ Olivera Gajic ➡️ Assistant Professor of Costume Design
Olivera Gajic is a New York-based costume designer and educator. She designed for theater, opera, dance, film, and performance art in the United States and Internationally.
3️⃣ Victoria Sweetser ➡️ Lecturer of Lighting
Tori Sweetser is a Boston based production electrician, lighting supervisor, and educator with over twenty years of experience. She started out with a computer science degree, but ran off to join the theater with four days of work lined up and has been busy ever since.

Last fall, our production season began with a “Quarter 0” production of Tommy Vines’ (CFA’24) play, “i love you and i always will or charlie’s play.” This summer, Tommy brought this play to New York for a run at The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater at the West Side YMCA! The show featured an ensemble and creative team of both recent SOT grads from the Class of 2024, as well as current SOT students.

“I am so overjoyed, honored, stunned, and grateful to do this and be a part of this team. I am so fulfilled, so happy, and so glad that we made this beautiful memorial for Charlie.” Tommy says that they are thankful for their training at BU SOT that led to this production getting on its feet: “What an incredible and unique opportunity, and I am so grateful to be working with the most visionary, passionate, and talented artists I know. All I have is gratitude, love, and determination - this piece is stone, and it will live on.”

Congratulations to the team of “i love you and i always will or charlie’s play” ‼️❤️🐾

Ensemble: Tommy Vines, Alan Kuang, Jojo Charles, Emma Weller
Creative Team:
Madeline Riddick-Seals - Director
Jen Platt - Assistant Director
Tommy Vines - Movement Director and Producer
Katelyn Thompson - Production and Stage Manager
Irene Wang - Sound Designer
Lena Broach - Lighting Designer
Photos by Ken Yotsukura

➡️ This summer, MFA Directing candidate Gregg Wiggans (CFA’25) traveled to Carnegie Hall in New York City to serve as Associate Director of Transport Group’s concert production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies” 🎭

This sold out, one-night-only concert featured a 30-piece orchestra and 50 cast members that represented a combined 223 Broadway credits- it also featured a chorus including SOT student Haley Chey Lynch (CFA’25)! The concert marked Gregg’s 10th collaboration with Obie and Drama Desk Award winning director, Jack Cummings III, and Transport Group Theater Company. Gregg says, “Collaborating with Jack Cummings III is a journey filled with passion and humor. Our collaborations are built on storytelling, humor, and a strong work ethic, yet he continues to introduce new insights and concepts with each project.”

Through his role as Associate Director, Gregg garnered experiences that will elevate and inform his practice moving forward; “Watching and talking through how each artist approaches and interprets the material was a learning experience that surpasses any classroom setting. Masterclass performances were given at Carnegie Hall that night.”

Thank you to Gregg for sharing your experience with us; make sure to come see Gregg’s work brought to life on our stages over the next year!

“Years of work and dedication to this concert were all over in two acts and one intermission. One night only, and then it’s gone. Many years from now people will remember this concert and ask, “Did you see Follies at Carnegie Hall…?” I was there.” - Gregg Wiggans (CFA’25) ❤️🐾

Photos by Grace Copeland .nyc

LOOK: The Boston University community (especially that adorable puppy in the bottom left corner 🐾 😍 ) enjoyed an evening of al fresco theater this past Thursday, July 25 as the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) performed Shakespeare’s classic play, "The Winter’s Tale" at Boston Common! 🎭 🌳

BU Night at Shakespeare on the Common brought 100+ Terriers together, not to mention how great it is to see the Boston University CFA School of Theatre connections tied to the production. Bryn Boice (CFA'16) is the show’s director and CSC’s Associate Artistic Director; Assistant Professor and Sound Design Program Head at BU, David Remedios, is the sound designer; MFA sound design alum Mackenzie Adamick (CFA'24) composes the music; and BFA acting alum Hampton Richards (CFA'24) is one of the cast members in the show!

Missed BU Night, but wish to see "The Winter's Tale?" You've still got time! The production runs through August 4th, with performances on Tuesday through Sunday.
For more info ➡️ http://spr.ly/6184coebe

Even though it’s the middle of summer, our SOT students are keeping busy with their artistic work! ➡️ Check out what our students are up to during their break 🌞⛱️

1️⃣ Webb Hodges (CFA’27) is working as the head of wardrobe crew on the show “The Prom” at Trustus Theatre in South Carolina! Webb has been helping to dress actors, coordinate quick changes, as well as any repairs that need to be done to the costumes during the several week run!
2️⃣ Lucas Brown (CFA’26) has written and stars in the short film “in between,” directed by Amanda Miller (CFA’26) and also starring Lillian Devlin (CFA’26). The film was produced by Crown Studios and features BU students on the crew.
3️⃣ Nicolas Bolton and Edward Bergham (both CFA’26) have been studying at the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy for the past 2 weeks in an intensive Commedia workshop. They are pictured in the classic Zanni and Capitano masks, practicing for an upcoming performance for the Accademia.
4️⃣ Jaxon Ackerman, Shrutant Ramaswamy, and Luke Meisel (all CFA’26) are in the Czech Republic studying with Prague Shakespeare Company’s Summer Intensive. “We’re playing two roles each across seven different productions, and delving into the world of The Bard in a picturesque European environment! It’s been a real blast and we love bringing that classic SOT familial charm abroad!” (Pictured with Jon Savage)
5️⃣ Kamran Bina (CFA’25) is Co-Directing and Producing a production of Shakespeare's “Troilus and Cressida” with a friend from LAMDA in NYC. Allie Dagen (CFA’25) is playing the role of Thersithea and Lucas Connor (CFA’25) is playing the role of Troilus.
6️⃣ Lance Shook (CFA’27) is serving as a Marketing and Graphic Design Assistant at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
7️⃣ Mairead O’Neill (CFA’26) just wrapped working at SpeakEasy Stage doing a workshop of a new musical “The Museum of Broken Relationships”, and now working at BUSTI for the rest of the summer!
8️⃣ Sophie Pugh (CFA’26) is taking part in the BroadwayCon Star to Be Talent Competition.

We hope the entire SOT community is enjoying their summer break, we can’t wait to see you in seven weeks! ❤️🐾

Boston Globe feature: Composing theatrical soundscapes | College of Fine Arts Boston Globe feature: Composing theatrical soundscapes Photo by Nile Scott Studios Theatre Boston Globe feature: Composing theatrical soundscapes MFA sound design alum Mackenzie Adamick (CFA’24) is making a mark on the Boston theater scene July 1, 2024 Twitter Facebook This article was originally ...

Design, Production & Management students returned to Prague this summer with Scene Design Professor Jon Savage to continue their education of LiDAR technology 💡

Students Jacklyn Cinnamon (Scene Design, CFA'25) and Levi Leca (Technical Production, CFA'27) joined Jon Savage in Prague, Czech Republic where the group spent time taking 3-D scans of historic theaters. In collaboration with JR Norman Luker, Technical Director at California State University, Fullerton, and his students, they learned how to use Dot Product camera equipment for LiDAR, which was purchased through the BU Shipley Pilot Projects grant. During the three week trip, they documented historic stages, connected with Czech theatre makers, and discovered the numerous applications of LiDAR scanning.

Under the expertise of Dr. Pavel Stanislav Jinek and Jiri Blaha, leading historians of Zámecké Divadlo (Castle Theatre) in Český Krumlov, they spent a full day scanning the 1766 Baroque theater. The remainder of the summer will be spent creating 3D-rendered models of these theatres with preservation and restoration of these spaces in mind.

With research grant support from the UROP and BU Arts Initiative HAP Scholars Award, as well as Dean Harvey Young's Dean's Research Grant, members of our Design, Production & Management program aim to create more robust learning experiences involving emerging technologies in the arts, emphasizing the value of curated theatre knowledge.

"I am incredibly grateful for the support from BU that allows me to travel and work abroad, gaining experiences of theatre from different perspectives and a new appreciation for the art form. I am hugely excited to share my findings with the Boston community at the UROP symposium in the fall!" -Levi Leca

We look forward to continuing our work with the LiDAR technology, and learning new ways to create innovative and impactful theatrical experiences ❤️🐾

Photos courtesy of

Thank you to Levi Leca for the information used in this post!

READ: Summer in Boston means many things. Fenway, lobster rolls, ice cream, outdoor concerts, and for CFA: the summer issue of our award-winning CFA magazine! And the cover story is very Boston, indeed. Meet Massachusetts artist Robert T. Freeman, whose painting "Black Tie" hangs inside the Massachusetts governor’s office.

Find this and more in the most recent issue of CFA magazine, featuring the latest stories from the CFA Terrier community of artists, educators, and activists, including Boston University alums making impacts across all fields. They're innovating in virtual reality, narrating audiobooks, organizing youth orchestras, costume designing for Cirque du Soleil, and even curating games for The New York Times (we’re talking Wordle and Connections).

📬 The magazine is now in inboxes, mailboxes, and on CFA’s website ➡️ http://spr.ly/61889MrK8

📸 Tom Tranfaglia

We are so excited to present our Quarter 4 production of Lorca’s YERMA! Get your tickets now at the link below ❤️🐾

YERMA
By Federico García Lorca, Richard O’Connell & James Graham-Lujan
Directed by Yo-El Cassell

Studio ONE
855 Commonwealth Ave
4/25 • 7:30pm
4/26 • 7:30pm
4/27 • 7:30pm
4/28 • 2pm
4/28 • 7:30pm

https://ci.ovationtix.com/36437/production/1189501

BU School of Theatre presents Sunday in the Park with George | College of Fine Arts BU School of Theatre presents Sunday in the Park with George Design by Niharika Yellamraju Theatre Boston University School of Theatre presents Sunday in the Park with George at BU’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre The beloved musical, with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine co...

We invite you to join us for this spring’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George”! We are thrilled to share this musical with you in the Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre; get your tickets now at the link below 🤍🖼️❤️🐾

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Directed by Clay Hopper
Musical direction by Katya Stanislavskaya

Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre
820 Commonwealth Ave
4/25 • 7:30pm
4/26 • 7:30pm
4/27 • 2:00pm
4/27 • 7:30pm
4/28 • 2:00pm

https://ci.ovationtix.com/36437/production/1189496

JOIN: We're less than 24 hours away from ! ⏳ 🎉 Tomorrow, you'll get to show off your Terrier pride and support what makes you proud to be a part of the CFA community! 🐾 ❤️

How can we get ready for this year's Giving Day?!

1️⃣ Read up on what makes CFA proud: student opportunities, artist wellness, arts for all, and seven more reasons! ➡️ http://spr.ly/6188ZLk74
2️⃣ Get to know CFA's 2024 Giving Day sponsor, ad legend Frank Ginsberg (CFA'65)! Thanks to Frank, every 125 donors to CFA unlocks $5,000 in bonus funds until we hit our goal of 250 donors. 🔓 ➡️ http://spr.ly/6180ZLk7A
3️⃣ Bookmark the CFA page on the BU Giving Day website so you're ready to go tomorrow!
➡️ http://spr.ly/6181ZLk77

We'll be sharing live updates, progress reports, fun photos on campus, impact stories, and more! Join us tomorrow as CFA and Boston University celebrate 10 years of BU Giving Day!

Directing Outside the Box | College of Fine Arts Directing Outside the Box Emma Weller on the set of “Let the Right One In” in Booth Theatre (courtesy of Weller) CFA Alumni Directing Outside the Box A spirit of collaboration focused on professional growth fuels the undergrad School of Theatre performance experience March 7, 2024 Lana Sage (CFA...

What is the College of Fine Arts? What is the Boston University College of Fine Arts?We can’t sum it up in words alone, so here’s a little reminder of all the things that make up .

Coming up next week on Wednesday, April 3 is our annual BU Giving Day! Join us to participate in a 24-hour day of giving, supporting what makes you proud to be a part of the Boston University community! Be a part of this BU tradition that helps build a stronger community for current and future Terriers.

Your gift transforms the lives of students and supports everything from need-based scholarships and career-changing training opportunities to community-based programs and technological advancement. Check out the following links to learn more about how to make a difference for the College of Fine Arts, the School of Theatre, and the BU Arts Initiative:
CFA Giving Day: https://givingday.bu.edu/pages/college-of-fine-arts/?appeal_id=63ee777b9e94c7204351ffa6
Friends of Theatre Fund: https://givingday.bu.edu/campaigns/friends-of-theatre-fund
BU Arts Initiative Fund: https://givingday.bu.edu/campaigns/bu-arts-initiative

Thanks to our 2024 Giving Day sponsor and CFA Dean’s Advisory Board member, Frank Ginsberg (CFA’65), every 125 donors to CFA unlocks $5,000 in bonus funds until we hit our goal of 250 donors. Stay tuned here and on Boston University College of Fine Arts for more information!

Cendrillon Opera Brings Cinderella Story to Booth Theatre | College of Fine Arts Cendrillon Opera Brings Cinderella Story to Booth Theatre Music Boston University School of Music’s Opera Institute and School of Theatre Present Cendrillon at BU’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre The co-production of the beloved Cinderella tale, with music by Jules Massenet and libretto by Henri Ca....

We are excited to announce retooled and enhanced graduate programs unlike any other. Our new two-year, full tuition scholarship MFA programs in Design, Directing, Production, and Management will offer students the potential for tremendous growth and development while meeting the economic and professional realities of today.

The revised MFA provides accelerated, robust educational pathways without sacrificing key educational opportunities of the three-year MFA. Our updated curriculum directly responds to the exciting growth occurring throughout the theatre-making world. We look forward to recruiting students for Fall 2024 who are excited by the potential within our reimagined and dynamic learning environment.

The new Boston University School of Theatre MFA programs are forward-thinking, nimble, and intentional, offering:

- A 60 credit MFA that is designed for two-year completion.
- 100% tuition scholarship for all Theatre MFA students.
- Individualized mentorship, career planning, creative growth, and development through “salon style” sessions between students and influential international professional artists working today.
- New course offerings that intentionally strengthen student understanding across the disciplines of design, directing, production and management.
- Renewed focus on theatre collaboration as holistic creation, fostering inclusive and accessible forms of theatrical expression for the next generation.

Click the below link to explore what our MFA programs have to offer ❤️🐾

Updated MFA & Artisan Certificate Theatre Curriculum | College of Fine Arts Effective Fall 2024 Through careful, intentional choices, the CFA School of Theatre Faculty & Staff worked for over two years to develop retooled and enhanced graduate programs unlike any other. Our MFA programs in Design, Directing, Production, and Management offer students the potential for tremen...

We are so excited to share the Senior Acting Thesis presentations of the BFA Acting Class of 2024 ❤️🐾

All performances will be at 7:30pm in Studio ONE at 855 Comm Ave. All tickets are free, general admission at the door.

Pod 1 | January 27 & 28
Pod 2 | February 3 & 4
Pod 3 | February 10 & 11
Pod 4 | February 17 & 18
Pod 5 | February 24 & 25
Pod 6 | March 2 & 3

Conversation: Martin Sherman & Kirsten Greenidge | College of Fine Arts Playwrights Martin Sherman and Kirsten Greenidge on teaching, rehearsals, and sustaining a career in theater

Earlier this month, the SOT Design, Production, & Management program hosted educator, scenic designer, and technical director Professor JR Norman Luker from Cal State Fullerton for a workshop about LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging 💡

LiDAR is an emerging technology that allows users to capture 3-D objects to then be processed for 3-D printing, computer-aided drafting, previsualization programs, and other programs. For theatre designers and artisans, this can be useful when developing and drafting designs for a show.

Professor Luker led several workshops for students, faculty, and staff to give a hands-on learning experience in capturing spaces or objects as 3-D pointclouds, using short to medium range LiDAR cameras. Attendees were then taught how to process, edit, and manipulate pointclouds to prepare scans for several different outputs such as CAD, previsualizers, 3-D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines.

How can SOT use LiDAR in our design and building processes moving forward? Scenic design professor Jon Savage will work with Professor Luker to create tutorials for future student use, and will team up with Professor Jorge Arroyo and SOT staff members to work towards building a space for DP&M students to further explore using LiDAR and similar technologies for our productions! Using tools like LiDAR, SOT will continue efforts to explore new and developing technologies to create innovative new forms of theatre making 🎭❤️🐾

Thank you to Professor Luker for joining us, and to Professor Jon Savage for planning these workshops and taking photos!

Closing out our fall productions in the Booth Theatre was ORLANDO, written by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Vanessa Ogbuehi ❤️🐾

Director of Movement: Yo-El Cassell
Assistant Director/Director of Movement: Lana Sage
Dramaturg: Adrian Speth
Production Manager: Hannah Eckert
Stage Manager: Chris Daly

Scenic Designer: Maggie Shivers
Costume Designer: Andrew Wehling
Lighting Designer: Rachael Harned
Props Coordinators: Zoe Charbonneau, Liv King
Sound Designer: Katie Chen
Project Manager: Autumn Munsell
Technical Designer: Nathaniel Crain

Photos by Katie Nelson

Congratulations to the entire cast, crew, and production team of our Studio ONE production FU***NG A, written by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Patdro Harris ❤️🐾

Assistant directors: Kira Gandolfo and Shai Vaknine
Music Director: Jonathan Gallegos
Stage Manager: Katelyn Thompson
Production Manager: Youyou Huang
Scenic Designer: Madeline Riddick-Seals
Props Coordinator: Justin Lahue
Costume Designer: Lisa Coleman
Lighting Designer: Hope Debelius
Sound Designer: Mackenzie Adamick
Technical Director: Rachel Schladenhauffen
Photos by Katie Nelson

This weekend we have two lab shows going up at the School of Theatre: Sense and Sensibility by Kate Hamill, and The School for Lies by David Ives. Both are free general admission at the door, we hope you’ll join us for a weekend of theatre! ❤️🐾

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY by Katie Hamill (based on the novel by Jane Austen)
Directed by Christine Hamel
CFA 109
12/8 @ 7:30pm
12/9 @ 7:30pm
12/10 @ 5pm

THE SCHOOL FOR LIES by David Ives
Directed by Shana Gozansky
CFA 356 | Jewels 2
12/9 @ 2pm
12/9 @ 7:30pm
12/10 @ 10am