Location: Purnell Center for the Arts, 221
www.drama.cmu.edu

The School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University is the oldest drama program in the country. CMU Drama offers rigorous, world-class classical training in theater while providing thorough preparation for contemporary media.

As a member of the Consortium of Conservatory Theater Training Programs, the school chooses students to participate in the program based on their potential ability. Every Drama student is treated as a member of a theatrical organization and must acquire experience in all phases of the dramatic arts. Students are also asked to broaden their knowledge through courses in the other colleges of the university. The undergraduate Drama program, which incorporates approximately 200 students, leads to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama. The areas available are: Acting, Music Theater, Design, Production Technology and Management, Directing (admission on pause for fall 2024 and fall 2025), and Dramaturgy. The production of plays, a natural extension of demanding class work, is our lab, and constitutes one of the school's major activities. The choice of texts used is determined by the particular needs of current students. Each semester, 15 to 25 lab productions, directed by faculty, guest directors, and advanced students, are presented in our three theater spaces. The labs range from completely mounted, full-length dramatic and musical works to more simply produced directing projects and one-acts. The Drama program is rigorous and exacting, making demands on students that necessitate good health, a willingness to work and a commitment to professional discipline at all times. Because of full daytime class work and heavy production schedules, much production preparation takes place in the evening. Drama students, therefore, are advised to live in residence halls or in the immediate vicinity of the campus.

The information contained in this section is accurate as of July 2024 and is subject to change. Please contact the School of Drama at drama-relations@andrew.cmu.edu with any questions.

Programs in Drama

Acting and Musical Theater Program

The Acting and Musical Theater program is designed to prepare the student for immediate entry into the profession. It is a sequence-based training program with accumulative skills building upon each other over the course of four years. It is a conservatory training course, and the curriculum focuses primarily on the technique and craft of theater. At the same time it offers skills that are applicable to all media. Courses in acting, voice, speech, movement, and theater history are integral parts of the program at all four levels. In addition to studio classes, Acting majors are required to take a number of electives outside the School of Drama to expand their intellectual curiosity and worldview. All students must demonstrate a commitment to growth, show continued progress in their work and in the knowledge of their craft, and show a respect for professional standards in discipline, quality and ethics.The first year is a discovery year and provides an introduction to basic skills-working from self, learning to play objectives and actions and the beginning of character exploration. In the sophomore year these skills are solidified and deepened as more sophisticated, verbally complex material is introduced, through a focus on in-depth scene study, both contemporary and Shakespeare. In the junior year students continue to develop their craft by investigating a variety of styles. Skills are now tested and strengthened through public performance. The senior year provides a bridge from training to the professional world and offers the opportunity to appear on the School of Drama's main stage. At the end of the senior year, students are introduced to the profession through Showcase performances in New York City and Los Angeles.The students in the Music Theater program share the training philosophy and much of the same curriculum as the acting program. In addition, they take courses particular to the demands of Music Theater. These include private voice along with training in a variety of dance techniques (Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Dunham Technique and Broadway Styles) and music theater styles and skills.

Directing Program (admission on pause for fall 2024 and fall 2025)

Design Area

Over the first three semesters, Design students are expected to develop artistic ability in the conception and execution of scene, lighting, sound and costume design for plays of all periods under varying theatrical conditions. All undergraduate students begin with the development of visual and written communication skills. These first three semesters immerse the student in a range of collaborative and individual studies: scenery, costume, sound and lighting design fundamentals; dramatic structure and interpretation; manual and computer-based drafting; perspective and figure drawing, fundamentals of directing; production management and preparation, history of art and history of architecture and décor. Freshmen in design receive instruction in drawing and painting, three-dimensional techniques, and in the application of basic design principles through courses in drawing and design. Sophomores learn to apply design principles to the theater through research, play analysis, and studies in the fundamentals of scene, lighting, sound and costume design. The last five semesters focus the student's skills within their chosen program of concentration: Costume, Sound, Lighting, Scenic or Video and Media Design. Juniors and Seniors take specialized courses in areas of stage design and are expected to head studio and main-stage production crews. Design assignments cover various styles and periods and include the preparation of models, renderings, and working drawings, lighting storyboards, and light plots. As part of the degree work, juniors may design sets, lights, sound or costumes for a production in the Studio Theater and seniors may design sets, lights, sound or costumes for a Master's thesis show or a main-stage production. Designing for lab productions, both those that are highly resourced and those that are moderately resourced, requires a variety of creative approaches, preparing designers for a variety of real-world situations.

Production Technology and Management (PTM) Area

The Production Technology and Management Area develops the technologists and managers of the future with an intensive curriculum designed to synthesize academic development and production experience. The curriculum focuses on the production requirements of live performance, in the form of traditional theatrical presentation, while also providing exposure to television, film and emerging technology-based art forms. Integrated in a world-class research university environment, the School of Drama is uniquely positioned to contribute to the advancement of the collaborative arts. The goal of the three PTM areas is to prepare today's students to become tomorrow's leading professionals in the entertainment industry.

All undergraduate students begin with the development of visual and written communication skills. The first three semesters immerse the student in a range of collaborative and individual studies: scenery, costume, sound and lighting design fundamentals; dramatic structure and interpretation; manual and computer-based drafting; perspective and figure drawing, fundamentals of directing; production management and preparation, history of art and history of architecture and décor. The last five semesters focus the student's skills within their chosen program of concentration: Technical Direction, Stage & Production Management, or Production Technology.

Technical Direction students are offered classes in: material applications, metal working techniques, structural design, scenic crafts, fabrication design and detailing, machinery design, rigging techniques, electronic design fundamentals, automation system technology, technical management and production management. Technical Directors may take a single semester internship at an approved regional or commercial producing organization in lieu of one semester of study. Student-selected elective courses outside the School of Drama provide balance and breadth to the professional undergraduate education offered in the Technical Direction program of study.

Stage and Production Management students are offered classes in: an extensive study of stage management and production management, theater management, leadership, problem solving and business communications, in addition to classes in resource management in all technical areas. Production assignments supplement classroom learning and development throughout the program. Student-selected elective courses outside the School of Drama provide balance and breadth to the professional undergraduate education offered in the Stage & Production Management program of study.

Production Technology students are offered a variety of classes in: scenic fabrication and technology, lighting technology, audio technology, show networking, technical, production, theater and stage management and design courses within one or more design discipline. Production responsibilities for Production Technology students may include roles as Lighting Managers, Technicians and Programmers, Audio Engineers, Mixers and Technicians, Video Engineers and Technicians, Scenic Automation Technicians and Managers and Network Integrators. Student-selected elective courses outside the School of Drama provide balance and breadth to the professional undergraduate education offered in the Production Technology program of study.

Dramaturgy Program

The dramaturgy curriculum provides students with a strong background in theatrical practice, dramatic literature, and humanities. A core course of study focusing on building the skills for production dramaturgy is augmented by an English minor along with directed electives in history, foreign languages, and other non-drama courses to build a firm foundation in both theater and the liberal arts. 
Students in the dramaturgy program also cultivate their intellectual prowess, analytical skills, and artistic passions through integral involvement in the School of Drama's productions. Dramaturgy students work with directors, playwrights, designers, managers, and actors in the conception and execution of productions, bringing their knowledge of theater history and dramatic structure, their skills in script analysis and contextual research, and their capacity to engage in collaborative conversation into the rehearsal room. These skills also serve dramaturgy students as they practice the art of audience engagement.  
The Dramaturgy program specializes in new play development, production support, critical writing, audience engagement, season planning, and artistic leadership. The wide ranging curriculum makes it an excellent program of study for students interested in theater history and theory, playwriting, and cultural studies. Alumni from the dramaturgy program have built careers not only in theater but also in film and television as well as in arts management, in literary and casting agencies, and in education.

Theater Studies

The Theater Studies program offers students from any of the School's conservatory areas of specialized study the opportunity to continue developing their theater related skills while expanding their interests to other artistic and academic areas. This program will only be available to Drama students who have completed their sophomore year in the School of Drama (ie: two years of conservatory training). Students are required to write a proposal outlining their interests in the Theater Studies program, and the proposal must be approved by the Head of the School of Drama.

The goal of the Theater Studies program is to enable students to explore the diverse opportunities for which conservatory drama training can be a basis, and to examine the possibility of post graduate education in a new program of specialization after obtaining a BFA in Drama. As the intent of the Theater Studies program is to broaden your experiences, a semester studying abroad or participating in a recommended internship is required for one semester, either in the fall or spring.  Individualized courses of study are established for each student in consultation with an appropriate faculty advisor.

Curriculum

The School of Drama curriculum is continuously reviewed and modified in an effort to provide the best conservatory experience for undergraduate students in the School of Drama.  The following curriculum is subject to change. Not all requirements are listed, and units are often variable within each Area based on performances, production assignments, and individual projects.
 

Acting Program

First Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Music Theater Program

First Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

** Music Theater students are required to take an approved Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning elective.  Students usually take 62-314 The Art of Personal Finance to fulfill this requirement.

Design Area

First Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Notes:

** All Designers are required to complete Special Topics in Drama: History, Literature and Criticism. It may be taken at any time after Foundations II has been completed.  

Directing Program (Admissions on pause for fall 2024 and fall 2025)

First Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Notes:

** One semester of Directing Production IV: Senior Thesis Play is required. Second semester is Optional.

Production Technology and Management (PTM) Area

First Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Notes:

**

Foundations of Drama II will be taken only one semester in the sophomore year. Sophomore PTM students will be required to take an approved Humanities and Social Sciences (H&SS) elective in the Deitrich College during the semester they are not taking Foundations of Drama II.

***

All PTM students are required to complete Special Topics in Drama: History, Literature and Criticism. It may be taken at any time after Foundations II has been completed.

~

Classes offered in alternating years.

• Production Technology (program within PTM) 

Dramaturgy Program

First Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

All Students must complete a minor in Literature and Cultural Studies in the English Department. 

Notes:

*

Dramaturgy students starting a modern language at the 100-level should begin in the fall of freshman year.

***

Dramaturgy students are required to take a total of 12 units of Special Topics in Drama: History, Literature and Criticism during their junior and senior year.

Course Descriptions

About Course Numbers:

Each Carnegie Mellon course number begins with a two-digit prefix that designates the department offering the course (i.e., 76-xxx courses are offered by the Department of English). Although each department maintains its own course numbering practices, typically, the first digit after the prefix indicates the class level: xx-1xx courses are freshmen-level, xx-2xx courses are sophomore level, etc. Depending on the department, xx-6xx courses may be either undergraduate senior-level or graduate-level, and xx-7xx courses and higher are graduate-level. Consult the Schedule of Classes each semester for course offerings and for any necessary pre-requisites or co-requisites.

Faculty

WENDY ARONS, Professor, Dramatic Literature – Ph.D., University of California, San Diego; Carnegie Mellon, 2007–

NATALIE BAKER-SHIRER, Associate Professor Emerita, Voice & Speech – M.F.A., University of Pittsburgh; Carnegie Mellon, 1992–

CLAUDIA BENACK, Associate Teaching Professor, Music Theatre – M.F.A., Carnegie Mellon; Carnegie Mellon, 1993–

STEWART BLACKWOOD, Assistant Professor, Composition and Sound Design – M.F.A. , UC San Diego; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

DICK BLOCK, Teaching Professor, Design – M.F.A., Northwestern University; Carnegie Mellon, 1988–

DAVID BOEVERS, Associate Professor, Production Technology and Management – M.F.A., Yale University; Carnegie Mellon, 2000–

C. TODD BROWN, Associate Teaching Professor, Lighting – B.A., Ohio State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2001–

JAMES CATON, Associate Teaching Professor, Dance New York School of Ballet; Carnegie Mellon, 1988–

JUDITH CONTE, Teaching Professor, Dance – B.F.A., University of Wisconsin/ Milwaukee; Carnegie Mellon, 1978–

TOME COUSIN, Professor, Dance – M.F.A., Long Island University ; Carnegie Mellon, 2011–

KAJA DUNN, Associate Professor, Anti-Racist and Culturally Competent Practice – M.F.A., Regent University ; Carnegie Mellon, 2022–

RICK EDINGER, Associate Professor, Music Theater – M.A., City University of New York: Hunter College; Carnegie Mellon, 2018–

MELINDA ESHELMAN, Associate Professor, Costume Design – M.F.A., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2017–

JANET MADELLE FEINDEL, Professor Emerita, Voice/Alexander – M.F.A., Carnegie Mellon; Carnegie Mellon, 1996–

KRISTI GOOD, Assistant Professor, Dramaturgy – Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh; Carnegie Mellon, 2021-–

KYLE HADEN, Associate Professor, Acting – M.F.A., Columbia University; Carnegie Mellon, 2016–

ROB HANDEL, Professor, Dramatic Writing – M.F.A., Brown University; Carnegie Mellon, 2009–

HUGH HANSON, Associate Teaching Professor, Costume Production – M.F.A., University of Hawaii at Manoa; Carnegie Mellon, 2015–

JED ALLEN HARRIS, Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus, Directing – M.F.A., Carnegie Mellon; Carnegie Mellon, 1991–

KEVIN HINES, Associate Teaching Professor, Production Technology & Management – M.F.A., Yale University; Carnegie Mellon, 1998–

GARY KLINE, Teaching Professor, Voice – B.F.A., Carnegie Mellon; Carnegie Mellon, 1990–

GREGORY LEHANE, Professor Emeritus, Directing – M.F.A., Carnegie Mellon; Carnegie Mellon, 1991–

CINDY LIMAURO, Professor, Lighting Design – M.F.A., Florida State; Carnegie Mellon, 1987–

GARY LOGAN, Professor, Voice & Dialects – M.F.A., American Conservatory Theater; Carnegie Mellon, 2016–

BARBARA MACKENZIE-WOOD, Raymond W. Smith Professor Emerita, Acting – M.F.A., Carnegie Mellon; Carnegie Mellon, 1986–

ANTHONY MCKAY, Associate Professor, Acting – B.F.A., Carnegie Mellon; Carnegie Mellon, 1985–

MICHAEL MCKELVEY, Assistant Professor, Musical Theater – D.M.S, University of Texas-Austin; Carnegie Mellon, 2024–

CATHERINE MOORE, Teaching Professor, Movement – M.F.A., University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music; Carnegie Mellon, 2000–

ANNE MUNDELL, Professor Emeritus, Design – M.F.A., Brandeis University; Carnegie Mellon, 1989–

JOE PINO, Associate Professor, Sound Design – M.F.A., University of Virginia; Carnegie Mellon, 1999–

NICA ROSS, Associate Teaching Professor, Video and Media Design – M.F.A., NY Bard-International Center of Photography; Carnegie Mellon, 2016–

BRIAN RUSSMAN, Associate Teaching Professor, Costume Production – M.F.A., Ohio State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2009–

TINA SHACKLEFORD, Teaching Professor – M.F.A., University of California, San Diego; Carnegie Mellon, 2004–

LAWRENCE SHEA, Professor, Video and Media Design – M.F.A., Massachusetts College of Art; Carnegie Mellon, 2010–

ANDREW SMITH, Associate Professor, Acting – M.F.A., University of California, San Diego; Carnegie Mellon, 2014–

LISA VELTEN SMITH, Assistant Professor, Voice – M.F.A. , University of California San Diego; Carnegie Mellon, 2019–

MARY ELLEN STEBBINS, Assistant Professor, Lighitng – M.F.A., Boston University; Carnegie Mellon, 2024–

AUSAR STEWART, Assistant Professor, Voice – MFA , York University; Carnegie Mellon, 2019–

ROBERT THOMSON, Associate Professor, Lighting; Carnegie Mellon, 2014–

SUSAN TSU, Bessie F. Anathan Professor, Costume Design – M.F.A.,Carnegie Mellon, 2003–

DON WADSWORTH, Professor Emeritus, Voice & Speech – M.F.A., University of Pittsburgh; Carnegie Mellon, 1989–

BRIA WALKER-RHOZE, Assistant Professor, Acting – M.F.A., Acting, National Theater Conservatory; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

KAF WARMAN, Teaching Professor, Movement – M.F.A., Goddard College, Ecole; Carnegie Mellon, 1996–

CHELSEA WARREN, Associate Professor, Scenic Design – M.F.A., Northwestern University ; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

KIM WEILD, Associate Professor, Directing – M.F.A., Columbia; Carnegie Mellon, 2017–

MISO WEI, Assistant Teaching Professor, Stage and Production Management – M.F.A. , University of California, San Diego; Carnegie Mellon, 2020–

YONG SUK YOO, Associate Professor, Directing – M.F.A, California Institute of the Arts; Carnegie Mellon, 2024–

TJ YOUNG, Associate Professor, Dramaturgy – M.F.A., Texas State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2022-–

BETH ZAMBORSKY, Associate Teaching Professor, Scenic Art & Drawing – B.S., La Roche University; Carnegie Mellon, 2003–