MFA Applicants
Graduate applicants should include both a video introduction and a portfolio. See below for instructions regarding the video introduction.
Portfolio submissions should include the following:
Costume Design Specialization
- Examples of production work including all preliminary work, such as rough sketches, models, technical sketches, and research.
- Documentation of fully realized original work through video, photographs, scripts, and storyboards, as well as documentation of works-in-progress.
- Fine art work including drawings, paintings, textile work, sculpture, performance, etc., or photographic documentation of the aforementioned.
- Three letters of recommendation, including one professional.
Lighting Design Specialization
- Lighting plots and paperwork.
- Production still images or video.
- Examples of design, drawing and graphic skills.
- A writing sample communicating visual or theatrical ideas.
- Digital or hand drawn renderings of lighting design intentions.
- Lighting plots in Vectorworks or Autocad and other lighting paperwork including Lightwrite or equivalent.
- Three letters of recommendation, including one professional.
Scene Design Specialization
- Examples of production work and design, as well as drawings.
- Pieces that demonstrate photographic and/or graphic skill.
- Fine art work, sculptures, models, or photographic documentation of the aforementioned.
- Documentation of fully realized original work through video, photographs, scripts, and storyboards, as well as documentation of works-in-progress.
- Architectural drawings, textile work, performance art, and video work are also welcome.
- Three letters of recommendation, including one professional.
Interactive Media for Performance Specialization
- Examples of video design for performance projects.
- Examples of Virtual or Augmented Reality projects.
- Examples of video installations, single-channel video art, or projection mapping projects.
- Examples of cinematic, music video, commercial, or film work.
- Examples of interactive art, creative technology, programming, gadgets, inventions, creative writing, and hacker/maker projects.
- Video or still image documentation of other original new media projects.
- Examples of exciting, new works-in-progress.
- Three letters of recommendation, including one professional.
Sound Design Specialization
- Audio or video files that document your sound designs, including any accompanying paperwork (cue sheets, equipment lists, CAD drafting, etc.).
- If applicable, include scores, original music compositions and evidence of computer literacy and indicate if you play a musical instrument.
- Three letters of recommendation, including one professional.
Technical Direction Specialization
- Production books and drafting or technical drawings.
- Photos of completed work or works-in-progress. These can include work in disciplines other than theater.
- You may also include examples of organizational ability and technical or artistic experience.
- Three letters of recommendation, including one professional.
Stage Management Specialization
- A current resume
- Your artist statement, which should address your interest in stage management and performance, your thoughts about the role of the stage manager in the creative process, and your reasons for pursuing an MFA
- Samples of paperwork you have created for production that demonstrate the range of your experience (character/scene breakdown, prop list, deck shift plot, schedules, contact sheets.) When possible please include sample rehearsal reports and samples from blocking and cueing scripts. Please do not submit an entire production book at this time.
- Two letters of recommendation, including one professional.
- Transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended.
Applicants selected for interview might be asked to provide a complete production book and the names of two additional professional references.
Producing Specialization
- A current résumé
- An artistic statement, which addresses your vision for the theater and its place in the world and why you are a producer
- A writing sample (this can be from a grant, marketing copy, a performance review, etc.)
- Two letters of recommendation, including one professional
- Any materials you have created or worked with that illustrate your experience and organizational ability, such as marketing
copy and/or flyers, fundraising appeals, general management materials (budgets, organizational memos, timelines and schedules, company management or systems manuals, etc.)
Video Introduction (all Specializations):
In this Video Introduction, tell us about one person, place, thing, or event that has helped shape your artistic practice.
- Duration: minimum of 30 seconds, maximum of 90 seconds
- Speak directly to the camera
- Do not read from a prepared statement
- No edits
- No special effects or on-screen overlays
- File should be uploaded or linked directly to the portfolio section of the CalArts Application
- Does not require professional-level equipment; cellphone cameras or consumer cameras are okay.