Ira Brind School of Theater Arts

Colleges & Divisions > College of Performing Arts
Contacts Credit-hour Ratio Mission Statement Overview School Objectives Student Objectives Facilities Productions & Auditions Extracurricular Activities

Programs

   Bachelor of Fine Arts
   Acting
   Directing, Playwriting + Prod
   Musical Theater
   Theater Design + Tech

Graduate Certificate
Devised Performance

Master of Fine Arts
Devised Performance

Contacts

David Howey \ jhowey@uarts.edu \ 215.717.6568
Director, Ira Brind School of Theater Arts

Lauren Fanslau \ lfanslau@uarts.edu \ 215.717.6443
Assistant to the Director

Max Vasapoli \ mvasapoli@uarts.edu \ 215.717.6447
Administrative Assistant

Meghan Walsh \ mewalsh@uarts.edu \ 215.717.6478
Associate Producer

School of Theater Office
Terra Hall Room 611, 211 South Broad Street | 215.717.6450 | School of Theater Website

Credit-hour Ratio

Technique, production, and studio courses offered by the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts typically award one credit hour per 22.5 or 30 hours of instruction. For example, during a traditional 15-week semester a 3 credit studio course will meet 4.5 or 6 hours per week. The catalogue includes specific credit and contact hour totals for each course . The University lecture and seminar credit-hour ratio is located on the calendar page.

Mission Statement

The Ira Brind School of Theater Arts is committed to developing the individual artistic voice of each student. Each student will develop both skills and an expanded point of view. Upon graduation, our students are ready to engage the medium and the world with a strong sense of themselves as citizen artists.

Overview

The curriculum is conservatory-inspired, celebrating acting instruction as the focal point of training in both the Acting and Musical Theater programs, with a deep investment in vocal and physical training as principal support areas. In both the Theater Design and Technology and Directing, Playwriting, and Production programs, the focus upon technique holds true, supported by extended collaborative learning opportunities in production. Opportunities for master classes, guest speakers, internships, and apprenticeships with both nationally prominent guest artists and the many local professional companies are among the experiences open to all Brind School students.

The highly focused and demanding training is complimented by a strong concentration in the liberal arts. We believe that the theater artist, charged with reflecting the human condition, is best developed hand in hand with a strong grounding in liberal arts.

School Objectives

The Brind School at the University of the Arts:

serves its students by developing their artistic point of view and cultivating a way of looking at their worldly experiences to enhance expression and meaning in their work.
trains these students in their craft, prepares them for careers in the theater, and offers performance opportunities appropriate to that training and preparation.
serves the University and the community at large by producing theater that is thoughtful, provocative and entertaining and communicates a strong artistic and social point of view.
serves the theater community by producing new works and neglected masterpieces, and seeking ongoing experimentation with new materials, techniques and technologies.

Student Objectives

Each program has its own unique program objectives, but the Brind School also recognizes goals shared by each of its four programs. Graduates of the Brind School:

Will be passionate, pro-active and resourceful in pursuit of their chosen career and professional and appropriately disciplined in the execution of that career..
Will have an informed historical perspective about the Theater and the Entertainment Industry and a keen sense of their place and potential in those spheres.
Will demonstrate literacy in their ability to read, understand, conduct research and formulate critical views of dramatic literature and source material.
Will have an informed sense of the world around them and their chosen profession in that world. They will understand and embrace the responsibilities of the citizen-artist.

Facilities

The majority of facilities for the Brind School are located in the Terra Building at 211 South Broad Street. These include seminar and classroom spaces and studios for individual voice, speech, dance, movement, and acting instruction. In addition, The Brind School enjoys the use of 6 public performance venues.

Laurie Beechman Cabaret Theater - 60 seat
Caplan Studio Theater - 100 seat
Caplan Recital Hall - 200 seat
ArtsBank Theater - 230 seat
Levitt Auditorium - 700 seat
Merriam Theater - 1800 seat

Design and technical support are provided by a production shop, a costume shop, a design studio, a lighting lab, areas for both property and costume stock, and a fully-equipped video editing studio.

Productions and Auditions

The Brind School presents an annual season of work which includes projects helmed by students, faculty and celebrated guest artists from the national and local theater scenes. Auditions for the season are open to all Brind School students.

Extracurricular Activities

Students in the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts may participate in approved theater projects outside the University. We believe professional work can foster the growth and imagination of our students. The approval process will include consideration of student academic standing, program head and school director advisement.