• About the Program
• Season Information
• Acting
• Stage Management
• Three Year Curriculum
• Admission Information
• Technical Production
• Faculty & Guest Artists
• Undergraduate Info
•  
• 

Once every four years, a group of exceptionally talented students is selected for admission to the graduate conservatory at University of Delaware’s Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) for three years of training leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree.

Because there is only one class enrolled at any one time, the faculty is able to focus its full energies–as well as the program’s entire time, space and budget–toward fulfilling the potential of each member of this select group.

The PTTP is specifically designed to train for the stage, where human, rather than electronic, energy is the medium of communication.

Training is focused on plays from the classic repertoire and the PTTP seeks students with a particular commitment to, and appetite for, the classics.

The Stage Management curriculum is designed to prepare the talented and committed student for a professional career as an AEA Stage Manager through a unique combination of production experience and course work.

Throughout the Training

• The majority of the student’s time is spent in the “hands-on” work of stage managing fully-mounted productions from the classic repertoire. Students are in rehearsal or performance as stage managers or assistant stage managers at all times during their three years of study. Training and practical opportunities are provided in the related field of event management.
• The curriculum includes specific practical training – from the perspective of stage management – in the technical production disciplines of audio production, lighting, electricity, carpentry, and costuming. 
• Students have the opportunity to work on PTTP productions with guest directors, designers, and craftspeople from Broadway, Off-Broadway, LORT, and international theatres. (Direction and design of PTTP productions is by guest professionals or PTTP faculty.) Guest AEA instructors, many of whom are graduates of the PTTP, augment the full-time stage management faculty.
• Each spring, students work closely with casting agents and producers from leading summer theatre festivals by supervising auditions held on campus. These theatres often interview PTTP stage management students for professional employment.
• Professional internships with LORT theatres are available and encouraged in semesters 4, 5 and 6.