The Performance as Public Practice program focuses on the historical development, cultural and theoretical contexts, and artistic significance of theatre, dance and performance disciplines and institutions.
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Performance
Theatre, Dance, Culture, Ritual and Identity
Performance reflects and produces cultural, historical and political meanings. Students examine a wide range of performances, text and embodied practices in order to consider the myriad ways in which performance both reflects and makes cultural, historical and political meanings.
Public
Policy, Activism and Leadership
Public refers variously to the social impact and scope of performance works, community engagement projects and activities, as well as public policy studies and development. It also refers to multiple identities and political positions, as well as materialist histories.
Practice
Directing, Criticism, Performing, Dramaturgy, Pedagogy and Historiography
Practice encompasses the doing of performance and acts related to that doing. Students conduct performance-based research, and have the opportunity to work with local professional companies and departmental productions, develop site-specific performances, and collaborate and create performances for the biennial Cohen New Works Festival.
Students with only an undergraduate degree must apply to either the M.A. or the M.F.A. degree program; an M.A. or M.F.A. is required for admission directly to the Ph.D. Students who finish the M.A. or the M.F.A. program may apply to continue on to the Ph.D. program; decided on a case-by-case basis. All students in our program take specific core courses, but emphasis is placed on interdisciplinarity by requiring a variety of elective courses within and outside our department and at least one practice-focused course. Students determine their own research foci and goals in collaboration with their advisor and the faculty.
Program Guides
Performance as Public Practice (M.A. in Theatre)
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Performance as Public Practice (M.F.A. in Theatre)
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Performance as Public Practice (Ph.D. in Theatre)
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Core Faculty Publications
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Alumni in the Field
Performance as Public Practice Affiliate Faculty
The Performance as Public Program seeks to establish and maintain connections with faculty across the University whose research and teaching engages performance.
in the News
Faculty, Students and Alumni Present at Planet Texas 2050 Symposium
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