Sarah Lawrence College Reviews of Master's in Performing Arts

"Overall, the program is exactly what I wanted as an interdisciplinary theatre artist. First-year MFA students at Sarah Lawrence take between 10 to 12 classes ranging from acting, directing, design, puppetry, dramaturgy and playwriting, with the option to take classes from the music or dance department. I found myself talking classes from 9am-5pm, and the rest of my evenings were filled with work, homework, or collaborating on some of the department shows. If youre looking for an intense program, this is it. The faculty is supportive in helping students find their voice by creating a space where students can be themselves. The professors are working artist, so they reframe notions of what theatre is supposed to be, and enable students to find what theatre is to them. Another perk of learning from working artist is that professors always invite students to see their shows, and the door is always open to shadow professors who are working in the city. The trade-off for this is that you can go weeks, or in some extreme cases, about a month without a professor if they have a gig outside of the States. The department does a good job finding subs, but youre still at a loss if youve already build a rapport with a professor and you suddenly find yourself switching gears. My biggest critique of the program thus far is the lack of socio-political consciousness from some of the faculty, and the merging of graduate students into undergraduate classes. I found most of the open discussions with undergraduates in class stifled, but because the program is so student-centered, you can always talk to the professor if youre not finding yourself being challenged. In terms of the lack of consciousness from professors: I had one professor go on a rant in class about how he encourages Caucasian students to do Fences by August Wilson. Luckily, you get to create your own curriculum as an MFA student and I was able to instantly drop the class. I strongly recommend this program for interdisciplinary artist who want to grow in several fields of theatre, as opposed to choosing one. The program doesnt come without its pitfalls, but at the end of the day, you can make the program your own. Its not only encouraged, but required."

"Sarah Lawrence is a great place to study the arts and the theatre and performance program in particular has a storied history and a reputation for producing and supporting artists who are risk-takers and explore the boundaries of their disciplines."

"The pros of the Sarah Lawrence Master's of Theatre Program are how diverse the curriculum and performance possibilities are. The theatre program has a beautiful history of creating original works and supporting artist who take risks and make bold choices. The program is the right size to be able to make good work and have an audience for it and you get quality time with your professors. I was able to make valuable professional contacts in the department with people who support my work and my values."

"The faculty alone is worth the price tag. They are willing to help, willing to listen, and willing to push their students beyond their comfort zones into new artistic explorations. The facilities could use a facelift, but students have full access to everything there, provided they get in line. There is some competition with undergrads for resources, and many of the classes that graduate theatre students take are shared with undergrads as well as other grad students. Thankfully the undergrads at Sarah Lawrence tend to be quick thinkers and so do not weigh down the caliber of the classes too much. The program is all about exploration within the art form, and so however strange the ideas might be, each student is encouraged to make their dreams manifest. If you're interested in exploring all aspects of theatre and working towards being a whole theatre artist, this program is well worth it."

"I feel like the pros of my graduate program are the connections you can make with not only your faculty but also with the students who are interested in doing the same kind of theater you are into doing. Hopefully, these relationships will be fruitful later on as you go out into the world and start your own theater companies (which is a direction the program really stresses you to go) or for simple networking capabilities after you graduate. The con is definitely the financial aspects. Though the teachers are concerned about your well-being, the school itself is very expensive with very few financial aid opportunities. And with no on-campus housing for graduates - it can be a little frustrating to make ends meet every month."