Yale School of Drama

Yale School of Drama

Established	Department of Drama, 1924 School of Drama, 1955
Dean	James Bundy
Academic staff	82 [1]
Students	221[2]
Location	New Haven, Connecticut,  United States
Website	drama.yale.edu

University Theatre

The Yale School of Drama (also known as YSD) is a graduate professional school of Yale University providing training in every discipline of the theatre: acting, design (set design, costume design, lighting design, projection design), directing, dramaturgy and dramatic criticism, playwriting, stage management, sound design, technical design and production, and theater management.

History

The school traces its roots to the Yale Dramatic Association, the second-oldest college theatre association in the country, founded in 1900. The "Dramat" produced the American premieres of Albert Camus's Caligula and Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, as well as original works by Cole Porter, Stephen Vincent Benet, and Thornton Wilder written when they were students. This lively dramatic tradition led to the provision of funds, in 1924, by Yale benefactor Edward S. Harkness, to establish the Department of Drama in the School of Fine Arts, and for the construction of the University Theatre, designed by Clarence H. Blackall and then later renovated by James Gamble Rogers in 1931.^[3] George Pierce Baker, a teacher of playwriting, was the first chairman of the department. The first Master of Fine Arts in drama was granted in 1931.

In 1955, the department was organized as a separate professional school, the first such in the Ivy League. In 1966, under Dean Robert Brustein, the Yale Repertory Theatre was formed to establish further ties between the professional and academic communities. Lloyd Richards, dean and artistic director from 1979 to 1991, increased the theatre's emphasis on new plays, premiering works by Athol Fugard, Lee Blessing, and August Wilson.^[4] Richards' successor as dean and artistic director, Stan Wojewodski, Jr. continued to emphasize the production of new plays, including several important works by Suzan-Lori Parks and Theatre de la Jeune Lune. The current dean/artistic director, James Bundy, has produced notable premieres by David Rabe, Jose Rivera, David Adjmi, and Sarah Ruhl, among others, as well as Radio Golf, the tenth play in August Wilson's 20th century cycle.

Today, Yale Drama students work on School of Drama productions, at the Yale Repertory Theatre, and at the Yale Cabaret.

Student life

School of Drama students spend the morning in class, with the exact number of hours varying by their year in school and their department. After 2 p.m., all classes are over, and rehearsals for Yale Repertory Theatre and School of Drama productions begin. Rehearsals can last up to eight hours. After rehearsal hours are over at 11 p.m., many students choose to continue rehearsing for productions at the Yale Cabaret, often working outside their discipline, on projects they have chosen and lead without any input from faculty. Many weeks throughout the school year, students attend two or even three productions a week produced by their colleagues, and some take the hour-and-forty-minute train ride to New York City to see performances there. Students also participate in athletic clubs, like soccer and volleyball, and mingle at events with their compatriots in the Yale School of Art and Yale School of Architecture.

Degrees

The School of Drama offers a Master of Fine Arts in acting, design (with emphasis in sets, costume, lighting and projection), directing, dramaturgy and dramatic criticism, playwriting, stage management, sound design, technical design and production, and theatre management (with a joint M.F.A./Master of Business Administration available to management students in conjunction with the Yale School of Management). Students must hold an undergraduate degree and complete their program of study with distinction, which requires three years in residence. A Certificate in Drama is available to those students who do not hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited college, but who are admitted and complete the same training as M.F.A. students. The school also offers a Doctor of Fine Arts to students who hold an M.F.A. degree in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism and have written a dissertation approved by the D.F.A. committee, and a Technical Internship Certificate to students who complete a one-year internship program of the Technical Design and Production department.^[5]

Yale School of Drama season

The mainstage season consists of five fully supported productions, three directed by third-year directors as a culmination of their work at the school and three written by third-year playwrights and presented in May under the auspices of the Carlotta Festival of New Plays. In addition, there are many smaller-scale productions staged throughout the year, including the Shakespeare Repertory Projects directed by second-year directors, acting projects directed by faculty members, the Langston Hughes Festival of New Plays by second-year playwrights, and the Thornton Wilder Festival of One-Act Plays by first-year playwrights (the "New Play Lab").^[6]

Yale Cabaret

Founded in 1968, the Yale Cabaret provides an extracurricular outlet for Yale School of Drama students, who produce passion projects and operate the theatre entirely on their own. Students regularly work outside their disciplines (designers act, dramaturgs sing, and actors direct, for example) in the 18 productions presented for a paying public audience. According to the Yale Cabaret website, "during their time at the Yale School of Drama, Patricia Clarkson, Tony Shalhoub, Kate Burton, David Alan Grier, Christopher Durang, Wendy Wasserstein, among countless others, all performed at the Cabaret."^[7]

Notable faculty

• James Bundy (Director)
• Robert Brustein (Director, Critic)
• F. Curtis Canfield (Director)
• Keith Fowler (Director)
• Jess Goldstein (Designer)
• John Guare (Playwright)
• Peter Francis James (Actor)
• Michael Korie (Playwright, Librettist, Lyricist)
• Lisa Kron (Playwright)
• Tina Landau (Playwright)
• Ming Cho Lee (Designer)
• Richard Nelson (Playwright)
• Allardyce Nicoll (History/Criticism)
• Lynn Nottage (Playwright)
• Peter Parnell (Playwright)
• Nikos Psacharopoulos (Director)
• Adam Rapp (Playwright)
• Rusty Magee (Music Consultant)
• Jennifer Tipton (Designer)
• Paula Vogel (Playwright)
• Derek Walcott (Playwright)
• Robert Woodruff (Director)

Notable alumni

• Kimberleigh Aarn – Acting (1986); 1988 Tony nominee
• David Ackroyd – Acting (1968)
• Liz Duffy Adams – Playwriting (1997)
• Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa – Playwriting (2003)
• Christopher Akerlind – Lighting Design (1989)
• Allan Albert – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (left 1969)
• Bruce Altman – Acting (1990)
• A. J. Antoon – Directing (left)
• Amy Aquino – Acting (1986)
• Jayne Atkinson – Acting (1985)
• Dylan Baker – Acting (1985)
• Raymond J. Barry – Acting (1965)
• Martine Bartlett – Acting
• Gary Basaraba – Acting (1982)
• Angela Bassett – Acting (1983)
• Ralph Bates – Acting
• Chris Bauer – Acting (1992)
• Alan Baxter – Acting (1932)
• John Lee Beatty – Scenic Design (1973)
• Melvin Bernhardt – Directing (1955)
• Lewis Black – Playwriting (1977)
• Robert Blackman – Costume Design
• Brother Blue – Playwriting (1953)
• Sorrell Booke – Acting
• Mel Bourne – Scenic Design (1948; left)
• E. Roger Boyle – Playwriting
• Sandra Boynton – Directing (1979; left)
• Ruth Brinkmann – Acting 1963
• Tom Broecker – Costume Design (1992)
• Mark Brokaw – Directing (1986)
• Robert Brustein (1951)
• Janet Burroway – Playwriting (1963)
• James Burrows – Directing (1965)
• Kate Burton – Acting (1982)
• Trai Byers – Acting (2011)
• Rob Campbell – Acting (1990)
• Carmen Capalbo (1948)
• Vincent J. Cardinal – Playwriting (1990)
• Lawrence Carra – Directing (1935)
• Raymond Carver – Playwriting (1961)
• Esther K. Chae – Acting (1999)
• Chung King-fai – Acting
• Caitlin Clarke – Acting (1978)
• Patricia Clarkson – Acting (1985)
• Christian Clemenson – Acting (1984)
• David Clennon – Acting
• Fred Coe – Playwriting (1940)
• Chris Henry Coffey – Acting (1999)
• Robert Cohen – Directing (DFA 1965)
• Enrico Colantoni – Acting (1993)
• John Conklin – Scenic Design (1966)
• Bill Corbett – Playwriting (1989)
• Edward Cornell – Directing
• Suzanne Cryer – Acting (1995)
• Alma Cuervo – Acting (1976)
• Seán Cullen – Acting (1990)
• Brett Dalton – Acting (2011)
• Michael David (1968)
• Jason Davis – Acting (2004)
• Stephen DeRosa – Acting (1995)
• Charles Dillingham – Theater Management (1968)
• Owen Dodson – Playwriting (1939)
• Jeff Donnell – Acting
• Polly Draper – Acting (1980)
• Christopher Durang – Playwriting (1974)
• Charles S. Dutton – Acting (1983)
• Jan Eliasberg – Directing (1981)
• Erik Ehn – Playwriting (1983)
• Jill Eikenberry – Acting (1970)
• Rick Elice – Acting (1979)
• Melissa Errico – Acting (left)
• Christine Estabrook – Acting (1976)
• Heidi Ettinger – Scenic Design (1976)
• Femi Euba – Playwriting (1973)
• Charles Evered – Playwriting (1991)
• John Ezell – Scenic Design (1960)
• Ernest Ferlita – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (DFA 1969)
• Bridget Flanery – Acting (2002)
• Richard Fleischer – Drama (1942)
• Ed Flesh – Scenic Design (1956)
• Shannon Flynn – Directing (2002)
• Richard Foreman – Playwriting (1962)
• Keith Fowler – Directing (DFA 1969)
• Kimon Friar – Playwriting (1932)
• Jonathan Frid – Directing (1957)
• Joseph Fuqua – Acting (1990)
• Paul Gallo – Lighting Design (1977)
• Ernest K. Gann – Drama (left)
• Marcus Gardley – Playwriting (2004)
• Willie Garson – Acting
• Malcolm Gets – Acting (1992)
• Paul Giamatti – Acting (1994)
• Susan Gibney – Acting
• Melissa James Gibson – Playwriting (1995)
• Frank D. Gilroy – Playwriting (1953; left)
• Robert Ginty – Acting (1972; left)
• Jay Goede – Acting (1991)
• Jess Goldstein – Costume Design (1978)
• Dennie Gordon – Directing (1977)
• Eve Gordon – Acting (1981)
• David Marshall Grant – Acting (1978)
• Karron Graves – Acting (2003)
• Richard Greenberg – Playwriting (1985)
• David Alan Grier – Acting (1981)
• Joe Grifasi – Acting (1975)
• Ulu Grosbard – Directing (1952; left)
• Michael Gross – Acting (1973)
• John Guare – Playwriting (1963)
• A. R. Gurney – Playwriting (1958)
• Kathryn Hahn – Acting (2001)
• Anne Hamburger – Theatre Management (1986)
• Julie Harris – Acting (1947; left)
• Donald Patrick Harvey – Acting (1985)
• Allan Havis – Playwriting (1980)
• Gilbert Vaughn Hemsley, Jr. – Lighting Design (1960)
• Amy Herzog – Playwriting (2007)
• Susan Hilferty – Costume Design (1980)
• Donald Holder – Lighting Design (1986)
• M. Carl Holman – Playwriting (1954)
• Slade Hopkinson – Playwriting (1966)
• Ken Howard – Acting (left 1969)
• Ernie Hudson – Acting (1976; left)
• Matthew Humphreys – Acting (2003)
• Holly Hunter – Acting (1982)
• David Henry Hwang – Playwriting (1983; left)
• James F. Ingalls – Stage Management (1976)
• Albert Innaurato – Playwriting (1976)
• David Ives – Playwriting (1984)
• Talbot Jennings – Playwriting (1931)
• Walt Jones - Directing (1975)
• Rolin Jones – Playwriting (2004)
• Jane Kaczmarek – Acting (1982)
• Robert Kalfin – Directing (1957)
• Elia Kazan – Drama (1933; left)
• James Keach – Acting
• Stacy Keach – Acting (1966; left)
• Warren Keith – Acting
• Asaad Kelada – Directing (1964)
• Sam Kelley – Playwriting (1990)
• Mike Kellin – Acting
• Barnet Kellman (1972)
• Patrick Kerr – Acting (1987)
• Aja Naomi King – Acting (2010)
• Robert Klein – Acting (1965; left)
• Dudley Knight – Acting (1965)
• Harry Kondoleon – Playwriting (1981)
• Gertrude Prokosch Kurath – Drama (1930)
• Rocco Landesman – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (DFA 1976)
• Tambi Larsen – Scenic Design (1935)
• Michael Lassell – Playwriting (1976)
• Sanaa Lathan – Acting (1995)
• Sabrina Le Beauf – Acting (1984)
• C. S. Lee – Acting
• Eugene Lee – Scenic Design (1986)
• Charles Levin – Acting (1974)
• Mitchell Lichtenstein – Acting (1981)
• Leo Lieberman (1948)
• Jennifer Lim – Acting (2004)
• Kenneth Lin – Playwriting (2005)
• Jenn Lindsay – Theatre Management (2005)
• Mark Linn-Baker – Acting (1979)
• Romulus Linney – Directing (1958)
• John Bedford Lloyd – Acting (1982)
• Adrianne Lobel – Scenic Design (1979)
• William Ivey Long – Scenic Design (1975)
• Santo Loquasto – Scenic Design (1972)
• Andrew Nelson Lytle – Drama (1929)
• Jim MacLaren – Acting (1989)
• Wendy MacLeod – Playwriting (1987)
• Peter Macon – Acting (2003)
• David Madden – Playwriting (1960)
• Albert Maltz – Playwriting (1932)
• Delbert Mann – Acting (1973)
• Michael Manuel – Acting (1992)
• Mary Mara – Acting
• William Marchant – Playwriting
• Mozhan Marnò – Acting
• Richard Masur – Acting
• Heather Mazur – Acting (2003)
• Thomas McCarthy – Acting (1995)
• Tom McGowan – Acting (1988)
• Grace McKeaney – Playwriting
• Derek McLane – Scenic Design (1984)
• Tarell Alvin McCraney – Playwriting (2007)
• Jennifer McCray Rincón – Directing (1987)
• David J. McDonald, Jr. – Playwriting
• Frances McDormand – Acting (1982)
• Charles McNulty – Dramaturgy/Criticism (MFA 1993, DFA 1995)
• Anne Meacham – Acting (1947)
• Lynne Meadow – Directing (1971)
• Fred Melamed – Acting (1981)
• William Mesnik – Acting
• JP Miller – Playwriting (1954)
• Madeline Miller – Dramaturgy/Criticism (2012)
• Tom Moore – Directing (1968)
• George Morrison – Directing (1953)
• Jonathan Moscone – Directing (1993)
• Tad Mosel – Playwriting (1950)
• Brighde Mullins – Playwriting (1987)
• Tharon Musser – Lighting Design (1950)
• James Naughton – Acting (1970)
• Obi Ndefo – Acting (1997)
• Paul Newman – Acting (1954; left)
• Kristine Nielsen – Acting (1980)
• Tom Noonan – Acting (1973)
• Elizabeth Norment – Acting (1979)
• Lynn Nottage – Playwriting (1989)
• Chris Noth – Acting (1985)
• Carrie Nye – Acting
• Lupita Nyong'o – Acting (2012)
• Barbara O'Neil – Acting (1931)
• Dick Orkin – Acting (1958)
• Kate O'Toole – Dramaturgy/Criticism
• Maulik Pancholy – Acting (2003)
• Evan Parke – Acting (1997)
• Francine Parker – Directing (1959)
• Scott Pask – Scenic Design (1997)
• Andrew Paulson – Dramaturgy/Criticism
• Geoff Pierson – Acting (1980)
• Bryce Pinkham – Acting (2008)
• Joel Polis – Acting (1976)
• H. C. Potter – Drama (1926)
• Michael Potts – Acting (1992)
• Addison Powell – Acting (1948)
• Michael P. Price - Technical Production (1963)
• Nikos Psacharopoulos – Directing (1954)
• Sarah Rafferty – Acting (1996)
• Da'Vine Joy Randolph – Acting (2011)
• David Rayfiel – Playwriting (1950)
• Lance Reddick – Acting (1994)
• Keith Reddin – Playwriting (1981)
• Adam Richman – Acting (2003)
• Tijuana Ricks – Acting (2004)
• Laila Robins – Acting (1984)
• Steven Robman – Directing (1973)
• Michael Rogers – Acting (1985)
• Reg Rogers – Acting (1993)
• Constanza Romero – Costume Design (1988)
• Alan Rosenberg – Acting (1974)
• Todd Rosenthal – Scenic Design (1993)
• John Rothman – Acting (1975)
• Ola Rotimi – Playwriting (1966)
• Joanna Russ – Playwriting (1960)
• Boris Sagal – Directing
• Robert Sandberg – Playwriting (1977)
• Nahma Sandrow – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (DFA 1970)
• Liev Schreiber – Acting (1992)
• Kimberly Scott – Acting (1987)
• David Shaber – Playwriting (1954)
• Louise Shaffer – Acting (1965)
• Matt Shakman – Directing (2003)
• Tony Shalhoub – Acting (1980)
• Betty Shamieh – Playwriting (2009)
• Anna D. Shapiro – Directing (1993)
• John Shea – Directing (1973)
• Talia Shire – Acting (1969; left)
• Michael Shurtleff – Playwriting (1952)
• Roger L. Simon – Playwriting (1968)
• Jim Simpson – Directing (1981)
• Roger Guenveur Smith – Acting (1983)
• William Snyder – Playwriting (1955)
• Sarah Sokolovic - Acting (2011)
• Ron Sproat – Playwriting (1958)
• Leslie Stevens – Playwriting
• Michael Stewart – Playwriting (1953)
• Milan Stitt – Playwriting (1963)
• Jon Stone – Playwriting (1955)
• Meryl Streep – Acting (1975)
• Robin Strasser – Acting
• Adam Stockhausen – Scenic Design (1999)
• Ted Tally – Playwriting (1977)
• Janice Torre – Songwriting (1936)
• John Turturro – Acting (1983)
• Leslie Urdang – Theatre Management (1981)
• Rodolfo Usigli – Playwriting (1936)
• Joan Van Ark – Acting (1964; left)
• Courtney B. Vance – Acting (1986)
• Donald Vining – Playwriting (1941)
• Gary Waldhorn – Acting (1967)
• Wendy Wasserstein – Playwriting (1976)
• Sigourney Weaver – Acting (1974)
• Michael Whaley – Acting (1977)
• Ron Whyte – Playwriting (1967)
• Robert Wierzel – Lighting Design (1984)
• Max Wilk – Drama (1941)
• Rosalyn Coleman Williams – Acting (1990)
• Henry Winkler – Acting (1970)
• Alexander Woo – Playwriting (1997)
• D. B. Woodside – Acting (1996)
• Jeff Yagher – Acting (1984; left)
• Michael Yates – Scenic Design (1941)
• Michael Yeargan – Scenic Design (1973)
• Catherine Zuber – Costume Design (1984)
• Steve Zuckerman – Directing (1974)

References

1. http://oir.yale.edu/yale-factsheet
2. http://oir.yale.edu/yale-factsheet
3. Kelley, Brooks Mather (1999). Yale: A History (2nd ed.). New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 384.
4. History: Yale School of Drama. Drama.yale.edu. Retrieved on 2011-01-04.
5. Degree Programs: Yale School of Drama. Drama.yale.edu. Retrieved on 2011-01-04.
6. http://ysdinfo.yale.edu/newstudents/life/ysd-jargon
7. Archived June 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.

External links

• Official website
• History of the Yale Dramatic Association

Coordinates: 41°18′34.7″N 72°55′51.7″W / 41.309639°N 72.931028°W