We produce eight regular season productions in our season and three full-scale productions at our professional summer repertory theatre, the Indiana University Summer Theatre. M.F.A. actors perform two or more roles during the academic year and have the opportunity for casting during the summer. It is not uncommon for our actors to play seven-to-ten roles during their three-year tenure.
We strive to cast all actors in the first semester. The first role played each year is known as a project role involving discussion and evaluation with faculty. An actor is assigned an advisor for the project role. The advisor works with the actor to articulate goals, attends rehearsals, and provides feedback during the rehearsal process.
In the third year, the actor plays a thesis role after discussion between the actor and the thesis committee about which roles will provide a suitable challenge. The actor decides which faculty serve on the thesis committee.