Course General Description

The Master of Fine Arts in Classical Acting is an immersive, intensive program developing the actor’s instrument to handle the rigors of Shakespeare and other classical texts. The mission of the MFA in Classical Acting program (also known as the Academy for Classical Acting, or ACA) is to create a body of artists who are able to perform classical texts with skill, clarity and inspiration, for American audiences who deserve better than an imitation of the British tradition. This unique program runs for 44 consecutive weeks, from late August through the following July. The participants work in the studios on the GW campus, for 40 to 60 hours weekly (including rehearsal time and preparation).

School General Description

The Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at the George Washington University prepares its graduates to be the next generation of global leaders. Part of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the school functions as an incubator for artists, designers and scholars, who learn from internationally renowned faculty at the intersection of creativity and social innovation. It is an academic experience like no other—inspiring students to research, create and innovate with the potential to shape the world around them. We are a community of civically engaged artists and practitioners, aiming to impact the world through social change. Our students are poised to not just join the creative field of their choice, but to define it for themselves as they become well versed in both practice and research. We embody and exemplify the Columbian College’s Engaged Liberal Arts credo, which strives to link disparate fields and better prepare our graduates for rich, multidimensional careers in the evolving world we live in. The challenges society faces are diverse, requiring different modes of thought, and we prepare our students by encouraging inquiry and collaboration. While we at the Corcoran School can prepare specialists, we pride ourselves on the diversity of our practice and view ourselves as a place of possibility for students instead of teaching art in a singular way.