Here you will find information about your Next Steps in the York University Theatre Department as you enter your second year. Please be sure to review all of the materials below regarding the application process and expectations in the upper years of study for each specialization.
INTRODUCTION
The York Department of Theatre is shifting its focus to ‘new works’ and experimenting with a priority of finding ways for students to determine their own pathways through the programs we offer. This results in things like opening performance classes to more students and allowing you to move between different forms of creation. This is a change beginning with you and will be an iterative change which will have it challenges.
First-year theatre students begin their time in the Department of Theatre and Performance registered in the BA Hons Theatre (Performance Creation) degree. This provides great flexibility for you to explore and find your interests in a department with diverse and comprehensive opportunities to prepare for a career in theatre, performance, and many related fields which benefit from your rigorous cultivation of creative, practical, and critical skills.
After your first year, you will have the opportunity to explore and refine specializations in theatrical creation. For some of you, this may also lead you to change your degree to a BFA, to allow you to configure your education to best support your goals in our programs through studio-based courses. There are countless ways to be a creator in theatre and performance, and all our programs and degrees are designed to support you on your path by giving you a structure to build upon.
You may find your “thing” by selecting an array of courses which speak to your interest. Many of these are open to you. However, some courses will have prerequisites and corequisites which require you to take related courses before you enroll or concurrently. Other’s may require an application to take a limited number of slots in that course. Often these limited courses with applications open future options and course sequences which allow you to continue cultivating that area of your interest. And should you dedicate your time to very specific specialization, you may find that it would benefit you to change your degree to reconfigure your degree requirements in a way that supports your pursuits and best supports your ability to graduate on time. All of these options mean that you need to be proactive and meet with your advisors, to make sure you are on the right path.
The Next Steps process, and this information packet, has been put together to provide you with more information about your program and degree choices. And even while there are several options outlined below, know that how you define what you want to do while at York, and what you do after graduating, is up to you. What is offered here are some of the larger frames in which to organize your next few years and provide you with a structure to pursue those countless directions you can take yourself.
Understanding Programs and Degrees
Are you confused? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! This is confusing. The simplest way to put it is:
- A program is any topic you focus on through a series of coordinated course offerings. You may be involved in one or more programs during your time at York based on the areas of inquiry and skills you want to develop. For instance, Devised Theatre is a program with 5 classes which build on one another in a sequence. Also, design programs start with Introduction to Design and then have specialized courses in the third and fourth years.
- Degrees (also referred to as “degree programs”) refer specifically to the BA and BFA options for completing your education. You will engage with one “degree program” as your major in the Department of Theatre and Performance. There are many customizable ways to complete you degree engaging in the many programs of the Department. (In this document we refer to these as just your “degree” to reduce confusion.)
There are a four different degree options for completing you education at York: There is (1) one BA, and (3) three BFA options. The BA and BFA in Performance Creation provide flexible requirements to engage in a variety of programs. The BFA Acting and Performance and BFA Production/Design recognize intensive, specialized study which are engaged with specific programs through specific degree requirements.
APPLYING TO PROGRAMS
Programs which require a form of application to receive permission to join the associate courses include:
- Devised Theatre
- Performance Program (Acting & Devising)
- Playwriting
- Production/Design
Many students look to engage in these programs in their second year and therefore must apply to them at the end of their first year. Applicants wishing to apply for these programs through the Next Steps Process need to follow the steps below in our to submit their application. If your application is successful to any of these programs, you are strongly advised to attend an advising session to determine whether you need to or may want to switch to a one of the BFA degrees.
DEVISED THEATRE
The Devised Theatre (DT) series of courses serves as a “hub” for diverse creators within the Department of Theatre & Performance. This means that DT students can be part of any of the programs (Playwriting, Performance, Production/Design in addition to DT) to degree-pathways (BA or BFA) in the department. For example, you may (or may not!) be a performer, designer, manager, or all three.
Students prepare for careers in any/all aspects of theatre, and study Devised Theatre to learn skills, tools, and frameworks of devising and creating original theatre pieces.
APPLICATION for DEVISED THEATRE (DT) in 2023-24:
There are 2 components to the audition for DT:
- Prepare a video audition with only ONE file: a performance piece that creatively interprets a moment or idea inspired from one of this year’s Devised Theatre Festival The Devised Theatre festival runs Sunday, March 12 to Thursday, March 16, 2023 and information about the shows is at ampd.apps01.yorku.ca/devised-theatre/ [under development].
- Participate in a 90-minute in-person group Devising/Creation workshop on Thursday, April 13, 2023, and
Video Audition Performance piece:
Your piece must be from your own point of view using the following criteria:
- Include your full name in the video’s Title/Heading/File Name (e.g. Gita_Singh_Performance.m4v)
- max (10) ten individual words (no min, can repeat)
- max (3) three props (no min)
- max (1) one minute length (strict)
- costumes are optional.
- Additional lighting or media are optional, but each device will count as props.
- Your devised piece may or may not include you as a live performer, but if your piece does have a live performer, only you may fill the role.
- BE CREATIVE
Please feel free to get together with your colleagues to help each other out with recording, creating, playing.
Please upload your video to the video sharing platform of your choice (YouTube, Vimeo) OR share the file via the cloud-based file sharing service of your choice (DropBox, Google Drive) and send the link to the DT Coordinator, Professor Ian Garrett igarrett@yorku.ca
- If sharing via YouTube, Vimeo, or other video platform, please make sure your permissions are set to public or unlisted, NOT Private.
- If sharing via DropBox, Google Drive, or other cloud-based file sharing service please share the link for the file, not the folder or the file itself.
- Do not combine your video submissions for DT and Acting and Performance. These should be two different videos at two different links. If you submit them together, you will be asked to separate them before they will be reviewed.
Video Submission Due by no later than noon on Saturday, April 8, 2023.
DEVISING/CREATION WORKSHOP
- Sign-up for a slot in the in-person devising/creation workshop which take place on either Thursday morning or afternoon April 13th, 2023, here: https://bit.ly/dtnextsteps23
- At the workshop you will participate in games and exercises related to creation and collaboration facilitated by DT faculty and students, in order for us to observe your ability to make artistic offers to your classmates and support each other’s energy in the work. Be prepared to move and participate actively.
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM (ACTING & DEVISING)
There are two pathways within the Performance Program:
- Focused performance study through 17 performance-based studio courses in voice, movement & performance skills including Acting and Devised Theatre. This typically culminates in a BFA Hons – Acting & Performance.
- Flexible performance study which opens opportunities to 12 performance-based studio courses in voice, movement & performance skills including Acting and Devised Theatre, while maintaining flexibility to pursue other theatre creation courses like directing, playwrighting and dramaturgy. This typically culminates in a BA or BFA Hons – Performance Creation.
Students prepare for careers related to performance, such as actor, devisor, creator, director, as well as playwright, playmaker, theatre educator, theatre activist, producer.
APPLICATION for the PERFORMANCE PROGRAM in 2023-24:
All applicants for the Performance Program must do the two components of the Devised Theatre process (detailed above).
Additionally, students must:
- Record themselves performing a monologue from a published play.
- Participate in an Acting workshop, which includes a live performance of a 2nd monologue, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
MONOLOGUE
In a single take, speaking directly to the camera, please say:
- Your full name (and your preferred name if you have one).
- Your pronouns, if you wish.
- What you will be performing, including the names of the character, play and playwright of your contemporary monologue (e.g., “Candy, from Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, by Brad Fraser”).
- Your contemporary monologue, which should be:
- a maximum of 1 min 30 secs long,
- from a published play with a professional production history.
- No dialects or accents other than your own please.
- No mime and a maximum of one prop.
- The monologue should be delivered as if speaking to someone slightly off-camera (i.e. NOT directly to the camera) and shot in a single take, no editing, please.
PLEASE NOTE: Though you only need ONE monologue for the video audition, you should prepare TWO monologues. You will need to present a different one for the in-person Acting workshop.
Please feel free to get together with your colleagues to help each other out with recording, creating, playing.
VIDEO FILE SUBMISSION:
As per the DT process, please upload your video to the video sharing platform of your choice (YouTube, Vimeo) OR share the file via the cloud-based file sharing service of your choice (DropBox, Google Drive). Send the link to your video file to Professor Ian Garrett igarrett@yorku.ca.
If sharing via YouTube, Vimeo, or other video platform, please make sure your permissions are set to public or unlisted, NOT Private.
- If sharing via DropBox, Google Drive, or other cloud-based file sharing service please share the link for the file, not the folder or the file itself.
- Please ensure the title includes your NAME (first & last).
- Do not combine your video submissions for DT and Acting and Performance. These should be two different videos at two different links. If you submit them together, you will be asked to separate them before they will be reviewed.
Video Submission Due by no later than noon on Saturday, April 8, 2023.
ACTING WORKSHOP
- Sign-up for a slot in the in-person acting workshop which takes place on either Weds morning or afternoon April 12th, 2023, here: bit.ly/actwkshp
- At the workshop you will share your second contemporary monologue (maximum 1 min 30 secs) from a published play with a professional production history. No dialects or accents other than your own please. No mime and a maximum of one prop.
- Additional components for the workshop will be shared on the day. Be prepared to have your monologue redirected, to move and improvise.
DEVISING/CREATION WORKSHOP
- Don’t forget to sign-up for a slot in the in-person devising/creation workshop, which takes place on either Thursday morning or afternoon April 13th, 2023, here: https://bit.ly/dtnextsteps23
PLAYWRITING
This specialization, previously called “Playwrighting & Dramaturgy” is now called “Playwriting” in recognition of the application of dramaturgy through all areas of the department. Students work towards creation and development of theatrical writing through writing prompts and exercises, readings of both published and student-written material, in-class discussions, and foundational dramaturgical skills. Playwriting students can come from any of the programs/degree-pathways in the department.
The Department currently offers three courses for playwrights. Successful completion of THEA 3290 is the prerequisite for the other two.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS for PLAYWRITING in 2023-24:
- Submit your application before noon on Friday, April 14, 2023 to loughran@yorku.ca. In the subject line of your email, please write: “YOUR SURNAME: Playwriting 3290 Submission”
- Include a title page that clearly shows your name
- If accepted into Playwriting, please be aware that these courses may be taken at the same time as Production/Design or Devised Theatre, but there is a confirmed scheduling conflict between COSTUME DESIGN courses 2120, 2121, 3143, 3144, 4143 and 3290 that requires choosing one or the other.
In your submission to Playwriting:
- Tell us about your artistic work and why you are interested in dramatic writing. Include what is important to you in your work (e.g., cultural influences, identity, geography, community, language, etc.) and why. [Maximum 200 words]
- Please:
- Provide a brief artistic sample. At least one part of your sample must be a piece or excerpt of dramatic writing. You may also include other forms of creative writing if you wish (e.g., poem, fiction, synopsis of a (proposed) play, response to a writing prompt, etc.) [Maximum 3 pages or 600 words]
- Tell us about a point of inspiration for your artistic sample and how this research informed your process from conception to first draft. What aspects of your sample are you satisfied and unsatisfied with? [Maximum 200 words]
Please let either Danielle Howard (howardd@yorku.ca) or Keira Loughran (loughran@yorku.ca) know if you have any questions.
PRODUCTION & DESIGN
Nearly all courses in Production & Design are open to all students in any areas. Some courses may require prerequisites, corequisites or permission from the department to allow students to build cumulative skills and receive necessary safety trainings. Students who are committed to study in the areas of Theatre Design (set, costume, lighting, sound, and video), Construction (costume, and scenery), Craft (Props and Scenic Art), Technology (lighting, sound, and video), and Management (production management, technical direction, and stage management) and want to pursue intensive hands-on development of these areas will typically switch to the BFA Hons – Production/Design degree.
For application to switch your degree to Production & Design, applicants will participate in in-person interviews on April 18. Details will be announced and discussed during the THEA 1110 3.0 Stagecraft class and Primetime Next Steps on March 1, 2023. Please register for your interview https://bit.ly/proddes23
What you are submitting:
- A single PDF with:
- A Letter of Intent: A letter of application outlining why you wish to pursue studies in the Production & Design area, and which particular disciplines are of most interest to you. Indicating previous relevant experience is required. This is an in-person interview, if you need other arrangements, please contact James McKernan.
- A resume. This is not limited to theatre experience.
- Your document’s file name should be lastname_firstname.pdf, and the document must include your name, telephone, email, and year of study.
- A digital portfolio that can be delivered one of two ways:
- A Zipped/Compressed folder that is 100 Mb or less with up to 10 digital files
OR - If sending files via a file sharing service such as iCloud, Google Drive or Dropbox, send a document with URL links to online material. Make sure your links are live and tested.
- The images in your portfolio should showcase a skill or accomplishment of your abilities and interests. For example, something you built, sewed, painted, lit, sculpted, edited, or recorded—essentially something made. If you choose to have an in-person interview, please feel free to bring any physical work that you would like to present.
- A Zipped/Compressed folder that is 100 Mb or less with up to 10 digital files
- Email or file share your materials to James McKernan at mckernan@yorku.ca by noon on Friday, April 14, 2023.
- During your in-person interview, faculty will discuss your digital file, and a small presentation of the material is required.
Please email any questions to mckernan@yorku.ca
POSTING AND ACCEPTING OFFERS
- All offers will be posted online at https://theatre.ampd.yorku.ca/next-steps at noon on Friday, April 28, 2023.
- You have to accept or decline your offer(s) by e-mail by noon on Monday, May 8, 2023 or your spot will be given to the next person on the waiting list. Please see who you need to reply to above.
- If accepted into more than one area, please notify the area whose offer you accept and the area(s) whose offer(s) you are waiving.
- Acceptance into any area/series of courses is conditional upon final grades at the end of the 2023 winter term
PICKING YOUR DEGREE
Based on the specialization(s) you chose to pursue and the classes you plan to take, you may want to consider which degree suits your interests best.
- BA Hons – Performance Creation: Offers significant flexibility to engage in all aspects of theatre through a balance of studies and studio-based coursework. This degree also provides the flexibility to pursue a second major or minor program and allows for a number of options should a student be interested in graduate study. Most students in the department complete this degree.
- BFA Hons – Performance Creation: Offers significant flexibility like the BA but prioritizes studio-based coursework. This degree is good for those in Devised Theatre, Flexible Performance Study, and/or if you’re interested in taking Production and Design courses. It also supports students in taking studio courses outside of the department. Anyone may request to switch to this degree if it is beneficial to their degree completion by submitting a Letter of Intent and attending a meeting with the BFA Hons – Performance Creation Coordinator.
- BFA Hons – Acting and Performance: This degree acknowledges the performance techniques and focused work of those pursuing an Intensive Performance Study specialization.
- BFA Hons – Production/Design: This degree acknowledges the stagecraft and design focused work of those pursuing an Intensive Production and/or Design specialization.
BFA HONS – PERFORMANCE CREATION CHANGE REQUEST
The BFA Hons – Performance Creation is not itself a program or specialization but does require an additional application process to request a change. While many students who specialize in Devised Theatre or the Flexible Performance Study program complete their degree as a BFA Hons – Performance Creation, a successful application to a program does not provide permission to switch to the BFA Hons – Performance Creation.
The Steps to switch to the BFA Hons – Performance Creation are:
- Submit a Letter of Intent to the BFA Hons – Performance Creation Coordinator, Professor Ian Garrett igarrett@yorku.ca
- Attend an information meeting with the BFA Hons – Performance Creation Coordinator, Professor Ian Garrett
- Once approved to switch the BFA Hons – Performance Creation, please submit a program change request at the earliest convenience. Note that if you would like the change to be active for Fall 2023, you will need to submit the change request by June 30, 2023.
A group information session is schedule at the end of the academic year. If you are unable to attend this group session, you may request a one-on-one meeting to discuss the how this change may affect your planning for your time at York.
This year’s information session will be on Monday, May 15, 2023 at 3pm. Register for the session here: https://bit.ly/bfapc23
WHEN TO CHANGE YOUR DEGREE
If your application is successful to any of programs and specializations, you are strongly advised to attend an advising session with your first-year advisor or the coordinator for the program to determine whether or not you may want to switch into a new degree path.
Students who choose to change to the BFA Hons – Acting & Performance, or BFA Hons – Production/Design are required to complete the online Change of Degree request to switch from Honours BA to Honours BFA. This request is available at http://myacademicrecord.students.yorku.ca/program-change.
Change of degree requests must be submitted no later than June 30 to take effect the next fall/winter session.
Acceptance into any area/series of courses is conditional upon final grades as of the end of the Winter 2023 term.
APPLICATION DATES, DEADLINES & OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Acceptances 2023
We have decided at the 11th hour to email acceptances directly to applicants, rather than posting lists online. All acceptances will be emailed directly to applicants at noon on Friday, April 28th, 2023.
Please ensure that you contact us with your acceptance by noon on Monday, May 8th, 2023.
Acceptances 2023
Offers will be emailed to all applicants to the Performance Program at noon on Friday, April 28th, 2023.
If you didn’t receive an email, check the time (please give the internet 15 minutes or so to process it!), please check your spam filters, and all of your email accounts. If you’re convinced you haven’t received an email, please contact Ian Garrett.
Please ensure that you contact us with your acceptance before noon on Monday, May 8th, 2023. Note, if you know what you want, you can accept right away: you don’t need to wait until May 8th!
