Program Objectives and Background
The MFA Playwriting Program at Boston University seeks to nurture writers of exceptional talent and vision who will make meaningful contributions to the fields of theater, entertainment, and literature. We aim to accomplish this goal with our playwrights by:
- Bolstering their facility for the craft of dramatic writing.
- Helping them to foster a personal connection to the dramatic form, its ancient roots, its dynamic history, and its multivalent present.
- Equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and professional connections necessary to build and sustain lifelong careers.
The MFA Playwriting Program is part of BU’s English Department in the College of Arts and Sciences and operates in close collaboration with the School of Theatre and College of Fine Arts. MFA playwrights receive full tuition scholarships. Additionally, they are guaranteed a non-service stipend or teaching fellowship in every Fall and Spring semester of their enrollment. Summer funding, while not guaranteed, is awarded on an as-available basis from BU’s Graduate School.
The program was Founded by Derek Walcott and Kate Snodgrass, and is currently under the direction of Nathan Alan Davis. BU playwriting alumni have long been working professionally at the highest levels of professional theater, film, television, and beyond.
Program Practices
A cohort of up to four playwrights is admitted into the program every two years, and all core program courses are taken by the entire cohort together. MFA playwrights at BU write, workshop their plays, study theory, and gain insights about the profession in weekly seminars, taught by BU’s playwriting faculty.
The MFA Program is three years long, requiring full-time residence in Boston during the Fall and Spring semesters each year.
In their first year, playwrights write multiple full-length plays under faculty mentorship. Workshop productions and staged readings of short plays afford them the opportunity to see their work in front of a live audience.
In their second year, playwrights strengthen the foundations of their creative work with scholarly courses in literature and other fields (based on their interests), and begin teaching undergraduate playwriting courses.
In their third year, playwrights continue to follow their creative and scholarly interests in the classroom, gain additional teaching experience, receive a full production of their thesis play, and present a selection of their work in a showcase for industry professionals.
Throughout all of the above, the classroom is, quite literally, the stage: Playwriting courses typically meet in one of the two black box performance spaces at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, and professional actors are routinely brought in to read and respond to students’ works-in-progress.
Q & A
What are the aesthetic values of the program?
Boston University’s MFA Playwriting Program is rooted in a deep respect for the written word and the role of the playwright as both theater practitioner and writer.
I’ve read or heard that the ability to read a foreign language (i.e. at least one language in addition to English) is required for the degree. Can you tell me more about this?
As of 2023, the Language Requirement no longer applies to the MFA Playwriting Program.
What courses are required for the MFA Degree?
You may refer to the Program Bulletin for the official course list. https://www.bu.edu/academics/grs/programs/mfa-in-playwriting/
Please note that the course requirements are presently being revised. The Program Director can provide further information, should you have questions about required courses.
What is the program’s teaching philosophy and who will my teachers be?
Our goal is to help each of our writers develop their innate voice with fullness, freedom, and precision. In writing with truthfulness, the playwright must be willing to reflect the world as they see and understand it. In writing for a public audience, a playwrights’ craft must be informed by an abiding consideration for those who will gather to experience the play as it unfolds in real time. Our program has four, core faculty members, all of whom are playwrights: Nathan Alan Davis (program director), Hansol Jung, Melinda Lopez, and Ronán Noone. Our faculty are deeply and actively engaged in the field, and they bring their knowledge, experiences, and expertise into the classroom every week.
What does BU’s playwriting program look for in prospective applicants?
We are looking for playwrights with singular voices, who demonstrate a facility for the dramatic form, and who are ready to learn and grow as part of an intimate cohort. If you decide to apply, know that your personal statement is as important as the play you send. We want to understand where you’re coming from, what you hope for in a graduate school experience, what motivates you, and what inspires you.
Can I visit a class to get a sense of what the program is like?
Finalists will be invited to visit and become further acquainted with the program. While we are not able to facilitate classroom visits for all prospective applicants, questions are welcome at any time and meetings may be arranged on a case-by-case basis.
I have just completed/am now completing my undergraduate degree, and I’m not sure if I have enough experience to be a competitive applicant. Should I wait for a year or two before applying?
Other than demonstrating the ability to write a full-length (i.e. approx. 60 pages or more) play, there is no particular experience threshold you need to meet.
I’m an older playwright, and I know that MFA programs tend to be populated with writers in their 20s and 30s. Will my application be taken seriously?
We recognize that the growth of a writer is often nonlinear, and a serious, focused pursuit of playwriting can happen at any age. Your application will be considered on its own merits.
I have substantial playwriting experience and I’m looking to take my career to the next level. Is this the right program for me?
Readiness and willingness to focus on growth, craft, and development through mentorship is necessary to make the most out of what BU’s program has to offer. If you have a firmly established artistic practice and you’re mainly seeking the time/resources/advocacy to bolster the work you’re already doing, this program may not be the right fit for you.
I already have an MFA. Can I apply for a second MFA at BU?
If you have already received an MFA in Playwriting, you will not be able to enroll in BU’s program. However, if your MFA is in another discipline, you’re welcome to apply.
I write musicals. Does the program offer training in musical theater?
The program does not offer training in musical theater.
Does the program offer training in TV/film writing?
The primary focus and context of the program is centered around playwriting. Some training in screenwriting is given during the third year. Graduates of the program who are interested in pursuing work in Hollywood will find themselves well-equipped to do so.
I’m a multi-hyphenate theatre artist, and I work in more than one role/capacity (direction, acting, design, etc.) Will I be able to develop and explore some or all of these roles at BU?
While experience in various aspects of theater/performance can form an excellent foundation for a prospective MFA student, the focus of the program is on the role of playwright as writer. In the production of your thesis play, you will also be expected to remain in role as a playwright. Opportunities to direct, perform, design, etc., will be limited.
I have another question, who should I ask?
Please email Program Director Nathan Davis: davisn@bu.edu