Designed for students to learn the craft of directing stage productions; the function of a director; and the relationships between a director and designers, stage managers, and actors. Students direct class projects, a senior project and plays for the student-run Basement Arts organization. An internship with a professional theater in your senior year or after graduation is encouraged. Directing majors seek directing as a career and may wish to pursue graduate study.
Curriculum
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance: Directing requires a minimum of 122 credits: coursework is 65% within SMTD and 35% within the liberal arts.
SMTD coursework to include:
- Directing
- Acting
- Theatre History
- Technical Theatre
- Production Practicum
- Movement and Voice
- Stage Combat
- Playwriting
- Directing Project
- Studio
Liberal Arts coursework to include:
Freshman Writing, Shakespeare’s plays, Upper-level writing, foreign language or tested proficiency, and academic electives from across the U-M
How To Apply
Applicants must:
- apply to U-M via the Common Application or Coalition Application (current U-M students should use the Cross-Campus Transfer Application) by December 1
- Submit an SMTD Artistic Profile by December 1
- Have all supplemental materials sent to the U-M Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Click “Apply Now” to read more detailed information about the application, pre-screening, and audition/interview requirements and procedures.
Apply Now
Please send inquiries regarding the SMTD application process to SMTD.admissions@umich.edu. To learn more about SMTD, sign up for an Information Session.
Faculty
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- Priscilla Lindsay chair, acting, directing
- Daniel Cantor acting, directing
- José Casas playwriting
- Gary Decker scenic & lighting design
- Gillian Eaton acting
- Anita Gonzalez global theatre
- Jessica Hahn costume design
- Amy E. Hughes theatre history
- Holly Hughes performance art
- Tzveta Kassabova movement
- Ashley Lucas Prison Creative Arts Project
- Janet Maylie acting
- Rob Murphy scenic and lighting design
- Christianne Myers costume design
- Mbala Nkanga world performance, theatre studies
- Gregory Poggi arts management
- Christina Traister acting, stage combat
- Malcolm Tulip acting, directing, movement
- Nancy Uffner stage management
- E.J. Westlake theatre history
- associated faculty
- Toni Auletti scenic painting
- Enoch Brater dramatic literature
- Patrick Drone properties
- Douglas Edwards technical theatre
- Rachel Francisco arts management
- Jake Hooker
- Andy Kirshner Interarts performance
- Petra Kuppers performance studies
- Jeffrey Kuras arts management
- Richard Lindsay technical theatre
- Geoff Packard
- Henry Reynolds sound design