MFA Portfolio Conferences

New York City Portfolio Conference Events

Dates will be announced soon!

Location: College of Performing Arts at The New School, 55 West 13th Street, New York City

Portfolio Conferences are required for applicants to the MFA Contemporary Theatre and Performance program at the School of Drama at The New School's College of Performing Arts. Applicants are invited to schedule their conference after completing the Graduate Application and Artist Portfolio.

The Portfolio Conference immerses applicants in the culture and pedagogy of the program, offering them a view of how we train our community of artists as we assess their skills in collaboration, creativity, and performance.

The full-day Portfolio Conference is required for admission to the MFA in Contemporary Theatre and Performance program and consists of three parts:

• Discipline-Specific Workshops: Faculty facilitate workshops in two of 
  three disciplines indicated by their proposed pathways of study - acting, writing, and directing. Through these sessions, applicants are evaluated on their capacity for sustained engagement, artistic imagination, curiosity, responsiveness to feedback, ability to apply notes and redirection, and commitment to rigorous multidisciplinary training.
• Group Collaboration and Making Experience: Faculty lead groups of applicants in a collaborative making exercise. While applicants make something new and exciting with a group of fellow artists, this is primarily an opportunity to evaluate their capacity for and contributions to long-form collaboration.
• One-on-One Interview with Faculty: All applicants have a brief interview with a member of the Drama faculty. Topics may include but aren't limited to your work samples, live performance presentation, professional goals and artistic interests, experiences with socially engaged creativity, and particular interest in The New School’s Master of Fine Arts program in Contemporary Theatre and Performance.

Conferences will take place in person at the College of Performing Arts in New York City, with a virtual option for those who are unable to participate in person. If you have any questions or concerns or you need accommodation, please email us at performingarts@newschool.edu.