International Theatre Exchange

The Department of Theatre offers a level of international exchange that is unique among MFA programs. Graduate actors and designers enjoy opportunities to work with international artists both in Knoxville and abroad. Guest artists from abroad visit the campus to conduct workshops and master classes, and to direct and design fully mounted productions. Graduates also travel to study, exhibit, and perform abroad. We believe this kind of artistic exchange is invaluable to the contemporary theatre artist. Experience of diverse modes of theatrical representation and ways of working enables actors and designers to see their work within the context of a larger world-view. Actors and designers often speak of the life-changing impact of these experiences.

Planned Exchange

During the 2006-2007 year, the MFA in Acting program will host a number of International and U.S. teachers whose work is based in international traditions.  Guest artists include Per Brahe (Balinese Mask), Jim Calder (Le-Coq based clown and physical theatre), Paula Murray Cole and Michelle Minnick (Rasaboxes), Kedzie Penfield (Laban/Bartenieff), and Beret Arcaya (Alexander Technique).  In the spring of 2007, the second year MFA actors will travel to the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, and the Shaw Festival at Niagara On The Lake, Ontario. 

MFA Designers will attend the Prague Quadrennial 2007 International Design Exposition, where UT has been selected as a presenter program in the Schools of Scenography Exhibit.

Recent Trips Abroad

In the spring of 2006 the first year MFA actors spent ten days in London and Stratford, undergoing more than 36 hours of master classes, and seeing theatre in the West End, at the National, on the Fringe and in Stratford. Master Teachers included Patsy Rodenburg, Janet McTeer, Kedzie Penfield (Laban/Bartenieff), Beret Arcaya, Paul Burge, John Brown and Ruth Murray (all Alexander Technique).  In spring of 2005, second year MFA actors traveled to Moscow, Berlin, and Bari, Italy for six weeks of intensive training. This unique opportunity was the result of an extraordinary collaboration between the Center for European Theatre Culture (CETC) and the MFA Acting Program at the University of Tennessee. CETC is a multi-national network of professional theatre artists and teachers, led by acclaimed teacher, Jurij Alschitz, with centers in Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.  

In previous years, International exchanges have included three-week residencies at the Salzburg Seminar in Austria and, from 1998-2005, participation in the renowned International Theatre Festival in Avignon, France. Generously funded by The Gould Foundation, this “French connection” provided opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students in performance and design, CBT resident company members, and professional guest artists to experience perspectives of theatre from around the world. It included professional performances, original creations, MFA project performances, undergraduate workshops and a full-scale production of Babel, a full-length play resulting from a two-year development process in France and in Knoxville, with an international cast of professional actors. Babel premiered at the CBT in June, 2004, and during July the show played to full houses throughout the festival in Avignon.

Guest Artists

The Department of Theatre and the Clarence Brown Company often hosts international guest artists. During their residency in Knoxville, these artists participate in the production program and teach workshops and master classes with UT students. Recent international guests have included:

• Frank Hanig – Director/Designer for Nora
• Jaraslov Malina – Scenic Designer for The Bacchae and The Crucible
• Petr Matasek – Workshop in Puppetry Design
• Veronica Nowag-Jones – Director of The Trojan Women and The Brecht File
• Alain Timar – Director of the international co-production of Babel