International Theatre Exchange

The Department of Theatre offers a level of international exchange that is exceptional 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

In January of 2009, the second year acting ensemble will undergo an intensive workshop in commedia dell ‘arte in Florence, Italy. In 2007, MFA actors travelled to the Stratford and Shaw festivals in Ontario. In 2006, they 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 2005, second year MFA actors traveled to Moscow, Berlin, and Bari, Italy for six weeks of intensive training. 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. Graduate designers travel yearly, and in 2007 they attended the Prague Quadrennial 2007 International Design Exposition, where UT was a presenter program in the “Schools of Scenography Exhibit”.

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.

Guest Artists

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

• Beret Arcaya -- Master teacher of Alexander Technique
• Jim Calder -- Master teacher of Movement
• John Sipes – Director of All My Sons
• Kathleen Conlin – Director of Born Yesterday
• Ron Himes – Director of Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Fences
• Paul Barnes – Director of All The Way Home and Major Barbara
• Gerald Freedman – Director of The Dresser
• Joseph Haj – Director of As You Like It and Metamorphoses
• Frank Hanig – (Germany) Director/Designer for Nora
• Jaraslov Malina – (Czech Republic) Scenic Designer for The Bacchae and The Crucible
• Petr Matasek – (Czech Republic) Workshop in Puppetry Design
• Veronica Nowag-Jones – (Germany) Director of The Trojan Women and The Brecht File
• Alain Timar – (France) Director of the international co-production of Babel