<p>Thank you to all who responded to my question regarding a theater major within an English department. Please bear with me as I am new to all this. My next question is, can anyone tell me of any schools where playwriting is a part of the B.A. in theater? Does a theater studies major imply some coursework in playwriting or is playwriting a separate major within a creative writing field? Any information or insight would be appreciated. Thanks!!</p>
<p>This will vary from school to school. Look at the courses offered at the schools you are interested in and opportunities for students to have their work workshopped and performed.</p>
<p>Off the top of my head, I am pretty sure that Fordham has Playwriting as a substantial part of the program for interested students.</p>
<p>James Madison also has a strong playwriting component for interested students.</p>
<p>I am sure there are others.</p>
<p>Not certain, but I think I recall that The New School might, and possibly DePaul, but I think they are both BFA programs.</p>
<p>My daughter is double-majoring in Playwriting and Performance (aka, acting) at Fordham, which is a BA program.</p>
<p>Northwestern has a combined program also.</p>
<p>The New School is a BFA but does have a playwriting component.</p>
<p>The flexible BFA Theatre Studies program at SMU offers a playwriting/acting dual concentration.</p>
<p>This isn’t exactly what you asked for but may be what you are looking for. Check out the program that Pace has the BA in International Performance Ensemble. The actors ensemble works together to create a new play researching a topic and developing the play together. The curriculum includes a lot of the same BFA Acting courses. I’m not sure how that breaks down with playwriting, directing and acting but it is a unique experience which would allow you to double major in English. Take a look at the program and see if it may offer the experience you are looking for.</p>
<p>My D has a friend at SUNY Purchase who I believe is focused on playwriting but I am not sure of the specifics (i.e. BFA, what exact program).</p>
<p>Kenyon’s BA program includes playwriting as part of the required, year-long introductory class; there’s also another yearlong elective in advanced playwriting, plus plenty of opportunity for independent study.</p>
<p>At Adelphi, several playwriting courses are offered through the English Department. Many Theatre majors (and minors) have this focus as part of their program.</p>
<p>I think there are many opportunities to study playwriting. A specific major like Fordham’s is unusual, however.</p>
<p>Hi Greatwhiteway,</p>
<p>I’m not sure if this is exactly in line with what you’re looking for, but as it is a very different program then the others mentioned here I though I would share it. Who knows, if its not for you it might be right for someone else reading this. </p>
<p>Playwrights Horizons Theater School, which is a studio within the NYU Tisch School of the Arts, offers Playwriting and Original Work focuses. The things about the PHTS program is that it is a BFA, not BA program, and your child would need to either audition or have an interview where they present their portfolio. The way PHTS works is that freshman year students take a wide variety of classes from acting to design to playwriting as an introduction to getting to know themselves as a whole theater artist. ( this is on their conservatory days, on their academic days they will take theater history courses and other required freeman classes). Then starting their second year they will have the opportunity to focus on a specific area. Students in the playwriting program can eventually have full length plays written and produced by other students in the school focusing on directing. Students also have the option to do Creating Original Work, which allows them to write and direct their own work or create devised work with an ensemble. </p>
<p>This program is rooted more in the theatrical creation process then purely in the academic writing sense, so it may not be for your child or even most people interested in playwriting. That said if your child had been doing theater and really like working on theater and their greatest interest just happens to be writing then this could be a great fit as it allows them the best of both worlds. </p>
<p>And ps. Yes I’m biased as I did go to PHTS, though not for playwriting. I do however know many of the writing students as I collaborated and still collaborate with many of them. Some of them have produced some really great new works in NY, and that’s not just my opinion, that’s from the rave reviews and awards they have received!</p>