David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University

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David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University
Yale School of Drama.png
Coat of arms of the school
Former name
Department of. Drama in the School of Fine Arts (1924–1955)
Yale School of Drama (1955-2021)
Established1924; 97 years ago (1924)
DeanJames Bundy
Academic staff
79
Students194
Location
New Haven
,
Connecticut
,
United States
Websitedrama.yale.edu

The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University is a graduate professional school of Yale University located in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1924 as the Department of Drama in the School of Fine Arts, the school provides training in every discipline of the theatre: acting, design (set design, costume design, lighting design, projection design, and sound design), directing, dramaturgy and dramatic criticism, playwriting, stage management, technical design and production, and theatre management.

The school operates in partnership with the Yale Repertory Theatre, also located in New Haven.

History[]

The school traces its roots to the Yale Dramatic Association, the second-oldest college theatre association in the US, founded in 1900. The "Dramat" produced the American premieres of Albert Camus's Caligula and Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, as well as original works by Cole Porter, Stephen Vincent Benet, and Thornton Wilder written when they were students.

In 1924, Yale benefactor Edward S. Harkness provided funds to the Department of Drama in the School of Fine Arts and for the construction of the University Theatre, later to become the school's primary building. Completed in 1931, it was designed by Clarence H. Blackall and then later renovated by James Gamble Rogers.[1] George Pierce Baker, a teacher of playwriting, was the first chairman of the department. The first class of students was enrolled in 1925 while the University Theatre was under construction and the first Master of Fine Arts in Drama was granted in 1931.[2]

In 1955, by vote of the Yale Corporation, the department was organized as a separate professional school, the first such in the Ivy League. In 1966, under Dean Robert Brustein, the Yale Repertory Theatre was formed to establish further ties between the professional and academic communities. Lloyd Richards, dean and artistic director from 1979 to 1991, increased the theatre's emphasis on new plays, premiering works by Athol Fugard, Lee Blessing, and August Wilson. Richards' successor as dean and artistic director, Stan Wojewodski, Jr. continued to emphasize the production of new plays, including several important works by Suzan-Lori Parks and Theatre de la Jeune Lune. The current dean and artistic director, James Bundy, has produced notable premieres by David Rabe, Jose Rivera, David Adjmi, and Sarah Ruhl, among others, as well as Radio Golf, the tenth play in August Wilson's 20th century cycle.[2]

Facilities[]

University Theatre

A variety of locations on the Yale University campus serve the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. The University Theatre is a proscenium theatre that is shared with the undergraduate dramatic association and also houses the school's main administrative offices. The Yale Repertory Theatre is located in the former building of the Calvary Baptist Church and contains an auditorium facing a modified apron stage as well as the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale/Yale Repertory Theatre box office. Additional facilities include the Iseman theatre in Holcombe T. Green, Jr. Hall, the School of Drama Annex, and the Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library.[2]

Academics[]

Admissions[]

Admission to the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale is highly competitive. The Yale Herald reported that the school received 1,270 applications for the class of 1999 and admitted 68 applicants for an acceptance rate of 5.4%.[3] In 2010, annual applications peaked at 1,520, with strict caps on admission to each of the school's nine programs.[4]

In June 2021, Yale announced a $150 million donation from David Geffen that would permanently cover the costs of tuition for all admitted students.[5]

The cost of tuition for the 2020-21 academic year was $32,800.[5] After his appointment in 2002, School Dean James Bundy made improving financial aid for students a priority. The school's financial aid budget grew from $1.4 million to over $6.1 million in 2017, with significant reductions in debt upon graduation.[4][6] Financial aid is awarded on the basis of financial need, with awards consisting of a combination of work-study employment, an educational loan, a tuition scholarship, and a living stipend. As of 2016, the average student with demonstrated financial need receives aid providing for 82 percent of the total cost of attendance.[6]

Enrollment[]

As of fall 2015, there were 194 students enrolled at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, 18% of which were international students.[7]

Degrees and certificates[]

The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale offers a Master of Fine Arts in acting, design, sound design, directing, dramaturgy and dramatic criticism, playwriting, stage management, technical design and production, and theatre management. Students must hold an undergraduate degree and complete their program of study with distinction, which requires three years in residence. The school also offers a Doctor of Fine Arts to students who hold an M.F.A. degree in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism and have written a dissertation approved by the D.F.A. committee.

A Certificate in Drama is available to those students who do not hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited college, but who are admitted and complete the same training as M.F.A. students. A Technical Internship Certificate is available to students who complete a one-year internship program of the Technical Design and Production department.[8]

Rankings[]

The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale has emerged as one of the nation's best theatre conservatories.[9][10][11]

Student life[]

Activities[]

Founded in 1968, the Yale Cabaret is an entirely student-run extracurricular activity that allows students to create productions of their own. It is the only production opportunity at the school that allows students to work outside of their discipline.[12] Patricia Clarkson, Tony Shalhoub, Kate Burton, David Alan Grier, Christopher Durang, and Wendy Wasserstein, among countless others, all performed at the Cabaret."[13]

Notable people[]

Faculty[]

Faculty members at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale are working professionals in their fields, and in many cases, graduates of the school themselves.[14] As of fall 2015, there are 79 faculty members.[7] James Bundy is the current dean of the school as well as the artistic director of Yale Repertory Theatre.[15] Current faculty members in the Acting department include Gregory Berger-Sobeck, Peter Francis James, and Walton Wilson, who also serves as chair of the department. Current faculty members in the Directing department include Emily Coates, Yuri Kordonsky, Robert Woodruff, and department chair Liz Diamond. Designers include Jane Greenwood, Jess Goldstein, Wendall K. Harrington, and Jennifer Tipton. Playwrights include John Guare, Michael Korie, Lisa Kron, Tina Landau, Richard Nelson, Lynn Nottage, Peter Parnell, Adam Rapp, Paula Vogel, and Derek Walcott. Critics include Allardyce Nicoll. Music consultants include Rusty Magee.[16]

Former faculty includes dancer/choreographer Carmen de Lavallade, set designer Ming Cho Lee, actor Earle Gister and directors Robert Brustein, F. Curtis Canfield, Keith Fowler, and Nikos Psacharopoulos.

Alumni[]

Alumni of the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale are among the most distinguished in stage, film, television, and other creative fields.[11]

Acting[]

  • Kimberleigh Aarn – Acting (1986); 1988 Tony nominee
  • Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – Acting (2015)
  • David Ackroyd – Acting (1968)
  • Bruce Altman – Acting (1990)
  • Amy Aquino – Acting (1986)
  • Jayne Atkinson – Acting (1985)
  • Dylan Baker – Acting (1985)
  • Raymond J. Barry – Acting (1965)
  • Martine Bartlett – Acting (1948)
  • Gary Basaraba – Acting (1982)
  • Angela Bassett – Acting (1983)
  • Ralph Bates – Acting
  • Chris Bauer – Acting (1992)
  • Alan Baxter – Acting (1932)
  • Richard Bey – Acting (1976)
  • Ato Blankson-Wood – Acting (2015); 2020 Tony nominee
  • Sorrell Booke – Acting
  • Ruth Brinkmann – Acting (1963)
  • Jabari Brisport – Acting (2014)
  • Brennan Brown – Acting (2000)
  • Kate Burton – Acting (1982)
  • Trai Byers – Acting (2011)
  • Rob Campbell – Acting (1990)
  • Reg E. Cathey – Acting (1981)
  • Esther K. Chae – Acting (1999)
  • James Chen – Acting (2008)
  • Chung King-fai – Acting (1962)
  • Caitlin Clarke – Acting (1978)
  • Patricia Clarkson – Acting (1985)
  • Christian Clemenson – Acting (1984)
  • David Clennon – Acting
  • Chris Henry Coffey – Acting (1999)
  • Enrico Colantoni – Acting (1993)
  • Forrest Compton – Acting (1953)
  • Suzanne Cryer – Acting (1995)
  • Alma Cuervo – Acting (1976)
  • Seán Cullen – Acting (1990)
  • Brett Dalton – Acting (2011)
  • Jason Davis – Acting (2004)
  • Stephen DeRosa – Acting (1995)
  • Peter Donat – Acting (1952–1953, left)
  • Jeff Donnell – Acting
  • Polly Draper – Acting (1980)
  • Winston Duke – Acting (2013)
  • Charles S. Dutton – Acting (1983)
  • Jill Eikenberry – Acting (1970)
  • Rick Elice – Acting (1979)
  • Melissa Errico – Acting (left)
  • Christine Estabrook – Acting (1976)
  • Melanie Field - Acting (2016)
  • Bridget Flanery – Acting (2002)
  • Patrick Foley – Acting (2018); 2021 Pulitzer finalist
  • Joseph Fuqua – Acting (1990)
  • Willie Garson – Acting
  • Malcolm Gets – Acting (1992)
  • Paul Giamatti – Acting (1994)
  • Susan Gibney – Acting
  • Robert Ginty – Acting (1972; left)
  • Jay Goede – Acting (1991)
  • Eve Gordon – Acting (1981)
  • David Marshall Grant – Acting (1978)
  • Karron Graves – Acting (2003)
  • David Alan Grier – Acting (1981)
  • Joe Grifasi – Acting (1975)
  • Michael Gross – Acting (1973)
  • Louisa Gummer – Acting (2019)
  • Kathryn Hahn – Acting (2001)
  • Julie Harris – Acting (1944–1945)
  • Donald Patrick Harvey – Acting (1985)
  • Marcus Henderson – Acting (2011)
  • Brian Tyree Henry – Acting (2007)
  • Ken Howard – Acting (left 1969)
  • Ernie Hudson – Acting (1975–1976; left)
  • Matthew Humphreys – Acting (2003)
  • Moses Ingram – (2019); 2021 Emmy nominee
  • Jane Kaczmarek – Acting (1982)
  • James Keach – Acting (1970)
  • Stacy Keach – Acting (1966; left)
  • Warren Keith – Acting
  • Mike Kellin – Acting
  • Patrick Kerr – Acting (1987)
  • Aja Naomi King – Acting (2010)
  • Robert Klein – Acting (1965; left)
  • Dudley Knight – Acting (1965)
  • Sanaa Lathan – Acting (1995)
  • Sabrina Le Beauf – Acting (1984)
  • C. S. Lee – Acting
  • Charles Levin – Acting (1974)
  • Mitchell Lichtenstein – Acting (1981)
  • Jennifer Lim – Acting (2004)
  • Mark Linn-Baker – Acting (1979)
  • John Bedford Lloyd – Acting (1982)
  • Jim MacLaren – Acting (1989)
  • Peter Macon – Acting (2003)
  • Jonathan Majors – Acting (2016)
  • Delbert Mann – Acting (1973)
  • Mary Mara – Acting
  • Mozhan Marnò – Acting (2005)
  • Richard Masur – Acting
  • Heather Mazur – Acting (2003)
  • Tom McCarthy – Acting (1995)
  • Tom McGowan – Acting (1988)
  • Frances McDormand – Acting (1982)
  • Anne Meacham – Acting (1947)
  • Fred Melamed – Acting (1981)
  • William Mesnik – Acting
  • Philip Moon – Acting (1987)
  • James Naughton – Acting (1970)
  • Marissa Neitling – Acting (2013)
  • Obi Ndefo – Acting (1997)
  • Paul Newman – Acting (1951–1952)
  • Kristine Nielsen – Acting (1980)
  • Tom Noonan – Acting (1973)
  • Elizabeth Norment – Acting (1979)
  • Chris Noth – Acting (1985)
  • Carrie Nye – Acting
  • Lupita Nyong'o – Acting (2012)
  • Barbara O'Neil – Acting (1931)
  • Dick Orkin – Acting (1958)
  • Maulik Pancholy – Acting (2003)
  • Evan Parke – Acting (1997)
  • Geoff Pierson – Acting (1980)
  • Bryce Pinkham – Acting (2008)
  • Joel Polis – Acting (1976)
  • Michael Potts – Acting (1992)
  • Addison Powell – Acting (1948)
  • Sarah Rafferty – Acting (1996)
  • Da'Vine Joy Randolph – Acting (2011)
  • Lance Reddick – Acting (1994)
  • Adam Richman – Acting (2003)
  • Tijuana Ricks – Acting (2004)
  • Laila Robins – Acting (1984)
  • Michael Rogers – Acting (1985)
  • Reg Rogers – Acting (1993)
  • Alan Rosenberg – Acting (1974)
  • John Rothman – Acting (1975)
  • Liev Schreiber – Acting (1992)
  • Kimberly Scott – Acting (1987)
  • Louise Shaffer – Acting (1965)
  • Tony Shalhoub – Acting (1980)
  • Talia Shire – Acting (1969; left)
  • Roger Guenveur Smith – Acting (1983)
  • Sarah Sokolovic – Acting (2011)
  • Meryl Streep – Acting (1975)[17]
  • Robin Strasser – Acting
  • John Turturro – Acting (1983)
  • Joan Van Ark – Acting (1964; left)
  • Courtney B. Vance – Acting (1986)
  • Gary Waldhorn – Acting (1967)
  • Sigourney Weaver – Acting (1974)
  • Michael Whaley – Acting (1977)
  • Peter White – Acting (1962)
  • Henry Winkler – Acting (1970)
  • Bess Wohl – Acting (2002)
  • D. B. Woodside – Acting (1996)
  • Jeff Yagher – Acting (1984; left)

Design[]

Directing[]

  • May Adrales – Directing (2006)
  • A. J. Antoon – Directing (left)
  • John Badham – Directing (1963)
  • Melvin Bernhardt – Directing (1955)
  • Ralf D. Bode – Directing
  • Sandra Boynton – Directing (1979; left)
  • Mark Brokaw – Directing (1986)
  • Arvin Brown – Directing (1967)
  • James Bundy – Directing (1995)
  • James Burrows – Directing (1965)
  • Lawrence Carra – Directing (1935)
  • Robert Cohen – Directing (DFA 1965)
  • Edward Cornell – Directing
  • Jan Eliasberg – Directing (1981)
  • Shannon Flynn – Directing (2002)
  • Keith Fowler – Directing (DFA 1969)
  • Jonathan Frid – Directing (1957)
  • Dennie Gordon – Directing (1977)
  • Ulu Grosbard – Directing (1952–1953)
  • Jon Jory – Directing (1963–1965)
  • Robert Kalfin – Directing (1957)
  • Asaad Kelada – Directing (1964)
  • Romulus Linney – Directing (1958)
  • Richard Maltby Jr. – Directing (1962)
  • Jennifer McCray Rincón – Directing (1987)
  • Lynne Meadow – Directing (1971)
  • Tom Moore – Directing (1968)
  • George Morrison – Directing (1953)
  • Jonathan Moscone – Directing (1993)
  • Francine Parker – Directing (1959)
  • Nikos Psacharopoulos – Directing (1954)
  • Steven Robman – Directing (1973)
  • Boris Sagal – Directing
  • Anna D. Shapiro – Directing (1993)
  • John Shea – Directing (1973)
  • Rebecca Taichman – Directing (2000)
  • Steve Zuckerman – Directing (1974)

Dramaturgy and dramatic criticism[]

  • Allan Albert – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (left 1969)
  • Michael Breslin – Dramaturgy/Criticism (MFA 2019, DFA candidate); 2021 Pulitzer finalist
  • Robert Brustein – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (1948–1949)
  • Ernest Ferlita – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (DFA 1969)
  • Rocco Landesman – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (MFA 1972, DFA 1976)
  • Michael Lassell – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (1976)
  • James Magruder – Dramaturgy/Criticism (MFA 1988, DFA 1992)
  • Charles McNulty – Dramaturgy/Criticism (MFA 1993, DFA 1995)
  • Madeline Miller – Dramaturgy/Criticism (2009–2010)
  • Kate O'Toole – Dramaturgy/Criticism (1985)
  • Andrew Paulson – Dramaturgy/Criticism (1981–1982)
  • Nahma Sandrow – Dramatic Literature/Criticism (DFA 1970)

Playwriting[]

  • Liz Duffy Adams – Playwriting (1997)
  • Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa – Playwriting (2003)
  • Lewis Black – Playwriting (1977)
  • Brother Blue – Playwriting (1953)
  • E. Roger Boyle – Playwriting
  • Janet Burroway – Playwriting (1963)
  • Vincent J. Cardinal – Playwriting (1990)
  • Fred Coe – Playwriting (1940)
  • Bill Corbett – Playwriting (1989)
  • Owen Dodson – Playwriting (1939)
  • Christopher Durang – Playwriting (1974)
  • Erik Ehn – Playwriting (1983)
  • Femi Euba – Playwriting (1973)
  • Charles Evered – Playwriting (1991)
  • Richard Foreman – Playwriting (1962)
  • Kimon Friar – Playwriting (1932)
  • Marcus Gardley – Playwriting (2004)
  • Stephen Geller – Playwriting (1964)
  • Melissa James Gibson – Playwriting (1995)
  • Frank D. Gilroy – Playwriting (1953; left)
  • Richard Greenberg – Playwriting (1985)
  • John Guare – Playwriting (1963)
  • A. R. Gurney – Playwriting (1958)
  • Jeremy O. Harris – Playwriting (2019)
  • Allan Havis – Playwriting (1980)
  • Amy Herzog – Playwriting (2007)
  • M. Carl Holman – Playwriting (1954)
  • Slade Hopkinson – Playwriting (1966)
  • David Henry Hwang – Playwriting (1983; left)
  • Albert Innaurato – Playwriting (1974)
  • David Ives – Playwriting (1984)
  • Talbot Jennings – Playwriting (1931)
  • Rolin Jones – Playwriting (2004)
  • Hansol Jung – Playwriting (2014)
  • Sam Kelley – Playwriting (1990)
  • Frederick R. Koch – Playwriting (1961)
  • Harry Kondoleon – Playwriting (1981)
  • Kenneth Lin – Playwriting (2005)
  • Wendy MacLeod – Playwriting (1987)
  • David Madden – Playwriting (1960)
  • Martyna Majok – Playwriting (2012)
  • Albert Maltz – Playwriting (1932)
  • William Marchant – Playwriting
  • Grace McKeaney – Playwriting
  • Tarell Alvin McCraney – Playwriting (2007)
  • David J. McDonald, Jr. – Playwriting
  • JP Miller – Playwriting (1954)
  • Meg Miroshnik – Playwriting (2011)
  • Michael Mitnick – Playwrighting (2010)
  • Tad Mosel – Playwriting (1950)
  • Brighde Mullins – Playwriting (1987)
  • Lynn Nottage – Playwriting (1989)
  • OyamO – Playwriting (1981)
  • David Rayfiel – Playwriting (1950)
  • Keith Reddin – Playwriting (1981)
  • Ola Rotimi – Playwriting (1966)
  • Joanna Russ – Playwriting (1960)
  • Robert Sandberg – Playwriting (1977)
  • David Shaber – Playwriting (1954)
  • Betty Shamieh – Playwriting (2009)
  • Susan H. Schulman – Playwriting (1967)
  • Michael Shurtleff – Playwriting (1952)
  • Roger L. Simon – Playwriting (1968)
  • William Snyder – Playwriting (1955)
  • Ron Sproat – Playwriting (1958)
  • Leslie Stevens – Playwriting
  • Michael Stewart – Playwriting (1953)
  • Milan Stitt – Playwriting (1963)
  • Jon Stone – Playwriting (1955)
  • Peter Stone – Playwriting (1953)
  • Ted Tally – Playwriting (1977)
  • Sarah Treem – Playwriting (2005)
  • Rodolfo Usigli – Playwriting (1936)
  • Donald Vining – Playwriting (1941)
  • Wendy Wasserstein – Playwriting (1976)
  • Ron Whyte – Playwriting (1967)
  • Asiedu Yirenkyi – Playwriting (1971)
  • Alexander Woo – Playwriting (1997)

Stage management[]

Technical design and production[]

Theatre management[]

Other[]

  • Carmen Capalbo (1948)
  • Michael David (1968)
  • Richard Fleischer – Drama (1942)
  • Ernest K. Gann – Drama (1930–1931, left)
  • Elia Kazan – Drama (1933; left)
  • Barnet Kellman (1972)
  • Gertrude Prokosch Kurath – Drama (1930)
  • Leo Lieberman (1948)
  • Andrew Nelson Lytle – Drama (1929)
  • H. C. Potter – Drama (1926)
  • Burt Shevelove
  • Janice Torre – Songwriting (1936)
  • Max Wilk – Drama (1941)

References[]

  1. ^ Kelley, Brooks Mather (1999). Yale: A History (2nd ed.). New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 384.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "History and Facilities". Yale School of Drama. Yale University.
  3. ^ Peiffer, Siobhan (1996-10-04). "Backstage at Yale Drama admissions". Yale Herald.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Ahmed, Akbar (15 February 2012). "Drama applications continue 3-year high". Yale Daily News. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Paulson, Michael (30 June 2021). "Yale Drama Goes Tuition-Free With $150 Million Gift From David Geffen". New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Financial Aid Policy". Yale School of Drama. Yale University.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Yale Facts". About Yale. Yale University.
  8. ^ "Degrees and Certificates". Yale School of Drama. Yale Publisher.
  9. ^ McKinley, Jesse (2002-04-07). "At Yale Drama, Actors Learn The Play Is The Last Thing". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Gerard, Jeremy (1988-04-19). "Juilliard Drama School, at 20, Stresses Versatility". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Smart, Jack (2016-03-11). "The Inside Scoop on Yale's Acting MFA". Backstage.
  12. ^ "Training at Yale School of Drama". Yale School of Drama. Yale University.
  13. ^ [1] Archived June 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Hawes, Peter. "A New Dean Takes the Stage". Yale Alumni Magazine.
  15. ^ "James Bundy". Yale School of Drama. Yale University.
  16. ^ "Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre Administration and Faculty". Yale School of Drama. Yale University.
  17. ^ "Alumni of the Yale School of Drama".

External links[]

Coordinates: 41°18′34.7″N 72°55′51.7″W / 41.309639°N 72.931028°W / 41.309639; -72.931028

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