Plan of Study

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Plan of Study

The first year is a highly disciplined period of training, with a concentration on the basic principles of craft that lead to extraordinary acting. Models of realism are explored through work on a variety of scenes by contemporary and modern playwrights, as actors identify practical tools for mining the printed text for given circumstances, character, objective, and action. The second year begins with a focus on verse drama and creating embodied performances of Shakespeare. In the second term of the second year, the emphasis on developing an expansive sense of truth through heightened and extended language continues with work on diverse texts from world literature. The third year includes work on the plays of Bertolt Brecht, Suzan-Lori Parks, and other challenging writers, as well as the development of original self-scripted solo projects. Students also have multiple courses in learning to work on camera and in front of a microphone, transferring their techniques to the mediums of film and audio recording. A fourth year has been added to the curriculum for the Classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024, to give those students further opportunities to apply their training in rehearsal and performance when production work resumes at the School and at Yale Repertory Theatre.

Yale Cabaret provides an additional, although strictly extracurricular, outlet for the exploration of a wide range of material, including self-scripted material, company-devised original work, adaptations, and musicals. The department’s chair works directly with the Yale Cabaret artistic directors regarding approval of Cabaret participation by actors.

With the exception of those courses marked as “electives” in their schedules, students are required to attend all classes in their curriculum.

For course descriptions, electives, and additional information, please view the David Geffen School of Drama Bulletin.

Class of 2024

Year Two (2021-2022)

DRAM 50a - The Theatrical Event: Liz Diamond, Catherine Sheehy
DRAM 51b - New Play Lab
DRAM 103a/b - Acting I: Gregory Wallace
DRAM 113a/b - Voice I: Midori Nakamura, Walton Wilson
DRAM 123a/b - First-Year Accents and Dialects: Cynthia Santos DeCure
DRAM 133a/b - The Body as Source: Erica Fae
DRAM 143a/b - Alexander Technique I: Fabio Tavares, Jessica Wolf
DRAM 153a - Play: Justine Williams
DRAM 163b - Text Analysis I: James Bundy
DRAM 180a - Rehearsal Practicum: Meeting the Play: Yuri Kordonsky
DRAM 403a/b -Introduction to Combat and Intimacy for the Stage: Kelsey Rainwater, Michael Rossmy
DRAM 563a - Activated Analysis II: Annelise Lawson
DRAM 863a - Authentic Collaboration: Ben Krywosz

Year Three (2022-2023)

DRAM 163a - Text Analysis II
DRAM 203b - Acting II: Plays of Extended and Heightened Language: Mary Lou Rosato
DRAM 213a/b - Voice II: Walton Wilson, Grace Zandarski
DRAM 223a/b - Second-Year Accents and Dialects: Beth McGuire, Joshua Robinson
DRAM 243a/b - Alexander Technique II Tutorials: Bill Connington
DRAM 263b263a/b - Clown: Christopher Bayes
DRAM 273a - Character Analysis and Movement: Jennifer Archibald
DRAM 283a - Shakespeare Embodied: Daniela Varon, Walton Wilson
DRAM 405a - Advanced Principles of Stage Combat: Kelsey Rainwater, Michael Rossmy
DRAM 413a/b - Singing II Tutorials: Glenn Seven Allen

Year Four (2023-2024)

DRAM 207b - Carlotta Tutorial
DRAM 233a - The Body on Set: Erica Fae
DRAM 253a - Commedia: Christopher Bayes
DRAM 303a - Acting III: Tamilla Woodard
DRAM 303b - Actor Showcase: Ellen Novack, Daniel Swee, Tamilla Woodard, Paul Mullins
DRAM 313a - Voice III Tutorials: Walton Wilson
DRAM 323a/b - Third-Year Accent and Dialect Tutorials: Louis Colaianni, Joshua Robinson
DRAM 343a/b - Alexander Technique III Tutorials: Fabio Tavares, Jessica Wolf
DRAM 363a - Creating Actor-Generated Works: Joan MacIntosh
DRAM 423a/b - Singing III Tutorials: Anne Tofflemire
DRAM 463a - On-Camera Acting Technique: Ellen Novak
DRAM 463b - Taming the Cyclops: How to Do Your Best Work in an On-Camera Audition: Ellen Novak

Class of 2023

Year Three (2021-2022)

DRAM 203b - Acting II: Plays of Extended and Heightened Language: Mary Lou Rosato
DRAM 213a/b - Voice II: Walton Wilson, Grace Zandarski
DRAM 223a/b - Second-Year Accents and Dialects: Beth McGuire, Joshua Robinson
DRAM 243a/b - Alexander Technique II Tutorials: Bill Connington
DRAM 263a/b - Clown: Christopher Bayes
DRAM 273a - Character Analysis and Movement: Jennifer Archibald
DRAM 283a - Shakespeare Embodied: Daniela Varon, Walton Wilson
DRAM 405a - Advanced Principles of Stage Combat: Kelsey Rainwater, Michael Rossmy
DRAM 413a/b - Singing II Tutorials: Glenn Seven Allen
DRAM 863a - Authentic Collaboration: Ben Krywosz

Year Four (2022-2023)

Class of 2022

Year Four (2021-2022)

DRAM 233a - The Body on Set: Erica Fae
DRAM 253a - Commedia: Christopher Bayes
DRAM 303a - Acting III: Tamilla Woodard
DRAM 303b - Actor Showcase: Ellen Novack, Daniel Swee, Tamilla Woodard, Paul Mullins
DRAM 313a - Voice III Tutorials: Walton Wilson
DRAM 323a - Third-Year Accent and Dialect Tutorials: Louis Colaianni, Joshua Robinson
DRAM 343a - Alexander Technique III Tutorials: Fabio Tavares, Jessica Wolf
DRAM 353b - Play and Story: Justine Williams, Tamilla Woodard
DRAM 363a - Creating Actor-Generated Works: Joan MacIntosh
DRAM 423a/b - Singing III Tutorials: Anne Tofflemire
DRAM 463a - On-Camera Acting Technique: Ellen Novak
DRAM 463b - Taming the Cyclops: How to Do Your Best Work in an On-Camera Audition: Ellen Novak
DRAM 723a - Voices for Animation: Cynthia Santos DeCure
DRAM 743b - Audition Workshop: James Bundy
DRAM 753b - On-Camera Workshop: Ellen Novak
DRAM 863a - Authentic Collaboration: Ben Krywosz

Acting