Playwriting MFA

The Rita and Burton Goldberg MFA in Playwriting is a selective two-year program with a strong emphasis on production. Students will study playwriting, theatre history, dramatic literature and play analysis in Hunter’s Department of Theatre while learning to collaborate with actors, directors, designers and dramaturgs through the rehearsal process for readings and productions. Training includes electives in other disciplines, as well as work with some of the most exciting theatre artists in New York City, under the guidance of Distinguished Lecturer in Playwriting Mark Bly and Playwright in residence Tina Howe. The Rita and Burton Goldberg MFA in Playwriting is about making theatre in the theatre capital of the world.

The program offers student playwrights the rare opportunity to learn from seasoned theatre professionals about the process of working on a new play. The students’ thesis plays will be produced and staffed by professional directors and actors. These productions, known as the Hunter Playwrights Festival, will be supervised by Thesis Adviser and Production Manager Mark Bly and Tina Howe and presented in the spring semester. This festival is an extraordinary opportunity for the playwrights to showcase their work before an invited audience of distinguished local and national industry professionals.