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The B.F.A in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Physical Theatre will instruct students in a large variety of applied physical performance methods, including instruction in classic clowning, circus skills, acrobatics, mime, dance, character development, professionalism, and the creation of original material. The program will attract students from a national base interested in further exploring the intersection of clowning, theatre, activism and experimentation in performance. The structured, intensive, studio-based training will prepare them to function in the professional entertainment world.
The first three years of the program will take place on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. The final year of the program will be in residence at San Francisco Circus Center's Clown Conservatory. The Clown Conservatory is part of San Francisco Circus Center, one of the largest and most respected circus training programs in the country. The Clown Conservatory is one of Circus Center's Professional Training Programs (along with acrobatics, aerial arts, and contortion).
Graduates have worked, and are now working, with some of the world's best companies: Cirque Eloize, Stomp, in the praised clown show Aga Boom, in the touring company of My One and Only, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey, Zoppe Circus, Circus Monti in Switzerland, Cirque du Soleil, and in the variety theaters of Europe. Casting directors look to us for performers. Clown Conservatory alumni are also working in the growing field of social circus: in Circus Center's popular environmental education show, at Splash Circus, with Prescott Circus Theatre in Oakland, with CircEsteem in Chicago, with a youth theater program for the City of San Francisco, and with Hospital Clown Programs from California to Switzerland. While attending San Francisco Circus Center's Clown Conservatory students will earn 30 credits in dance, mime, music, acrobatics, circus skills, acting, improvisation, design, history, business and multiple perspectives and techniques of physical theatre. Because of the unique position of Circus Center, students also have the opportunity to pursue individual interests in a wide range of Circus Arts in a professional context; allowing them to develop highly marketable, idiosyncratic skill sets. The program includes 20 hours of classes every week. Students also spend between 10 and 20 hours per week outside of class rehearsing, training, reading and working on research projects. The Conservatory students give six in-house performances a year plus numerous shows in a variety of venues. PLEASE NOTE: Admission is based on current University standards and an audition and interview process. The purpose of this review/interview is to allow the faculty an opportunity to evaluate previous training, assess current skills and aptitude, gauge desire for (and ability to enter into) rigorous training and determine the department's ability to educate the student with respect to a career in the theatre.
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Physical Theatre has recently received a renaissance. While Cirque du Soleil employs thousands of performers world-wide, many other organizations are enjoying unprecedented success. There are dozens of theatres that now specialize in Physical Theatre Performance. This renaissance has created a need for training programs for the Physical Theatre performer. In 2004 Dell'Arte began the only accredited Masters of Fine Arts in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre Program in the world. The success of that program has illuminated a need for an undergraduate program. Internationally there are a number of undergraduate training programs for the physical theatre artist but this is the only BFA in Physical Theatre in the United States.
