New York City Portfolio Conference Events
February 22–24, 2024
Location: College of Performing Arts at The New School, 55 West 13th Street, New York City
Portfolio Conferences are required for applicants to the MFA Contemporary Theatre and Performance program at the School of Drama at The New School's College of Performing Arts. Applicants are invited to schedule their conference after completing the Graduate
Application and Artist Portfolio.
The Portfolio Conference immerses applicants in the culture and pedagogy of the program, offering them a view of how we train our community of artists as we assess their skills in collaboration, creativity, and performance.
Portfolio Conferences have two parts. Applicants must complete both parts for their application to be considered complete.
Part 1: Collaborative Making Session
Applicants choose a Collaborative Making Session from the schedule of events. Each session is a 2.5-hour group making exercise led by faculty. Applicants are challenged to work together, exploring
themes and personal perspectives to create a new, short piece of theatre for a faculty panel.
Part 2: Faculty Interview
After a Collaborative Making Session is scheduled, applicants will be assigned a Faculty Interview appointment for the same day. The interview is a 15-minute informal conversation with a faculty member about
applicants' work, goals, and interest in the School of Drama. (Note: If you select an afternoon Collaborative Making Session, your interview will take place in the morning that day.)
We urge applicants to attend in person. Limited virtual accommodations can be made by request to performingarts@newschool.edu.