MA in Theatre - Western Theatre in Honolulu United States | University of Hawaii at Manoa

The Western Theatre program integrates academic studies in theatre history, theory, performance analysis, and dramaturgy with practical training in acting and direction. Our research faculty explore varied topics including Russian theatre, performance theory, avant-garde American works, and African-American drama. Western Theatre's curriculum and productions mirror this global diversity. Students gain hands-on experience through specialized workshops in commedia dell'arte, stage combat, Theatrical Biomechanics, clowning, devised theatre, and television. Distinguished visiting artists like Anna Deavere Smith, Gennadi Bogdanov, Antonio Fava, and Tim Miller have enriched our program.
The department is particularly celebrated for its collaborative World Theatre history courses, jointly taught by Western and Asian Theatre experts. These courses explore subjects ranging from commedia dell'arte to women's roles in theatre to modern political drama. Theory classes examine significant dramatic theories, current critical perspectives, and performance studies. Students engage with local communities through dramaturgy courses and initiatives like the Page to Stage program, which connects with secondary schools, community colleges, and universities. Notable recent events include the Brecht In/And Asia international conference and a public series on The Zombie Renaissance.
Faculty and directing students regularly stage both classical and contemporary productions at Kennedy Theatre's Mainstage and Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. The repertoire spans from Shakespeare, Aeschylus, Ibsen, and Gogol to modern works by Mee, Mamet, Churchill, Steinbeck, and Rodgers & Hammerstein, plus original plays by MFA candidates. Collaborative projects with the Asian Theatre program yield distinctive performances. Late Night Theatre, a student-managed company, provides additional opportunities in theatre administration, artistic direction, and experimental productions in an intimate environment.