MFA in Theatre Arts - Playwriting in Iowa City United States | University of Iowa

The Iowa Playwrights Workshop, the University of Iowa's MFA Program in Playwriting, offers a rigorous three-year curriculum focused on preparing playwrights for careers in professional theater. Our program cultivates skilled dramatists and collaborative theater practitioners who will shape the future of American theater through original works and mentoring emerging playwrights.

Established in 1971, the Playwrights Workshop builds upon a rich legacy of dramatic writing at the University of Iowa dating back to the 1920s. Alumni have achieved distinction across all forms of dramatic writing, from traditional theater to film, television, and experimental performance. Notable graduates include playwrights Tennessee Williams, Lee Blessing, Sherry Kramer, Charles Smith, John O'Keeffe, David Hancock, Naomi Wallace, Rebecca Gilman, David Adjmi, Kirsten Greenidge, Samuel Hunter, and Jen Silverman, along with screenwriter-producers Richard Maibaum, Norman Felton, Barry Kemp, Rick Cleveland, and Paul Rust. These accomplished artists embody Iowa's tradition of developing professional dramatists who excel both as writers and as collaborative creators involved in bringing new works to life.