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The Allen, Outcalt, and Helen
Theatres are all located at
1407 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115
CPH is dedicated to serving diverse audiences with nationally acclaimed education programs.
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We are so excited to be entering a new recruitment cycle as we welcome you to audition for the CWRU/CPH MFA Class of 2030! We’re looking for those bold, empathetic, collaborative and curious artists who thrive working within a talented ensemble. And we hope they are looking for us!
We welcome you to Think Beyond The Possible!
Below you will find extensive facts about the audition process and how to best prepare.
The CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program provides completely tuition-free training. There is also a generous yearly living stipend as well as healthcare included. All students receive the same financial package.
This season, the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program will be seeing candidates through the University/Resident Theatre Association’s (URTA) National Unified Auditions, as well as through Private Direct Apply Auditions in different cities and online, by appointment.
PRIVATE AUDITION & INTERVIEW
For our Private Direct Apply Auditions, each candidate must present two contrasting memorized audition monologues - one contemporary, one Shakespearean verse — not to exceed a total of four minutes. The candidate should be prepared to present additional audition pieces if requested — both contemporary and classical. The candidate may be asked to sing a short unaccompanied song.
We strongly recommend that you have video material already recorded in case it is requested.
The fee for a private audition is $50.
The Audition Request Form is on this page.
CWRU/CPH MFA Private Auditions will take place in Cleveland, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, as well as remotely.
For audition requirements for URTA, please visit their website at urta.com.
We will be holding three Zoom information sessions in fall 2026. Dates listed below.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
All International applicants are welcome to audition in person at one of our venues: Cleveland, NYC, Chicago or Los Angeles. All International applicants must demonstrate a strong proficiency in English as classroom work and production casting will be in English. All audition interactions will be in English.
For those international applicants who are NOT auditioning in person, we will be accepting self-tapes for our preliminary round of auditions until Friday, December 4, 2026. This submission should include a brief introduction, two contrasting pieces (contemporary and classical), 16 bars of a song, your headshot and resume. Please submit a link to your video audition here.
Due to the volume of submissions in the past, we will not be accepting late video submissions after December 4.
International candidates will be informed of their callback status by Wednesday, December 9, 2026. Online callbacks for International students will take place on Saturday, December 19, 2026.
If you have questions about the application process, please e-mail Donald Carrier.
URTA
For information about URTA’s National Unified Auditions and Interviews (NUAI), please go to urta.com
Final callbacks will be held on February 12, 13 and 14, 2027. The process will occur over Zoom, by invitation only.
If you are unable to do an in-person audition, please contact Program Director Donald Carrier to discuss what options might be open to you.
All candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
The material uploaded in advance are listed on our Audition Request Form on this page and must include:
We also require two letters of recommendation which are to be scanned and sent to casemfa@case.edu. The letters of recommendation are not part of the uploaded audition appointment material. They must be emailed separately.
There is a fee of $50 to schedule a private in-person audition.
What kind of actor is the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program looking for?
We’re looking for committed young artists who possess a vivid imagination, a love of language, an empathy for the human experience, the firm belief in the collaborative process and the desire to develop the necessary physical and vocal skills for a successful and sustained career in the ever evolving performing arts scene. We want people who are committed to change and growth and who understand the rigor required to excel in a professional acting training program.
Do I need an undergraduate degree to be admitted to the MFA Program?
Yes. We only accept candidates who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
I have an Associate Degree from a community college. Can I apply?
No. We only accept candidates who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Does my undergraduate degree need to be in theatre?
No. Your undergraduate degree can be in any discipline. It does not to be in theatre.
How many actors to you accept each cycle?
We accept a cohort of 8 actors every two years.
When can I send in my application material to schedule a Private Audition?
Your material can be uploaded starting September 1, 2026. See the form on this page.
Do I have to use the uploading process? Can I send in my material in hard copy form by mail?
No. Material must be uploaded and not sent as a hard copy.
Is there a fee to audition for the MFA Program?
Yes. The fee for a private, in-person audition is $50.
When is the final date that material can be submitted for the auditions held in Cleveland?
December 1, 2026
When is the final date that material can be submitted for NYC private auditions?
January 5, 2027
When is the final date that material can be submitted for all other private auditions?
January 20, 2027
Is there flexibility with audition scheduling?
As we audition over a number of days, we do our best to honor a candidate’s specific request of day and time.
How do I make an audition appointment?
Once we have received your filled in audition request form and support materials, you will be sent a link to pay the audition fee. Once your payment is processed, you will then be able to register for an audition date and time.
Am I able to change my appointment time once I have scheduled it?
If you need to alter or cancel an appointment, please contact casemfa@case.edu. We do our best to work with your schedule.
After I have paid my audition fee, how soon will I be contacted about scheduling my audition appointment?
We usually respond within 48 hours of receiving the fee in order to send you the audition scheduling. We respond to applications in the order they are received.
Do you allow walk-in auditions?
Walk-in auditions are offered based on whether there is space on a given day.
Do I need to pay an audition fee for a walk-in audition?
Yes. You will be able to pay the $50.00 fee at any of our audition sites.
What should I prepare for the audition?
Each candidate must present two contrasting memorized audition pieces - one contemporary, one Shakespearean verse — not to exceed a total of four minutes. The candidate should be prepared to present additional audition pieces if requested. The candidate may also be asked to sing a short unaccompanied song.
Do you recommend I work with an audition coach?
There are many excellent coaches who specialize in drama school audition preparation. This may be a route you wish to take. Certainly, it’s always useful to have an outside objective eye: a coach, a trusted colleague or mentor that might offer some valuable feedback. Ultimately, however, you must trust your own instinct, taste and impulses. We want to see you and your choices.
Can I go beyond the four-minute time limit?
While four minutes may seem brief, it is in fact, significant in the audition world. Because of this, we ask that you be mindful of the time allotted. We are very interested in your choice of material and how you approach it. Staying within the confines of the time frame respects the process as well as other applicants.
Is it okay to play a character outside of my age range?
While you might have more in common with a character in your own age range, you are free to explore any character with whom you resonate.
What do you recommend I wear for the audition?
You should wear something comfortable that allows you a good range of motion. Don’t choose your clothes as though you are costuming your audition pieces. You need the focus to be on you and your work rather than on costumes or props. Avoid any footwear (high heels or heavy boots) that restricts movement.
What can I expect in terms of furniture I can use in the audition room?
We want to keep things simple in order to focus on you and your work. There will always be two chairs that you can use if you wish.
Who will be in the audition room?
The Director of the MFA Program along with either a faculty member and/or an alumnus from the Program will be present.
What are the University/Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA) Unified Auditions?
URTA auditions allow students to audition for more than 40 different universities and drama training programs at one time for a single fee. To learn more about URTA auditions and fees, visit their website at urta.com.
I will NOT be auditioning at the University/Resident Theatre Association’s (URTA) National Unified Auditions. Can I schedule a Private Audition?
Yes. If requesting a private audition, you must send in the materials requested on this page and pay the required $50 fee. We are holding private auditions in Cleveland, NYC, Chicago and Los Angeles.
I will be auditioning at the University/Resident Theatre Association’s (URTA) National Unified Auditions. Can I also schedule a Private Audition with CWRU/CPH?
Yes. Because we cannot guarantee anyone a private callback and interview at the URTA auditions, we encourage any candidate that is specifically interested in the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program to register for one. We will be conducting Private Auditions in Cleveland, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The application process is found on this page.
How long does a Direct Apply Private Audition generally last?
The audition and interview will last approximately 10 minutes. Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule, candidates should be prepared to wait up to 30 minutes in case appointments have fallen behind.
I will be auditioning at the University/Resident Theatre Association’s (URTA) National Unified Auditions. Can I reach out to CWRU/CPH to express my interest?
Absolutely! We welcome hearing from you so that we can be aware of your interest in our Program at URTA’s National Unified Auditions. After seeing the URTA National Unified Auditions, we will call back selected actors the same day for a more extensive session.
Preliminary URTA auditions are very short - two minutes. If I get a callback with CWRU/CPH, will I be permitted to do longer pieces or longer versions of the same pieces?
Yes. The an URTA callback lasts 15 minutes. You will be asked to present two contrasting memorized audition pieces - one contemporary, one Shakespearean verse — not to exceed a total of four minutes. You should be prepared to present additional audition pieces if requested — both contemporary and classical. You may be asked to sing a short unaccompanied song.
Do you have advice on the type of pieces I should present?
Ideally the audition process should be helping us get to know you, and who you are as an artist. Choose material that is active with high stakes for the character, that shows your strengths and passions. Finding material that you have a personal connection with is always preferable. Avoid pieces that are passive or story telling that lack strong dramatic intention. It’s important that we see YOU through the work — what you feel good acting is and what kind of work excites you. Always choose material that you really love to do! Not something someone told you to do that you are not passionate about. Choose two pieces that are contrasting so we can see your range. For example, one piece that is serious and the other that is light. Or one that shows strength and another that shows vulnerability. The contrast need not be dramatic and comic. Avoid using a dialect or an accent that is not your own. Ideally, when choosing material, be familiar with the play and the context of the monologue. Your unique voice is important to us. Ideally, you need to choose material that gives us a clear idea of your strengths and who you are as an artist.
Am I obliged to take my contemporary piece from a play? Can I use material from film or TV?
The monologue tends to be more common and organic in work written specifically for the stage. However, there is strong material in film and TV that might be appropriate. Ultimately, you should choose something you connect with and serves you as an artist, regardless of the medium from which it comes.
What do you consider “contemporary” in terms of material?
“Contemporary” has a flexible definition but we encourage people to do material written after 2000.
Do I have to present a classical piece by Shakespeare?
Your first classical piece must be Shakespearean verse but if further audition material is requested, you may draw from other classical dramatists.
What do you consider classical if I do an additional piece that is not Shakespeare?
The definition is flexible, but you should consider anything written before 1900 as classical material. There are many writers that you might consider from world theatre including Lope de Vega, Congreve, Webster, Calderón, Racine, Hannah Cowley, Wilde and Corneille, Aphra Behn, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Kalidasa, Vyasa, Schiller and Shaw. All speeches must be presented in English. We are interested in how you approach heightened text so that it, like a piece of contemporary material, is a product of given circumstances and connected to thought and action. We are less interested in how beautiful or poetic you deliver the language. It must be active, connected to a specific situation and ideally, how you affect your imaginary scene partner(s).
How are Private Audition days structured?
We’ll be seeing applicants from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm for preliminary auditions. Those whom we want to see again will be asked to return for an End-of-Day Callback. We will be holding end of day callbacks between 4:00 - 6:00 pm. We ask that all those who have callbacks arrive at 4:00 pm and we will have a quick warmup, an opportunity for some group work and allow time for Q and A. We will then see people one at a time in order to once again see your pieces, work with you and may ask for a third piece as well. We will see people in the order that they originally came. An interview may also take place during this callback session.
We may also ask you to sing if we did not in the preliminary audition. After you have finished your individual callback, you are free to go. The callback session will go no later than 6:00 pm. After this callback, we may ask you to submit a taped audition or request to see you again remotely or in-person. If this goes further, you will be invited to our final callbacks.
How long should the song be, if I’m asked to perform one?
It should not exceed 16 bars of music and should be sung a cappella. It can be any genre of music. It’s an opportunity for the candidate to show another aspect of their personality or skill set. A song is another chance for us to get to know you. A trained singing voice is not a requirement for admission to the program.
If I do not get an End-of-Day Callback, am I still being considered for admission to the Acting Program?
If you do not receive a callback, this indicates that you are no longer being considered for admission this intake.
Do I need to send in my transcripts with my material?
No. Official transcripts are only required after a candidate is made an offer to join the program.
If I have auditioned for the program in the past, can I be seen again this cycle?
Yes. However, applicants who have auditioned twice before without being offered admission are discouraged from re-applying to the program.
If I applied in the last cycle, do I need to resubmit my materials in order to re-apply?
Yes. Since we don’t keep any past candidate files, you would need to resubmit all requested materials.
Who should I get letters of recommendation from, and what should they include?
The two letters of recommendation should ideally be from a theatre professional (director, artistic director) and/or an instructor who are familiar with your work. A letter of recommendation should include your recommender’s title, contact phone number as well as their institutional or corporate email address. It should be sent electronically as a PDF document. The content should speak to your ability as an artist and your work ethic. All recommenders are contacted by phone and interviewed when a candidate is being seriously considered for acceptance to the program.
How should the letter of recommendation be sent to us?
The letters should be emailed to casemfa@case.edu by the candidate or directly by the recommender. They should be in PDF format.
I am auditioning through URTA. Do I need my letters of recommendation at this audition?
No. However, if you are in serious consideration for our program, we will request them.
Can I provide more than two letters of recommendation?
Yes, but we only need two.
When are letters of recommendation due?
We will accept your letters of recommendation up to the date of your audition. You should submit all other material through the uploading process and we will add the letters of recommendation to your file when we receive them. Since historically, letters of recommendation have been the most challenging piece of material to obtain by candidates, we encourage you to reach out to your recommenders early.
What should the Personal Statement contain?
A Personal Statement is an opportunity for us to get to know you better. It should detail why you are pursuing graduate training and specifically why you want to study with the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program as opposed to another program. What do you want to achieve in your training and what might you want to avoid? It is also useful to know what your interests and hobbies are and what drew you to the performing arts in the first place. We truly want to know who you are through this short essay and what the life of an artist means to you. Write about your history, your aspirations for the future and what kind of art inspires you. These essays are read only by the audition panel and as such, the material is confidential.
How long should the Personal Statement be?
It should be a maximum of two pages – typed and double-spaced.
I am auditioning through URTA. Should I have my Personal Statement at this audition?
No. However, if you are in consideration for our program, we will request one.
Should I fill in my Audition Request Form under my legal name?
Yes. Please avoid using nicknames or stage names on the Audition Request Form.
Do you accept audition requests after the cutoff date?
We will consider late applicants based on the availability of appointments.
I’m auditioning through URTA. How does the URTA callback process work?
All URTA registered actors have a preliminary audition in front of multiple (up to 40) schools in the morning or early afternoon at an URTA designated site. After this initial group audition, individual schools will let the candidates know, through URTA, if they wish to see them again for a callback. These same day callbacks are held in meeting rooms either in the afternoon or evening. Schools have different policies for these callbacks but when we call you back, we will work your pieces with you and hold a short interview. After this callback, we may ask you to submit a taped audition or request to see you again remotely or in-person. If this goes further, you will be invited to our final callbacks.
Should all actors auditioning have taped material?
Whether it is for the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program or any number of other graduate schools, it has become common practice to request video material after a callback audition. It is to an actor’s advantage to have already recorded two contrasting monologues and a song at the beginning of audition season so you have it ready if it is requested. We request video material from all candidates that we are seriously considering.
Do you hold final callbacks?
Final callbacks will be held on February 12, 13 and 14, 2027. The process will occur over Zoom.
Is there an age limit for candidates?
There is no age limit for candidates to apply. All applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The program is full-time and therefore all applicants need to be available for this commitment.
Do you provide travel stipends to International students who wish to audition in-person?
No.
Are students required to take the GRE?
No. We do not require students to take the GRE.
May I audition if English is not my first language?
Yes. However, all candidates must demonstrate a complete fluency in the English language. Auditions are conducted entirely in English.
Do you accept international students?
Yes. International students who have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university are eligible. Policies around International students are on this page.
Do International students receive the same financial package?
Yes. All students receive the same financial package with tuition-waiver, stipend and healthcare.
I’m an International student and I want to audition in person. I will need a Tourist Visa. Will the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program provide me with an audition/interview letter that I would need to obtain the Tourist Visa?
Yes, we will provide you with an invitation letter to show your local U.S. Embassy/Consulate after you have officially submitted your application and been assigned a specific audition time. If you are applying for the Tourist Visa, we recommend you do this as early as possible time as waits can vary for a consular interview.
When will I know whether I have been accepted to the program?
We begin making offers in mid-February. This can be a lengthy process as applicants may have multiple offers that they are weighing.
I am planning to audition through URTA. When would I know my status?
As an URTA participant, we are obliged to follow its guidelines around offers to those candidates who auditioned through URTA. On a date stipulated by URTA, we are able to make offers. No URTA member program should be making you an actual offer before that date.
On URTA’s designated “offer day”, we are free to make you an offer or update you on your status as an alternate or waiting list candidate. The offer will be made by phone, followed by a formal letter of acceptance through email. You will have a finite time period, stipulated by URTA, in which to decide whether to accept an offer. After this date, we may move on to other candidates, as any delay will hamper our recruitment efforts of other strong candidates.
In 2027, URTA offers are set to begin February 15 and the offer period ends on March 1. Schools may give you longer to make up your mind but they are allowed to rescind the offer at this point and move on to the next candidate.
I did not audition through URTA. Will a potential offer follow the same URTA guidelines?
No. If you did not audition through URTA, we are free to make you an offer at any point. The initial offer will be made by phone, followed by a formal letter of acceptance. Once an offer is made, we will agree on a date by which you will need to make a decision whether you wish to join the program.
Is there financial aid?
The MFA Acting Program provides completely tuition-free training. There is also a generous yearly living stipend as well as health insurance provided. All students receive the same financial package.
How long is the program?
The MFA Program runs three consecutive years.
Can I defer my admission if I am offered a place?
We don’t grant admission deferments due to the structure of the training program. Since we only take a class every other year, this would prove impractical.
Are classes held on the CWRU campus?
The majority of our classes are held off-campus at Cleveland Play House but some classes and/or workshops are held at the Department of Theater’s Maltz Performing Arts Center.
Do you provide housing?
No. There is a living stipend to help defray living expenses. Cleveland has plentiful and affordable housing options.
Can I visit the CWRU/CPH MFA facilities?
At this point, there will be no in-person visits to campus. We do a two-show season and always encourage prospective students to see our work.
Will you be holding information sessions?
Yes. You must register in advance for these meetings.
Information Session 1: Monday, September 28, 2026 • 6:00 - 7:30pm ET
Register in advance for Session 1
Information Session 2: Sunday, October 11, 2026 • 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET
Register in advance for Session 2
Information Session 3: Saturday, November 21 • 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET
Register in advance for Session 3
Do I need to apply directly to Case Western Reserve University at this point?
No. Only candidates that are accepted into the program make an official application to Case Western Reserve University. At this point you are only required to fill in the audition request form located on this page.
Can I get feedback for my audition?
Unfortunately, due to the number of candidates, it is not possible to provide individual feedback either at the time of your audition or at a later date.
For any further questions and information, please contact Donald Carrier.
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The Allen, Helen and Outcalt theatres are located at Playhouse Square
1407 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115
Administrative Offices and Education Center
1901 E. 13th Street, Suite 200 Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 400-7000
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7401 Shoreway Commerce Parkway, Cleveland, OH 44103
