Membership

Advancing Professional Theatre Training Together

URTA members are the backbone of our organization and essential partners in our mission to strengthen and advance professional theatre training. Our member institutions share a commitment to excellence in graduate theatre education, professional standards, and fair and ethical recruiting—helping prepare the next generation of theatre artists and professionals for meaningful, sustainable careers.

What is an URTA Member?

URTA membership represents a commitment to providing students with the faculty, facilities, resources, technology, and professional experiences necessary to reach the full potential of their graduate training.

Member institutions demonstrate this commitment in several important ways:

Excellence in Graduate Training

Members offer one or more terminal degree programs, such as the MFA–or, as in the UK, the MA–in theatre with the faculty, resources, and collaborative opportunities necessary to provide rigorous professional training and support students as they prepare to enter the field.

Accomplished Faculty & Professional Practice

Members retain accomplished faculty with professional credentials and encourage their continued creative work and research. Students also gain exposure to professional practice through resident theatre partnerships, guest artists and practitioners, or other meaningful connections to the profession.

Resources That Support Student Success

Members provide quality facilities and the essential resources and technology students need to fully engage in their training.

Most URTA member programs also provide financial assistance to graduate students through paid assistantships, tuition remission, scholarships, stipends, or a combination of these forms of support.

Integrity & Ethical Recruiting

Members uphold the URTA Code of Ethics and are committed to a fair and honest recruiting process grounded in integrity and respect—for prospective and current students, faculty, fellow institutions, professional artists, and the audiences we serve.

Connection to the Profession

URTA members recognize that graduate training is part of a larger professional ecosystem. They create opportunities for students to encounter professional practices and practitioners while contributing to the continued growth and advancement of the American theatre.