National Theater Institute Program
Program Overview
George Fox’s theatre students may apply to study at the O'Neill Center in Waterford, Connecticut, for one semester through a cooperative agreement with the National Theater Institute. This 14-week study away program is offered twice a year, in the fall and spring.
This rigorous, conservatory-based approach to theatre training exposes students to a broad range of theatre styles and techniques. Coursework is rooted in five primary disciplines: acting, directing, labyrinthine, design and movement and voice.
Admission to NTI is competitive; applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance of the deadlines (please note that it is only offered in the fall).
Course Content
Classes are held seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a 7:30 a.m. warm-up six days a week.
- Acting: You will be trained in a wide range of acting techniques and styles by core instructors and visiting artists. Classes concentrate on improving your craft as an actor and on strengthening your intelligence and imagination as an artist.
In-depth scene study covers a variety of plays and periods: from Shakespeare to Sam Shepard; Moliere to Arthur Miller; and Chekhov to Charles L. Mee. Guest artists teach specific workshops in improvisation, ensemble-generated theatre, auditioning, and acting for the camera. - Directing: All students direct scenes and short performance pieces during the semester. You not only learn the basic skills of directing through table-work and practical exercises, you also practice being a confident artistic leader that is adaptable to the needs of the script, the space and the actors in the room.
Although the emphasis is on directing scenes from classic and contemporary plays, students also direct found texts, group-generated plays and choreographic scores. - Labyrinthine: Through a variety of projects reflecting the range of contemporary theater, you develop skills as a playwright and a play-listener. The work of the class is active listening as each week’s assignment is read aloud and discussed by the group.
Assignments range from kitchen-sink American realism, to abstract themes, to radio plays and musicals. The course culminates in Playwrights Week, dedicated to readings and staged readings of student plays. - Design: In this course celebrating the power of visual theater through exploration of a classical and a contemporary play, students are encouraged to explore the individual perceptions and interpretations of text in physical form and are challenged to find clear ways to communicate visually. A practical lab is provided in conjunction with the class to develop visual presentation skills.
- Movement & Voice: This course covers both vocal technique and production, along with dance and movement techniques. Movement classes include Tai Chi, Droznin Russian movement, biomechanics, yoga, improvisation, dance and stage combat. Voice classes include Linklater method, dialect work and singing.
Excursions
Two weeks of the semester are spent abroad. The fall ensemble trains with Complicite, based in the United Kingdom and regarded as one of Europe’s most important theater companies. Its award-winning productions of classics and group-devised pieces tour around the world.
Housing
Six dormitory cottages are each home to approximately a dozen students in double or single rooms. All rooms include beds, desks, dressers and closets and are fully accessible. Each floor has private bathrooms and shower rooms. Every cottage has a common living space to study, socialize or even stage a scene. Three meals a day are served on-site by our resident chefs.
Program Fees & Eligibility
You pay your regular George Fox tuition and room and board and continue to receive all of your financial aid. Due to the high cost of some programs, an additional fee may be charged. You are responsible for round-trip airfare. The fee does include emergency travel insurance.
To apply, you must be a full-time undergraduate student with junior or senior status, holding a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
Application Process
Applying to the program is a two-step process, requiring that you complete both a George Fox and external site application. Visit the Application Page to get specific details. Once you’ve completed the George Fox application, we will provide you with information to apply to the National Theater Institute.