Graduate Schools Beware…
I’ve just received my scheduling information for the U/RTA NUA/I’s in Chicago this February.
For those of you unfamiliar with the alphabet soup that is the vast array of theatrical associations and organizations, U/RTA is the University / Resident Theatre Association. A great deal of the grad programs for theatre in the U.S. are members, as well as a good number of the non colelge-associated resident theatres and a handful of theatre festivals. Among other things, U/RTA arranges the NUA/I’s every year (National Unified Auditions / Interviews), which are invaluable for students seeking placement in MFA programs.
Meanwhile, U/RTA should not be confused with the UPTA’s – the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions. These auditions bring together a lot of the major employers of theatrical professionals for one set of auditions, and they are of great significance to pre-professionals looking for a way into the theatre. U/RTA’s are for those who want their MFA’s, UPTA’s are for those who want a job.
This is in addition to the SETC’s (Southeastern Theatre Conference) where both MFA programs and professional groups from the Southeast audition, the NETC’s (New England Theatre Conference) where theatres from New England audition, the MWTA’s (Midwest Theatre Auditions) and so on and so forth. All in an endless quest for MFA’s, AEA cards, SAG and AFTRA memberships, and the like. Sometimes I think the only sector with more acronyms is the federal government.
Theatre: It’s a whole other alphabet.