Florida State/Asolo Rep MFA

Florida State University's Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training is one of the most distinctive MFA acting programs in the United States, operating as a three-year graduate program based not on the FSU main campus in Tallahassee but in Sarasota, Florida, in a unique partnership with the Asolo Repertory Theatre — one of the premier LORT (League of Resident Theatres) regional companies in the country. The Conservatory was established in 1973 as a collaboration between FSU's School of Theatre and the Asolo Rep, creating a training model in which graduate actors learn their craft within a working professional theater company rather than in a purely academic environment. This partnership has made the FSU/Asolo Conservatory a singular institution in American actor training — no other MFA program offers the same level of integration with a major professional repertory theater. The program was named one of the top 25 drama schools in the world by The Hollywood Reporter in 2019, reflecting its growing national and international reputation. The Conservatory admits only 10-12 students per year from over 1,000 auditions nationwide, resulting in an acceptance rate of approximately 1%, making it one of the most selective MFA programs in the country. In September 2025, Marcus Denard Johnson, a Class of 2008 graduate, was appointed the new Director of the Conservatory, continuing the program's tradition of alumni leadership and artistic continuity.

In 2025, the FSU/Asolo Conservatory operates as a fully funded three-year MFA program that blends intensive classroom training with professional performance experience in ways that most graduate programs cannot replicate. The program's defining feature is its structural integration with the Asolo Repertory Theatre — students do not merely observe professional productions or occasionally participate; they are embedded within the company's operations, culminating in third-year students performing full-time in Asolo Rep's professional season alongside Equity actors, earning real LORT credits on their resumes before they graduate. The second year includes training in London, with all costs including tuition and housing fully funded by the program, providing international exposure and the opportunity to study British theatrical traditions firsthand. What makes the Asolo model transformative is that graduates enter the professional world not as untested beginners but as actors with genuine professional credits, audience experience, and the working knowledge of how a major regional theater company operates from the inside. The Sarasota location places students in a vibrant Gulf Coast arts community that includes the Ringling Museum, multiple performing arts venues, and a growing cultural scene that supports the training experience. The program attracts faculty who are working professionals with deep connections to the regional theater world, and the Asolo Rep's artistic staff provides additional mentorship and professional guidance throughout the three years. The Conservatory's track record of placing graduates in professional work is strong, with alumni working on Broadway, in major regional theaters, in film, and in television across the country.

Admission to the FSU/Asolo Conservatory is extraordinarily competitive, with approximately 10-12 students selected from over 1,000 auditions conducted at sites nationwide each year, resulting in an acceptance rate of approximately 1%. The audition process typically requires two contrasting monologues and may include callbacks with cold readings, physical work, and interviews with faculty and Asolo Rep artistic staff. Auditions are held at multiple locations around the country, and the program actively seeks a diverse range of actors in terms of age, background, ethnicity, and experience. The Conservatory looks for actors who demonstrate exceptional talent, range, emotional depth, physical expressiveness, and the maturity to thrive in a demanding three-year program that requires both rigorous academic training and professional-level performance. Prior professional experience is valued but not required — the program has admitted actors from a wide range of backgrounds, from recent college graduates to mid-career professionals seeking artistic transformation. Applicants must also be admitted to the FSU Graduate School, which requires standard academic credentials including transcripts and letters of recommendation. The extreme selectivity means that even highly talented actors face very long odds, and prospective applicants should apply to multiple programs while understanding that an Asolo Conservatory acceptance represents an exceptional opportunity.

The three-year MFA curriculum is structured as a progressive training arc that moves from foundational technique through advanced application to full professional integration with the Asolo Repertory Theatre. The first year focuses on core acting technique, voice and speech (including Linklater methodology), movement and physical theater, stage combat, text analysis, and theater history, building the technical foundation that will support professional-level work in subsequent years. The second year includes advanced training in London, where students study British acting traditions, attend professional theater extensively, and deepen their classical text work — all with costs fully covered by the program. The third year is the Conservatory's most distinctive phase: students perform full-time in Asolo Rep's professional season, appearing in major productions alongside Equity company members and guest artists, gaining the performance experience, audience awareness, and professional discipline that define working actors. Throughout all three years, students develop skills in on-camera technique, dialect work, audition preparation, and the business of acting that prepare them for the practical realities of a professional career. The curriculum also includes opportunities to work with visiting guest directors, designers, and artists who bring diverse perspectives and industry connections to the training. The integration of academic rigor with professional practice makes the Asolo Conservatory curriculum genuinely unique among American MFA programs.

The FSU/Asolo Conservatory attracts actors who are drawn to the unique opportunity to earn an MFA while gaining genuine professional theater experience within a working LORT company. The program's alumni include Juan Javier Cardenas, known for roles in The Walking Dead, S.W.A.T., Snowfall, and Gordita Chronicles, along with hundreds of other working professionals who perform on Broadway, in major regional theaters, in film, and in television. The Conservatory's graduates are particularly well-regarded in the regional theater world, where artistic directors and casting directors know the quality of Asolo training and actively seek out its alumni. The student body is typically diverse in age and experience, united by a shared commitment to the craft of acting and a willingness to immerse themselves in the intensive three-year program. The Sarasota arts community provides a supportive environment for graduate actors, with a cultural scene that punches above its weight for a mid-sized Florida city. The Asolo Conservatory's intimate class size of 10-12 students per year creates an unusually close-knit cohort dynamic, with classmates who train, perform, and grow together over three years often maintaining professional collaborations long after graduation. The program's connection to the Asolo Repertory Theatre means that students build professional relationships not just with fellow students and faculty but with working Equity actors, directors, and designers who can open doors to professional opportunities.

The FSU/Asolo Conservatory provides full tuition waivers and graduate assistantships with stipends to all admitted MFA students, making the program effectively free for accepted actors — an extraordinary value that removes the financial barriers that prevent many talented actors from pursuing top-tier graduate training. The assistantship requires approximately 20 hours per week of work within the Conservatory and Asolo Rep operations, providing additional professional experience alongside the training. The second-year London program is also fully funded, including tuition, housing, and program costs, eliminating what would otherwise be a significant additional expense. FSU's base graduate tuition is approximately $11,100 per year for Florida residents and $32,400 per year for non-residents, but because all admitted students receive full tuition waivers, these figures are largely academic — the actual out-of-pocket cost is minimal. The Sarasota cost of living is moderate by coastal Florida standards, with housing and everyday expenses significantly lower than Miami, New York, or Los Angeles, making it feasible for graduate students to live comfortably on their stipends. Compared to private university MFA programs that charge $50,000-$80,000 per year with limited funding, the Asolo Conservatory's fully funded model represents one of the best financial values in American graduate actor training. The combination of free tuition, a living stipend, professional LORT credits, and London training makes the total value package of this program difficult to match anywhere in the country.

The FSU/Asolo Conservatory is an outstanding choice for actors who want the rare opportunity to earn an MFA while gaining genuine professional LORT credits within a working repertory company — this singular feature makes the program worth serious consideration for any actor committed to a career in professional theater. If you are drawn to the idea of learning your craft not just in a classroom but on a professional stage in front of paying audiences alongside Equity actors, the Asolo model offers something that no other MFA program in the country can replicate. The full funding, London training, and professional integration make the total value package exceptional. The program is particularly well-suited for actors who envision careers in regional theater, Broadway, and classical performance. Actors whose primary ambition is film and television work should consider MFA programs in New York or Los Angeles that provide stronger screen industry connections. If the Asolo's approximately 1% acceptance rate makes admission unlikely, comparable theater-focused MFA programs to consider include Yale, the University of Washington PATP, the Old Globe/USD program, and the University of Delaware PTTP.

Prepare for the audition by developing a range of monologue material that showcases your emotional depth, technical command, and versatility — the Conservatory sees over 1,000 auditions per year and the faculty can quickly identify actors with genuine potential versus those performing by rote. Research the Asolo Repertory Theatre's recent seasons and artistic direction so you can speak knowledgeably about why this specific program — with its professional theater integration — appeals to you as an artist. If possible, visit Sarasota and attend an Asolo Rep production before your audition to see the quality of work the company produces and to familiarize yourself with the community where you would spend three years. Understand that the third-year professional season experience is the program's most distinctive asset — approach every aspect of your first two years of training as preparation for performing at a professional level in front of paying audiences. Build your physical stamina and vocal health before entering the program, as the combination of intensive classroom training and professional performance demands is rigorous. Connect with Asolo Conservatory alumni who can provide firsthand perspective on the program's culture, demands, and the professional opportunities that follow graduation — the alumni community is tight-knit and generally generous with mentorship.