University of Washington PATP

The University of Washington's Professional Actor Training Program (PATP) is one of the most respected and selective MFA acting programs in the United States, with a history dating back to 1963 when it was established within the UW School of Drama — itself one of the oldest degree-granting drama programs in the country, founded in 1940. The PATP has earned a formidable reputation for producing exceptionally versatile, technically accomplished theater artists who are prepared for the demands of classical and contemporary professional work at the highest levels. The program is based in Seattle, a city with one of the richest professional theater ecosystems in America, home to major regional companies including Seattle Repertory Theatre, ACT Theatre (A Contemporary Theatre), Intiman Theatre, and dozens of smaller companies that collectively make Seattle one of the largest theater markets outside New York. The PATP's acceptance rate is approximately 0.9%, admitting roughly 10 students from over 1,100 applicants in each admissions cycle — a selectivity that rivals the most competitive graduate programs in any discipline. Notable alumni include Jean Smart (Hacks, Designing Women, Mare of Easttown), Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, Dune), and numerous other actors who have built substantial careers in theater, film, and television. The program admits cohorts approximately every three years, and as of 2025, the PATP is not accepting applications until the Fall 2027 admissions cycle, meaning prospective students should plan accordingly.

In 2025, the PATP operates as a three-year MFA program that is widely regarded as one of the strongest graduate actor training programs on the West Coast and among the top tier nationally. The program's training philosophy emphasizes the development of the complete actor — technically proficient, imaginatively free, intellectually engaged, and physically expressive — through a curriculum that integrates classical and contemporary acting technique, voice and speech, movement and physical theater, Alexander Technique, and on-camera work. What distinguishes the PATP from many MFA programs is the depth and rigor of its classical training, with extensive work on Shakespeare and other heightened text that produces actors who can handle the most demanding material in the theatrical canon. The program's connection to Seattle's professional theater community is not abstract — students regularly interact with working professionals, attend professional productions as part of their training, and build relationships that often lead to professional work during and after their studies. The PATP's intimate cohort size of approximately 10 students per class ensures that every student receives intensive, personalized training from a distinguished faculty. The three-year structure allows for a depth of development that shorter programs cannot achieve, with the final year heavily focused on advanced performance and the transition to professional work. The program's combination of elite selectivity, rigorous classical training, and integration with a major professional theater market creates a training experience that is unique in American graduate actor education.

Admission to the PATP is extraordinarily competitive, with an acceptance rate of approximately 0.9% — roughly 10 students are selected from over 1,100 applicants in each admissions cycle. The application process requires a graduate school application through the University of Washington, a resume, headshot, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and an artistic audition that is the primary factor in admission decisions. Auditions typically require two contrasting classical monologues (Shakespeare or equivalent heightened text) and may include callbacks with cold readings, movement work, and extended interviews with faculty. The program admits cohorts approximately every three years, and as of 2025, the next admissions cycle is not expected until Fall 2027 — prospective applicants should monitor the UW School of Drama website for official announcements about application timelines. The PATP seeks actors who demonstrate exceptional talent, range, intellectual curiosity, physical expressiveness, and the capacity for deep classical work, as well as the collaborative spirit and personal maturity needed to thrive in the intensity of a three-year cohort-based program. Prior professional experience is valued but not required — the program has admitted actors at various career stages, from recent college graduates to working professionals seeking artistic transformation. The extreme selectivity means that even highly talented actors may not be admitted, and applicants should have backup plans and consider applying to multiple programs.

The three-year MFA curriculum is structured as a progressive, intensive training sequence that develops actors from foundational technique through advanced professional-level performance. The first year establishes core skills in acting technique, voice and speech (including Linklater and other methodologies), movement (including Alexander Technique, which is a hallmark of the PATP approach), and stage combat, building the physical, vocal, and imaginative instrument that will carry students through the remainder of the program. The second year deepens the work with classical text analysis and performance (with particular emphasis on Shakespeare), advanced scene study, dialect work, and increasingly demanding performance assignments that challenge students to apply their growing technique to complex material. The third year is heavily performance-focused, with students taking on major roles in School of Drama productions and beginning the transition to professional work through showcases, industry connections, and career planning. Throughout all three years, students perform in School of Drama productions alongside undergraduate students, with PATP students typically cast in the most demanding roles. The Alexander Technique training, which is integrated throughout the curriculum rather than treated as a separate elective, is a distinctive feature that produces actors with extraordinary physical awareness, ease of movement, and freedom from habitual tension. The program also provides opportunities for students to engage with Seattle's professional theater community through workshops, masterclasses, and attendance at professional productions.

The PATP attracts exceptional actors from across the country and internationally, drawn by the program's elite reputation, the strength of its classical training, and the opportunity to train in one of America's most vibrant theater cities. Alumni include Jean Smart, whose Emmy-winning work in Hacks and critically acclaimed performances in Watchmen and Mare of Easttown have made her one of the most celebrated actors of her generation, and Kyle MacLachlan, whose iconic roles in Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and Desperate Housewives demonstrate the range that PATP training develops. The program has produced hundreds of working professional actors who perform on Broadway, in major regional theaters, in film and television, and in international productions. The PATP student body is typically diverse in age, background, and experience — the cohort model means that the 10 students admitted in each cycle may range from recent college graduates to actors with decades of professional experience, creating a rich ensemble dynamic. The Seattle theater community, which is among the strongest in the country, provides a professional ecosystem where PATP students and graduates can build sustainable careers without necessarily relocating to New York or Los Angeles. The PATP's reputation within the professional theater world is exceptional — artistic directors, casting directors, and fellow actors recognize the quality of PATP training, and the program's graduates are sought after by major companies nationwide.

Tuition at the University of Washington for the 2025-2026 academic year is approximately $22,497 per year for Washington state residents and $39,204 per year for non-residents, with graduate teaching assistantships available that provide tuition waivers and stipends to offset costs significantly. The PATP typically offers some form of financial support to admitted students, reflecting the university's understanding that attracting the most talented actors requires reducing the financial barriers to attendance. The total cost of attendance including housing and living expenses in Seattle is approximately $35,000-$40,000 per year for residents and $50,000-$55,000 for non-residents before financial aid, though assistantship support can reduce these figures substantially. Compared to private university MFA programs that charge $50,000-$80,000 per year, the PATP offers exceptional value — particularly for Washington state residents, for whom the three-year total cost before aid is comparable to a single year at some private programs. Seattle's cost of living has risen significantly in recent years, driven by the tech industry's impact on housing costs, but remains lower than New York City or San Francisco. Students should communicate directly with the School of Drama's admissions and financial aid offices to understand the full range of available support before making enrollment decisions. The combination of a top-tier MFA education with public university tuition rates makes the PATP one of the best values in American graduate actor training.

The PATP is one of the finest MFA acting programs in the country, and for actors who are accepted, it represents an extraordinary opportunity to train at the highest level with an elite cohort of peers in one of America's best theater cities. If you are drawn to classical theater, value rigorous technical training, and want to develop as a complete stage actor in an intimate, intensive program, the PATP should be among your top choices — but you must plan your application timeline around the every-three-years admissions cycle, with the next opportunity expected in Fall 2027. The program is particularly well-suited for actors who want to build careers in professional regional theater rather than exclusively pursuing commercial work in film and television. If you cannot wait for the next PATP admissions cycle, comparable programs to consider include Yale School of Drama, the Old Globe/USD MFA, UC San Diego, and the University of Delaware's PTTP. For actors who want West Coast training with more frequent admissions, CalArts and the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco offer MFA programs with annual enrollment. If you are primarily interested in on-camera work, programs with stronger film/TV components like USC or NYU may be a better fit than the PATP's theater-focused curriculum.

If you are planning to apply to the PATP in the Fall 2027 cycle, use the intervening time to deepen your classical training — work on Shakespeare extensively, study verse structure and scansion, and build a repertoire of classical monologues that showcase your ability to handle heightened text with both technical precision and emotional truth. The Alexander Technique is central to the PATP training methodology, so beginning Alexander work before you apply will both strengthen your audition and give you a head start on the program's physical approach. Attend professional theater in Seattle and elsewhere to develop your eye for the level of work the PATP aims to produce, and build relationships with the Seattle theater community that will serve you during and after your training. Prepare more audition material than the minimum requirement so you can adjust your choices based on the audition environment and any specific requests from the faculty panel. Research the faculty and their artistic philosophies so you can speak knowledgeably about why the PATP's specific approach to training appeals to you. Apply to multiple strong MFA programs alongside the PATP, as the extreme selectivity means that even extraordinary actors may not be admitted, and you should have strong alternatives available regardless of the outcome.