The Hollywood Reporter Just Ranked Case Western's MFA Program Among the Top 25 Worldwide

Case Western Reserve University boasts itself as one of the world's leading research universities, landing at No. 37 National University by U.S. News. So it may seem unlikely that getting into its Master of Fine Arts acting program would be like “hitting the acting school lottery.”

But that is exactly what The Hollywood Reporter wrote Monday morning. Based on input from industry professionals, school alumni, seasoned instructors and innovative theatrical training experts, the Case Western Reserve University / Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program secured the No. 18 spot in THR’s annual 25 Best Drama Schools for an Acting Degree ranking, ahead of American Conservatory Theater and UC Irvine.

The Cleveland program itself is quite rigorous. Those one percent of applicants admitted can expect to receive three years of tuition-waived acting training, a generous annual living stipend, including free healthcare and opportunities to act in professional productions at the Cleveland Play House, as well as opportunities to work through class projects at the complex. Those completing the program successfully even get every professional actor’s dream: Actors’ Equity Association membership.

No list of rankings is perfect, but it’s still a lovely change of pace to see CWRU listed in the same place as Juilliard School. It seems like the Cleveland theater scene gets better known everyday.

Take a look at this video to see what the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program is all about.

CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program from Cleveland Play House on Vimeo.