University of Hawaii at Manoa

What you'll study

The PhD in Drama combines rigorous scholarly research with supported practice-based inquiry. Doctoral students undertake advanced coursework in theatre history and theory, performance studies, dramaturgy, ethnography of performance, directing and pedagogy, while developing an original dissertation that contributes to knowledge in theatre and performance. Research concentrations commonly include Pacific and Asian theatre, Indigenous and vernacular performance forms, performance and social change, theatre criticism, and intercultural performance.

Programme structure typically involves a period of taught and seminar coursework, comprehensive or qualifying examinations, a language or research skills requirement where relevant, and the production of a sustained dissertation. Many candidates also pursue practice-based projects or creative dissertations (such as a production with accompanying exegesis) when appropriate to their research questions.

• Core topics: theatre history and historiography, contemporary performance theory, research methodologies for performance, dramaturgy and criticism.
• Advanced options: Pacific and Asian performance traditions, Indigenous performance practices, performance ethnography, directing and production studies, digital performance and new media.
• Research training: archival methods, oral history, ethnographic fieldwork, performance documentation and critical writing.
• Professional development: pedagogy seminars for future tertiary teachers, grant-writing and arts administration workshops, and opportunities to gain supervised teaching experience.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a relevant master's degree (MA, MFA or equivalent) in theatre, performance studies, or a closely related field, with a strong academic record. Exceptional applicants with substantial professional theatre experience and an appropriate portfolio may be considered.

• Academic transcripts demonstrating graduate-level preparation in theatre or related disciplines.
• A detailed research proposal that identifies a clear project, methodology and potential faculty supervisors.
• A writing sample or academic paper; practice-based applicants may submit a portfolio or recording plus a reflective exegesis.
• Letters of recommendation (typically two or three) from academic or professional referees who can speak to research potential and readiness for doctoral study.
• A curriculum vitae outlining relevant training, productions, publications and teaching experience.

Applicants should consult department guidance about language requirements, residency expectations and any preparatory study that may be recommended for specific research concentrations.

Career prospects

Graduates of the PhD in Drama pursue a range of careers that leverage advanced expertise in theatre and performance. Many take up academic posts in universities and colleges as lecturers, researchers or programme leaders. Others move into leadership roles in theatres, cultural organisations, museums and festivals where research-informed practice, curatorial skills and community engagement are valued.

• University and college teaching and research positions in theatre, performance studies and related humanities subjects.
• Arts leadership, programming and curation for theatres, festivals and cultural institutions—particularly those engaging with Pacific, Asian and Indigenous performance.
• Creative practice careers as directors, dramaturgs, playwrights and performance-makers working at a professional and research level.
• Research positions in cultural policy, heritage organisations, archives and museums, including roles that involve documentation and preservation of performance traditions.
• Community arts development, education and outreach roles that draw on skills in applied theatre and participatory performance.

Why study at University of Hawaii at Manoa

The University of Hawaii at Manoa offers a distinctive environment for doctoral study in drama, situated in a culturally rich Pacific region with close access to Indigenous, Asian and Pacific Island performance traditions. The Department of Theatre & Dance is known for its interdisciplinary approach and for integrating practice, scholarship and community engagement.

Students benefit from faculty expertise across areas such as Pacific and Asian performance, ethnodrama and applied theatre, and from collaboration with related units and centres on campus. Facilities include dedicated performance spaces and production resources that support both research and staged work, as well as library and archival collections relevant to regional performance histories. The university's location and community partnerships provide unique opportunities for field research, archival work and collaborative projects with cultural practitioners.