This is a Test is a workshop venue for emerging Theatre Program student work. Projects take the form of new play development (where a new play, musical, or devised work is given focused development time) or performance practice as research inquiries (where an artist uses the practice of performing as a way of answering a research question). 

Projects are approved by the theatre program faculty prior to the spring semester, and are selected based on the following criteria:

Represent diverse or underrepresented narratives/created by diverse voices.
Create conversations that further equity and social justice.
Present creative possibilities for imagining with limited space, scenic, and technical elements.
Ambitious in imagination, physicality and scope, but also dexterous and adaptable.

Approved artists are project leaders, integral to the development and rehearsal of their proposal. They are invited to collaborate with faculty supervisor and facilitator, Laura Standley, alongside students of MCLATheatreLAB, who form a collaborative team of theatre artists focused on expanding their expectations of what is possible in play-making. 

This is a Test is a dedicated space where students explore theatrical ideas in an experimental, collaborative way. Emphasis is on process rather than outcome. The hierarchy of the project is flat, where students take on multiple roles aligned with their  interests, working in an organic and group dialogue oriented way. In rehearsal, students are encouraged to test not just acting and directing ideas, but any idea, including plot, space, content, and movement. 

In the intimate, liberal arts college setting of MCLA, the study of theatre cultivates critical thinking and a spirit of inquiry. Innovative courses and student learning opportunities give students the chance to explore ideas and take intellectual and creative risks while developing essential values such as collaboration and leadership.

MCLA Theatre's vigorous production season provides strong student, faculty, and community interaction, as well as a variety of excellent educational and cultural experiences. The program explores theory alongside experiential learning to develop innovative theatre artists prepared for careers and graduate study. Through the unique, multi-disciplinary art form of Theatre, students prepare for sustainable creative lives.

For more information, see our website.