Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Scholars are chosen for their abilities, intelligence, talent, and dedication. They are viewed as representatives of the best the Department of Theatre has to offer. CAPA scholarships cover full in-state tuition and mandatory fees and are awarded on a semester basis. They are renewable for up to eight semesters of full time undergraduate study. Renewal is based upon an acceptable level of participation in both the academic and the production programs of the Department of Theatre. CAPA scholars must apply to renew their scholarship on December 1st and May 1st each year. The renewal application consists of (1) the students’ current resume and (2) a form indicating how the student continues to meet the obligations of a CAPA scholar. CAPA scholars are notified of the renewal (or withdrawal) of their scholarship within 10 working days of the distribution for final grades.

Along with accepting the responsibility of embodying the high standards of the Department of Theatre, CAPA Scholars accept the following obligations:

1. Attend the University of Maryland at College Park to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree as a Theatre major and earn at least twelve credits each semester.

2. Maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Any CAPA scholar whose average falls below this average will be put on probation for the following semester and may not participate in theatre productions during that time. If the scholars’ cumulative GPA has not returned to at least a 3.0 by the end of that semester the CAPA scholarship cannot be renewed. No CAPA scholar may be on probation more than once.

3. Be aware of, and attend all meetings called by the Department of Theatre’s Scholarship Coordinator. Work on the scholarship auditions that take place on or before the start of spring semester each year, and assist on all projects designated by the Scholarship Coordinator as being important to the maintenance of the scholarship program.

4. Make a significant contribution to the production program of the Department of Theatre every semester. CAPA scholars must work on a crew (for which they may also receive THET 479 credit - or THET 279 for Freshmen) or they must perform (for which they can also receive THET 429 credit) each semester that they are on scholarship. (Paid Work-ship time, laboratory work for other theatre courses, and participation in student productions will not fulfill this obligation except when scholarship recipients are chosen by the faculty to direct in the Laboratory Theatre Season.) Students in the new curriculum who are not in a specific track will follow these guidelines according to how they auditioned for their CAPA scholarship.

a.) Recipients of scholarships in the design and technical areas must apply for production positions each semester until they are assigned a task.

b.) Recipients of scholarships in the performance area must audition for roles in every production of the University Theatre Season until they are cast. Performance students who do not sing and/or dance are allowed to audition with a monologue for Musical productions. Recipients not chosen to work in their area of specialization must seek another area of participation that semester. Performance students not cast in a given semester must fulfill their CAPA obligation by working in a production position.

5. Get approval from the Department of Theatre’s Scholarship Coordinator and the Department’s Chair before doing any theatre work outside the Department.

6. The Scholarship Coordinator is obligated to report any CAPA scholar who fails to meet these obligations to the Chair of the Department of Theatre who has the authority to withdraw the CAPA scholarship immediately.

7. CAPA scholars may apply for the following exemptions from their obligation "to make a significant contribution to the production program of the Department of Theatre every semester".

a.) Any CAPA scholarship recipient who finds a script or a proposal for a production offensive to his or her personal beliefs may discuss the matter either with the Scholarship Coordinator or with the director of the production in question in order to secure a waiver from participation.

b.) Any CAPA scholarship recipient who has had a CAPA award for at least six semesters may apply to be exempt from production duties for one semester. To do this, the recipient must secure the application form from the Scholarship Coordinator, fill it out, and submit it - before auditions are held or the crews selected for shows scheduled during the semester he/she wishes to have off. (Remember, casting decisions and crew assignments are generally finalized the semester before the production is scheduled to open.) If the application is accepted, the Scholarship Coordinator will inform the directors (or designers/technical director) that the student will be unavailable for the coming semester and will keep records verifying the one semester exemption from production work. Students with this exemption may not participate in any theatre production work on or off campus except that which is part of a specific class requirement. This exemption is a privilege, not a right, and each possible exemption will be judged on the individual merits of the student applying. This exemption does not apply to any of the other obligations of the CAPA scholarship.

c.) Any CAPA scholarship recipient, who is in good standing and has had a CAPA award for at least four semesters, who chooses to do a junior year semester abroad - may apply to be exempt from production duties for one semester. To do this, the recipient must secure the application form from the Scholarship Coordinator, fill it out, and submit it before auditions are held or the crews selected for shows scheduled during the semester he/she wishes to have off. (Remember, casting decisions and crew assignments are generally finalized the semester before the production is scheduled to open.) If the application is accepted, the Scholarship Coordinator will inform the directors (or designers/technical director) that the student will be unavailable for the coming semester and will keep records verifying the one semester exemption from production work. Students with this exemption may not participate in any theatre production work on or off campus except that which is part of a specific class requirement. This exemption is a privilege, not a right, and each possible exemption will be judged on the individual merits of the student applying. This exemption does not apply to any of the other obligations of the CAPA scholarship.

(Revised 09/04)

Contact us via email with questions, comments and feedback, or call us at 301-405-6676.
Department of Theatre, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-1610