mfa thesis novel

Ian M. Rogers

My name’s Ian M. Rogers and this is my awesome website. As my passion, I write cool, funny literary novels. To pay the bills, I work as an Editor and Writing Coach.

I also lived in Japan for a long time, teaching first on the JET Program, then at Kanagawa University in Yokohama.

(Also, you definitely shouldn’t confuse me with the other Ian Rogers , the Canadian writer of dark fiction and supernatural noir. Don’t forget the M!)

MFA Thesis Novel

If you have ever wondered what would happen if Joseph Heller had gone to a not particularly distinguished MFA program instead of Italy and World War Two… Annabel Davis-Goff, author of Walled Gardens

Check out MFA Thesis Novel , my awesome satire of grad school and creative writing workshops! You can also support me as an indie author by ordering a signed copy through my webstore and get a FREE limited edition bookmark!

But I Also Have a Day Job

Building a creative career isn’t easy. On But I Also Have a Day Job I blog about balancing my creative work with keeping the bills paid, and interview cool creative people about how they got where they are.

Need an Editor?

As an Editor and Writing Coach I help fiction writers and academics through the pitfalls of the writing process. Whether you need a second eye for your novel or journal article or want to talk ideas over Zoom, I’ll help make your writing the very best it can be.

Read more about my Editing and Writing Coach work here (even though I kind of dislike the term Writing Coach, which sounds too much like a sports thing…).

Keep in Touch!

Sign up for my awesome email newsletter and I’ll you send you updates and other cool stuff!

• Find a Library
• Browse Collections
• MFA Thesis Novel

By Ian M. Rogers

Add Book To Favorites

Is this your library?

Sign up to save your library.

With an OverDrive account, you can save your favorite libraries for at-a-glance information about availability. Find out more about OverDrive accounts.

Ian M. Rogers

Vine Leaves Press

19 April 2022

Find this title in Libby, the library reading app by OverDrive.

Search for a digital library with this title

Title found at these libraries:.

Creative ne're-do-well Flip Montcalm isn't cut out for office life, so he jumps at the chance to join an MFA program in the rural Midwest. Broke and infatuated with the 20th century literary canon, he alienates his writing workshop with five hundred pages of existential dread, can't name a single player on the university football team, and is actively trying to steal a rival writer's girlfriend.

Flip needs a new novel idea fast, so he turns to his cohorts for help: a career PhD student who hasn't written in a decade, a professor with no opinions, a narcissist whose novels read like action movies, and a frat boy underplaying his suburban privilege. As he fights off academic conformity and obsessive football fans, Flip faces the challenge of writing a novel that'll not only satisfy his artistic passions, but might even get him a better job.

A delicious romp through the smudged halls of academe, this book will make you laugh out loud, as pretenders, druggies, hapless romantics, and the slightly talented do battle in fiction, trying to invent a book that will save them from the fate of ordinary life.

MFA Thesis Novel

Description.

Creative ne're-do-well Flip Montcalm isn't cut out for office life, so he jumps at the chance to join an MFA program in the rural Midwest. Broke and infatuated with the 20th century literary canon, he alienates his writing workshop with five hundred pages of existential dread, can't name a single player on the university football team, and is actively trying to steal a rival writer's girlfriend.

Flip needs a new novel idea fast, so he turns to his cohorts for help: a career PhD student who hasn't written in a decade, a professor with no opinions, a narcissist whose novels read like action movies, and a frat boy underplaying his suburban privilege. As he fights off academic conformity and obsessive football fans, Flip faces the challenge of writing a novel that'll not only satisfy his artistic passions, but might even get him a better job.

A delicious romp through the smudged halls of academe, this book will make you laugh out loud, as pretenders, druggies, hapless romantics, and the slightly talented do battle in fiction, trying to invent a book that will save them from the fate of ordinary life.

You May Also Like

Lonely Planet An Innocent Abroad 1: Life-Changing Trips from 35 Great Writers (Lonely Planet Travel Literature)

Loving Corrections (Emergent Strategy #12)

All About Love: New Visions (Love Song to the Nation #1)

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book #1)

Your cart is empty

Have an account?

Log in to check out faster.

50% OFF FIRST MONTH

• Russia (USD $)

MFA Thesis Novel

Ian M. Rogers

Description

Creative ne're-do-well Flip Montcalm isn't cut out for office life, so he jumps at the chance to join an MFA program in the rural Midwest. Broke and infatuated with the 20th century literary canon, he alienates his writing workshop with five hundred pages of existential dread, can't name a single player on the university football team, and is actively trying to steal a rival writer's girlfriend.

Flip needs a new novel idea fast, so he turns to his cohorts for help: a career PhD student who hasn't written in a decade, a professor with no opinions, a narcissist whose novels read like action movies, and a frat boy underplaying his suburban privilege. As he fights off academic conformity and obsessive football fans, Flip faces the challenge of writing a novel that'll not only satisfy his artistic passions, but might even get him a better job.

A delicious romp through the smudged halls of academe, this book will make you laugh out loud, as pretenders, druggies, hapless romantics, and the slightly talented do battle in fiction, trying to invent a book that will save them from the fate of ordinary life.

About the Author

Critical reviews.

" MFA Thesis Novel is a very funny book about books, about creativity, about a writer's need for isolation vs. the desire for community-these are outsiders among outsiders, and Ian M. Rogers writes with a wit that's as dry and sharp as the best academic satire. But this isn't just a delightful lampoon-it's a book full of heart and charm, with characters seeking meaningful lives, connection, and inspiration." Timothy Schaffert, author of The Perfume Thief

"I just added MFA Thesis Novel to my list of personal favorites alongside Wonder Boys, Straight Man, After the Workshop, and Moo. Wry, contemplative, heartfelt, and very funny, Ian M. Rogers is a terrific new voice, and his debut novel is a winner. I would recommend this book to any writer, unless I were teaching in an MFA program, in which case I'd require it." Sean Doolittle, author of Lake Country

"Ian M. Rogers's MFA Thesis Novel is a fierce testament to the struggle of fitting into the MFA environment and choosing to blaze your own path. In this true-to-the bones novel, Rogers expertly crafts a plotline that is character rich, absurdly hilarious, and most of all, honest." S.R. Stewart, managing editor of Unsolicited Press

"A delicious romp through the smudged halls of academe where pretenders, druggies, hapless romantics, and the slightly talented do battle in fiction workshops trying to invent a book that will save them from the fate of ordinary life. While suffering bad advice, sabotage, regret, sloth, fear, and longing, their brawling over plot, women, and meaning reminds us of John Irving on steroids. This book will make you laugh out loud as it skewers the sacred cows of the graduate writing workshop and the world they mirror. Ian M. Rogers is a heck of a satirist!" Jonis Agee, author of The Bones of Paradise

"If you have ever wondered what would happen if Joseph Heller had gone to a not particularly distinguished MFA program instead of Italy and World War Two..." Annabel Davis-Goff, author of Walled Gardens

Publishing Information

The allstora membership, membership perks:.

• Save 30% on all online store purchases
• Exclusive access to author's content
• You pay less, but authors still earn double

Membership Terms:

• To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
• One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.

WE LOVE IT WE LOVE IT WE LOVE IT WE LOVE IT WE LOVE IT WE LOVE IT WE LOVE IT WE LOVE IT WE LOVE IT WE LOVE IT WE LOVE IT

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Opens in a new window.

Select your Location

Note: International users will only be able to purchase digital bookclubs.

…But I Also Have a Day Job

For Creative People Who Have to Keep the Bills Paid

• The Day Job Blog
• Day Job Interviews
• My Boss Was Crooked!
• Author Site

MFA Thesis Novel Book Club Guide & Author Interview

Cool news from the MFA Thesis Novel front : this month Vine Leaves Press and I released the MFA Thesis Novel Book Club Guide , which includes an author interview with yours truly and discussion questions for the novel.  It’s free for download from the link above, and starting this month, it’s included with the eBook version of the novel as a bonus.

Here’s a quick snippet:

Q: What inspired you to write MFA Thesis Novel?

A: As the novel itself hints, MFA Thesis Novel sprang from my experience in graduate school at the University of Nebraska, though my program was technically an MA. I was workshopping a novel based on my time working in Japan, but the subject matter and the style I was writing in were so foreign that people around me couldn’t relate to the book. At the same time, the program seemed to be pushing us to build up longer and more impressive CVs rather than improve our writing, which I found disconcerting. Like Flip, it took me a long time to realize which parts of the program were helpful and which parts weren’t conducive to the career path I was looking for.

Read the rest of the interview here . Continue reading »

The Quest for 50

I’ve embarked on a Quest.  Some might even call it a Second Quest.

It’s a quest fraught with danger, menace, and hazards at every turn, a quest that involves a perilous journey whose conclusion is uncertain, a quest beyond the reaches of anything mere mortals can imagine, and a quest that will undoubtedly expose me to attacks by dastardly villains who’ll stop at nothing to thwart my goals.

Fantasy-speak aside: I’m looking for more online reviews of MFA Thesis Novel .

(Also, my apologies for the somewhat click-baity title, since I was looking for an entertaining way to lead into this topic and thought the whole pseudo-fantasy bit would be fun.  Keep reading, though, and I’ll explain more!) Continue reading »

Here’s What I Got Done in 2022

So I’ll admit, I’m a little behind on the blogging game: after taking some time off from writing and creative work for Christmas and New Years, I returned to But I Also Have a Day Job last week to write about my New Years Resolutions .

Thinking about the coming year also got me reflecting on the previous year and what I’ve been getting done (I made a similar post for what I got done in 2021 too ).  In a lot of ways, 2022 was my biggest year ever as a writer, both in terms of accomplishments, and making positive life changes.  However, it’s easy for me to forget that when I’m busy or having a stressful time , which is why in this post I decided to list out my accomplishments for 2022.

In total, that list came out to 8 different accomplishments—and as much as I love Top Ten Lists in the David Letterman sense, it didn’t seem right to force two more in just for the sake of aesthetics.  It also didn’t feel right to put these accomplishments in order of importance, so instead I’ve listed them out chronologically to form a mini-story of what my creative work year looked like.

So without further ado, here’s what I got done in 2022… Continue reading »

Reflections on Six Years of Blogging

Hard to believe that I started working on the But I Also Have a Day Job blog six (!) years ago this week.  At this time in 2016 I was testing designs and playing with WordPress formatting while I drafted the very first posts on Day Job Basics , and from there, it was off to the races.

This blog represented a really big step for me: back in 2016, I’d finished grad school , was trying to sell one novel and finish another , and made a major life change by moving out of Nebraska, where I’d gone to grad school and stayed an extra year working in the Agriculture department .

I knew I had to start taking my writing more seriously and figuring out my next steps, and the But I Also Have a Day Job blog was a HUGE step in clarifying the direction I wanted to take my creative work and my life in general.  Before this blog, I didn’t have much of an online presence at all, had very little published work, and it felt like I was just barely starting out.

Fast forward to six years later, and I’m…pretty satisfied with how how far I’ve come.  I haven’t done as much as I’ve liked, but I’m overall Continue reading »

MFA Thesis Novel Launch Party Recap!

MFA Thesis Novel was released last Tuesday (wooooooooo!), though for me, the real release day felt like last Saturday, when I held the novel launch party at Main Street BookEnds in my hometown of Warner, New Hampshire.

This was a BIG day for me—as in, I wanted it to be as big as I could make it.  It was also my second time doing a reading at BookEnds (the first was back in 2019 when I released Eikaiwa Bums ), and because this reading was for an actual novel, I wanted it to be even better.

I did a fair amount of promotion for the event beforehand: besides getting it up on the BookEnds website , I put up flyers around town, mentioned it in some blog posts , sent out a message on my email list , made a Facebook event, sent it to the town email newsletter, and Continue reading »

The MFA Thesis Novel Pre-Order is Done!!!

MFA Thesis Novel launches TOMORROW (!!!) and I spent most of last week shipping out copies from the Special Pre-Order period .  I was no stranger to bulk mailings from the Art Swap days , but this was my first time tackling a mailing this big.

After the pre-order period I crunched some numbers and realized that with all the pre-orders, copies I’d need for future events, and probable future webstore purchases, it made sense to order 250 books and get an extra 10% bulk discount on top of the regular discount.

Continue reading »

Novel Events: Come See My Online Readings in March and the MFA Thesis Novel Launch in April!

It’s that time!  I’m kicking off an actual, for-serious book tour promoting MFA Thesis Novel (!), with events both online and in person!  This includes the actual novel launch party (!!!!!!) that’s sure to be an amazing time:

• Using Real Life Events in Fiction and Memoir: An Online Panel Discussion through the SMOL Small Press Fair, Thursday, March 24th at 7:00pm Eastern
• Wandering Aengus & Trail to Table Press 2022 Reading Series, Saturday, March 26th at 7:00pm Eastern
• In-Person MFA Thesis Novel Launch Party at Main Street BookEnds, Warner, NH, Saturday, April 23rd at 2:00pm

Interested in coming to see me?  Read on for the event descriptions, plus some info at the end about how I got involved with each one…. Continue reading »

HUGE Thanks to Everyone Who’s Pre-Ordered MFA Thesis Novel So Far!!!!!!!!!11

Update: The Special Limited Pre-Order for MFA Thesis Novel is over, but you can still order a signed copy and get a free bookmark! See my webstore for updated info.

Last week I posted to this blog about the Special Limited MFA Thesis Novel Signed Pre-Order and sent out a few social media posts.  To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect: if the pre-order went well, I’d be happy, but if it didn’t, I resolved not to be disappointed or angry.  As a way of not building up my hopes too much, I told myself that maybe people wanted to buy the novel somewhere else, or maybe they’d wait until it actually came out.

It’s always a nerve-wracking experience putting a part of yourself out there and risking failure.  In my darker moments, I worried no one would be interested, or that people would be willing to Like a post but not actually order the book.  Worst of all was the fear that I’d come across as some sort of pestering MLM Ponzi-scheme jerk making money off of the people in his social network, like those people who get sucked into nutrition supplement scams.

As it turns out, I shouldn’t have worried. Continue reading »

Special MFA Thesis Novel Signed Pre-Order With Bookmark and Sticker!!!!

Many of you have been asking about the best way to get a signed copy of MFA Thesis Novel when it comes out on April 19th.  Others have been asking how to buy the novel in the way that gives me the largest amount of royalties.

Whelp, you can kill two birds with one stone during the Special Limited MFA Thesis Novel Pre-Order Period!

Order a copy of the novel through my webstore by clicking here , and not only will I sign it and write you a cool personalized message (if you want one), but you’ll also get some super-cool FREE swag, including…

• A limited edition MFA Thesis Novel bookmark designed by Jessica Bell!
• A 3″x2″ You Don’t Pay Me to Care sticker inspired by the But I Also Have a Day Job blog!
• The satisfaction of knowing that more of your money went toward supporting me as a small-press indie writer and not toward Jeff Bezos sending billionaires into space! (Technically not swag, but still important!) Continue reading »

How MFA Thesis Novel Went From Word File to Actual Published Book

Most people never consider how books get made.  We have that idealized image of the grizzled writer sitting at a typewriter then delivering a hearty stack of clean pages to the publisher, who waves a magic wand and PRESTO, out pops a cleanly printed book with cover and crisp inside pages.

Nowadays, that fantasy involves a Word file and email instead of a typewriter, but the disconnect between writing and bookmaking still seems to be there for a lot of writers.  Truth be told, I had no idea how much work and how many steps go into publishing a book, which is why it was cool to learn the process when my own novel got made into an actual hard-copy book (Spoiler: I’ll show pics at the end!).

Here’s a rundown of how that process went, how much work it took from me and the others at Vine Leaves Press, and where the novel stands now. Continue reading »

Cover Reveal for MFA Thesis Novel!

*Drum roll please*

The cover for my upcoming MFA Thesis Novel is finally ready!  Many thanks to Vine Leaves publisher Jessica Bell for the awesome design, and for her willingness to go back and forth with me about some key elements. (Behind the Scenes Look at How the Sausage Gets Made: one of them was the meaning of the Korean word on the neck tattoo!)  If you want to check out more of Jessica’s awesome cover designs, you can find them all on the press’s book page . Continue reading »

November 2021 Novel Update: Or Not…

Warning: Vaguely self-pitying ramble ahead, though I end on some pretty kick-ass news.

It has not been a good few weeks for working on my secret new novel project —at all.  In fact, November was absolutely my slowest writing month since I got back to Japan in September full of energy and productivity .  So what happened?

Well, on one level, preparing MFA Thesis Novel for publication happened .  November is the big month for manuscript prep, and I’ve been going back and forth with Vine Leaves publishers Jessica Bell and Amie McCracken , answering proofreading questions, sending materials like back cover copy and Acknowledgements, and even updating some images that appear in the text. MFA Thesis Novel is complex and has a lot of special formatting in it Continue reading »

Ann S. Epstein Writer

Ann S. Epstein writes novels, short stories, memoir, essays, and poems. Please use the links or site menu to go to the HOME PAGE; learn about her NOVELS, SHORT STORIES, MEMOIR, ESSAYS, and POEMS; find interesting facts in BEHIND THE STORY; read REFLECTIONS on writing; check NEWS for updates on publications and related events; see REVIEWS; learn about her END-OF-LIFE DOULA credentials and services; and CONTACT US to send webmail.

What I’m Reading: MFA Thesis Novel

My Goodreads and Amazon reviews of MFA Thesis Novel by Ian Rogers (Rating 5) – Meta-Lit Hit Job. Midway through MFA Thesis Novel by Ian Rogers, a graduate student says, “If you want original shit you’ve got to hit up small presses, the guys outside the mainstream who put out stuff that’s really good.” Reading this sentence, I instantly understood why this hilarious and irreverent book found a home with exactly the right indie venue. In literary grad speak, the book is a “meta novel,” that is, a novel about writing a novel which the protagonist, Flip, must do in order to earn his MFA in creative writing. The narrative is replete with winking allusions to literary books, journals, and organizations, some real, others snarky inventions of the author’s fertile imagination. It’s a double hoot when you’re not sure whether a reference belongs in the real or fictive category. Lest those who are not MFA candidates or English majors fear the book may he too erudite or esoteric for them, rest assured that the humor is broad — and shallow — enough for anyone to get in on the jokes. Beyond the wit, however, Rogers also grapples with a serious question: How do you produce creative work that pays the bills while also fulfilling your worthy ideals? As a writer myself (see my Amazon author page and Goodreads author page ), I’m fortunate that I’ve never faced that quandary but, like other creative people, I must still resist pressure to churn out what’s “sellable” if it’s not authentic to my vision. I won’t spoil the book’s ending by revealing Flip’s answer to the earnings vs. art dilemma, but I will say that Ian Rogers has created a commercially viable novel that is also an entertaining and satisfying work of literature.

Author: [email protected]

Ann S. Epstein is an award-winning writer of novels, short stories, memoirs, and essays. View all posts by [email protected]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Jimmy's Substack

I Need to Decide on Novel Idea for My MFA Thesis

As a part of my MFA program, students are required to develop a novel idea for their thesis project. Yes, you heard me right, a novel idea. Unlike most MFA programs in which students can develop a poetry or short story collection, SNHU’s requirement is a full-length, publication-ready novel of at least 50,000 words.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Jimmy's Substack to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

• Preferences

EPUB DOWNLOAD MFA Thesis Novel - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

EPUB DOWNLOAD MFA Thesis Novel

"4 minutes ago - copy link to download = flip.ebookmarket.pro/psjun24/b09pz88ld3 | download book [pdf] mfa thesis novel | mfa thesis novel " – powerpoint ppt presentation.

PowerShow.com is a leading presentation sharing website. It has millions of presentations already uploaded and available with 1,000s more being uploaded by its users every day. Whatever your area of interest, here you’ll be able to find and view presentations you’ll love and possibly download. And, best of all, it is completely free and easy to use.

You might even have a presentation you’d like to share with others. If so, just upload it to PowerShow.com. We’ll convert it to an HTML5 slideshow that includes all the media types you’ve already added: audio, video, music, pictures, animations and transition effects. Then you can share it with your target audience as well as PowerShow.com’s millions of monthly visitors. And, again, it’s all free.

About the Developers

PowerShow.com is brought to you by  CrystalGraphics , the award-winning developer and market-leading publisher of rich-media enhancement products for presentations. Our product offerings include millions of PowerPoint templates, diagrams, animated 3D characters and more.

MFA Thesis Novel

★★★★★ “ John Irving on steroids .” Jonis Agee, author of The Bones of Paradise

Creative ne’re-do-well Flip Montcalm isn’t cut out for office life, so he jumps at the chance to join an MFA program in the rural Midwest. Broke and infatuated with the 20th century literary canon, he alienates his writing workshop with five hundred pages of existential dread, can’t name a single player on the university football team, and is actively trying to steal a rival writer’s girlfriend.

Flip needs a new novel idea fast, so he turns to his cohorts for help: a career PhD student who hasn’t written in a decade, a professor with no opinions, a narcissist whose novels read like action movies, and a frat boy underplaying his suburban privilege. As he fights off academic conformity and obsessive football fans, Flip faces the challenge of writing a novel that’ll not only satisfy his artistic passions, but might even get him a better job.

A delicious romp through the smudged halls of academia, this book will make you laugh out loud, as pretenders, druggies, hapless romantics, and the slightly talented do battle in fiction, trying to invent a book that will save them from the fate of ordinary life.

• Literature & Fiction
• History & Criticism

Sorry, there was a problem.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

MFA Thesis Novel Paperback – April 19, 2022

Creative ne're-do-well Flip Montcalm isn't cut out for office life, so he jumps at the chance to join an MFA program in the rural Midwest. Broke and infatuated with the 20th century literary canon, he alienates his writing workshop with five hundred pages of existential dread, can't name a single player on the university football team, and is actively trying to steal a rival writer's girlfriend.

Flip needs a new novel idea fast, so he turns to his cohorts for help: a career PhD student who hasn't written in a decade, a professor with no opinions, a narcissist whose novels read like action movies, and a frat boy underplaying his suburban privilege. As he fights off academic conformity and obsessive football fans, Flip faces the challenge of writing a novel that'll not only satisfy his artistic passions, but might even get him a better job.

A delicious romp through the smudged halls of academe, this book will make you laugh out loud, as pretenders, druggies, hapless romantics, and the slightly talented do battle in fiction, trying to invent a book that will save them from the fate of ordinary life.

• Print length 298 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Vine Leaves Press
• Publication date April 19, 2022
• Dimensions 6 x 0.74 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 1925965864
• ISBN-13 978-1925965865
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

" MFA Thesis Novel is a very funny book about books, about creativity, about a writer's need for isolation vs. the desire for community-these are outsiders among outsiders, and Ian M. Rogers writes with a wit that's as dry and sharp as the best academic satire. But this isn't just a delightful lampoon-it's a book full of heart and charm, with characters seeking meaningful lives, connection, and inspiration." Timothy Schaffert, author of The Perfume Thief

"I just added MFA Thesis Novel to my list of personal favorites alongside Wonder Boys, Straight Man, After the Workshop, and Moo. Wry, contemplative, heartfelt, and very funny, Ian M. Rogers is a terrific new voice, and his debut novel is a winner. I would recommend this book to any writer, unless I were teaching in an MFA program, in which case I'd require it." Sean Doolittle, author of Lake Country

"Ian M. Rogers's MFA Thesis Novel is a fierce testament to the struggle of fitting into the MFA environment and choosing to blaze your own path. In this true-to-the bones novel, Rogers expertly crafts a plotline that is character rich, absurdly hilarious, and most of all, honest." S.R. Stewart, managing editor of Unsolicited Press

"A delicious romp through the smudged halls of academe where pretenders, druggies, hapless romantics, and the slightly talented do battle in fiction workshops trying to invent a book that will save them from the fate of ordinary life. While suffering bad advice, sabotage, regret, sloth, fear, and longing, their brawling over plot, women, and meaning reminds us of John Irving on steroids. This book will make you laugh out loud as it skewers the sacred cows of the graduate writing workshop and the world they mirror. Ian M. Rogers is a heck of a satirist!" Jonis Agee, author of The Bones of Paradise

"If you have ever wondered what would happen if Joseph Heller had gone to a not particularly distinguished MFA program instead of Italy and World War Two..." Annabel Davis-Goff, author of Walled Gardens

About the Author

Product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vine Leaves Press (April 19, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1925965864
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1925965865
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.74 x 9 inches
• #230 in Theories of Humor
• #284 in Humor Literary Criticism (Books)
• #13,346 in Literary Criticism & Theory

About the author

Ian m rogers.

Ian M. Rogers grew up in New Hampshire before studying literature at Bennington College in Vermont and creative writing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he learned to write short bios like this one. He has worked as a copy editor, a greenhouse assistant, a school secretary, a grocery clerk, an online test-grader, a housepainter, a gardener, and a teacher of English in Japan. Find him at https://ianmrogersauthor.com

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 67% 25% 8% 0% 0% 67%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 67% 25% 8% 0% 0% 25%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 67% 25% 8% 0% 0% 8%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 67% 25% 8% 0% 0% 0%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 67% 25% 8% 0% 0% 0%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the book brilliant, hilarious, and satisfying. They also say the writing style is entertaining and thought-provoking.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book brilliant, hilarious, and a page-turner.

"This book is the hilarious , yet touching, story of a young man trying hard to become a great writer...." Read more

"...of academia and contemporary publishing, it's deadly accurate and hilarious ...." Read more

"...to Garp,” have I laughed out loud as much as when reading this wily, satiric , multi-layered send-up of academia...." Read more

"...may he too erudite or esoteric for them, rest assured that the humor is broad — and shallow — enough for anyone to get in on the jokes...." Read more

Customers find the writing style entertaining, satisfying, and beautifully written. They also say the book is wry, clever, and honest.

"...exchanges he has with his bro-type colleagues are poignant, beautifully written and perfectly depict Flip’s Jack Kerouac angst...." Read more

"This is the most meta book I have ever read . As a satire of academia and contemporary publishing, it's deadly accurate and hilarious...." Read more

"...commercially viable novel that is also an entertaining and satisfying work of literature ." Read more

" MFA Thesis Novel is wry , clever, and honest...." Read more

Customers find the story thought-provoking, astute, and complex.

"...and awkward exchanges he has with his bro-type colleagues are poignant , beautifully written and perfectly depict Flip’s Jack Kerouac angst...." Read more

"...entertaining, spot on, devastatingly funny, plain old devastating, astute , skewering, complex and honest...." Read more

"...The story is very human and thought-provoking , while leaving room for some genuine out-loud laughs." Read more

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

• About Amazon
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell products on Amazon
• Sell on Amazon Business
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Make Money with Us
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon and COVID-19
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices

• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

Get the Reddit app

Discussions about the writing craft.

Any advice on what to send to MFA programs?

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

University of Notre Dame

Department of English

College of Arts and Letters

• Home ›
• News and Events ›
• News ›

A Curious Mind: Joseph Earl Thomas ’19 MFA looks at life through many lenses

Published: August 29, 2024

Author: Notre Dame Alumni Association

On his way to working in medicine, Joseph Earl Thomas ’19 MFA decided to become a writer instead.

Since he was young, Thomas had an affinity for the arts. He loved to draw and immersed himself in the worlds that visual arts and animations brought to life. Through cartoons and video games, Pokémon and anime, and all things science fiction and fantasy, Thomas found solace creating. It wasn't until later that writing would enter his radar, but drawing laid the foundation for his creative career.

After graduating high school at 17, Thomas began taking science classes at Community College of Philadelphia in preparation to become a physician assistant. In addition to school work, he was juggling four jobs — the stress ultimately forcing him to explore other options.

At 19, Thomas joined the Army National Guard and deployed as a medic and EMT, serving for 13 years. He was sent to Baghdad, where he provided medical treatment and gained practical experience in treating patients. He hoped to use the time, money, and space the military provided to carve out his future.

“I didn’t come from a household where most people graduated high school or had a college degree,” he said. “That was part of why I went to the Army.”

With the financial support, he enrolled at Arcadia University and continued working towards a career in medicine while also exploring his options academically — taking a few poetry and literature classes on the side. Although writing didn’t have much of a place within Thomas' plan, he did find enjoyment in the classes, and he was good at it.

“I was into them, but I wasn’t taking them as seriously as, you know, this is who I am or what I’m going to do,” Thomas said.

Thomas went on to complete his military service and earn his degree in biology before he was accepted into physician assistant school at Drexel University in Philadelphia — one step closer to a future in healthcare. However, after taking a summer class in African American literature at the neighboring St. Joseph’s University, Thomas’ career trajectory changed. His talent for writing pivoted from an afterthought to an ambition.

“I was really into [the writing classes],” he said. “And I became really disenchanted with going to school for medicine and wanted to do something else, to think beyond pre-existing paradigms.”

Aisha Lockridge , associate professor of communication and media studies at St. Joseph’s, whose influence was instrumental in Thomas' decision to pursue the arts, noticed his aptitude for writing and explained the process of graduate school.

“I didn’t understand that in the humanities, you could write a sample and get into a place that was funded,” Thomas said. Coming from the rigid structure of the sciences, that concept felt foreign to him. Nonetheless, he was interested.

Thomas ended up taking the risk and leaving medicine, pursuing an M.A. in Writing Studies at St. Joseph’s and preparing himself to apply to MFA and Ph.D. programs.

Thomas weighed many factors when deciding where to earn his MFA.

“I wanted to be somewhere away from the city. Big city life is not really conducive to thinking for me,” he said.

Naturally, Notre Dame fit the bill. More important to Thomas was the faculty. He resonated with the Notre Dame Creative Writing Program and community because of their authenticity.

His application made it into the hands of Dr. Roy Scranton , who would later become his mentor. Scranton recalls how excited he was reading Thomas’ writing and learning about his life. “His stories were propulsive and engaging. They were just fantastic,” Scranton said. “Learning more about him and who he was, and his long journey to this point of applying to MFA, was fascinating.”

Thomas resonated with Scranton’s background, which he recognized wasn't often found in academia: Scranton was also a veteran of the American occupation of Iraq. Further, Thomas saw that Scranton’s work was less interested in being a ‘commercial product’ and more concerned with thinking and feeling — which he also hoped his writing would inspire.

“It was important for me to find somebody who had come from a similar class background because there’s so few of those people in academia at all,” Thomas said.

A formative moment for Thomas was when Scranton told him that his writing needed more work. He found his honesty both exciting and rewarding because it pushed him to be better, to mold words in new ways. At the same time, Scranton was also learning from Thomas.

“He has the kind of mind where he’s thinking in narrative, thinking in image, thinking in sound, but he’s also thinking in ideas and in critical analysis, and philosophically,” Scranton said.

As a student in Scranton’s MFA workshop, Thomas used his “curious and lightning-fast mind,” as Scranton described, to create compelling language. Thomas' thesis, which became his first book, Sink, was one of those pieces that was both powerful and challenging.

Sink , a third-person narrative of Thomas’ turbulent childhood, published in February 2023, has received high acclaim. It was chosen as one of the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2023, BET’s Favorite Memoirs of 2023, Electric Literature’s Favorite Books of 2023, and was long-listed for the PEN/Jean Stein Award.

Thomas grew up in Frankford, a Philadelphia neighborhood where encounters with racism, abuse, and economic struggles greatly shaped his identity. Sink explores Thomas' childhood and the influence of “geek culture” in his journey to self-discovery. He hopes his memoir highlights that while many are afflicted with poverty, the impoverishment of “social resources” — whether they be healthy family dynamics and relationships, access to good teachers and schools, or social workers — contributes to the struggle.

“I wanted to write a book that was about the failure of those systems, rather than the failures of individual people for not having enough money — it’s more complicated than that,” Thomas said.

Finding the right words to do this is no small feat and, for Thomas, that sometimes leads to arguments and long conversations with himself in the shower. “I always play out social situations,” he said. His friends and family frequently ask “Who are you talking to?” He assures them that there’s a method to his mumbling.

Currently, Thomas is writing the novel God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer, and a collection of stories, Leviathan Beach, amongst other projects. He is finishing his final year of his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania and will be a faculty member in creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College in New York.

Being able to create a sentence that is moving and funny is challenging. Translating complex feelings and emotions into words is even more so. But, wrestling with the language to get there is deeply satisfying for Thomas.

“Writing,” Thomas said, “is one of the most difficult and pleasurable things I’ve ever done in my life.”

Originally published by Amanda Pilarski at weare.nd.edu , a digital publication from the Notre Dame Alumni Association telling stories of Domers doing good in the world.

Originally published by Notre Dame Alumni Association at al.nd.edu on August 29, 2024 .

• VIP Packages Enrique Iglesias George Strait Jelly Roll Jonas Brothers Journey Luke Bryan Luke Combs Niall Horan P!nk Rod Wave Suicideboys The Eagles Tool Trans-Siberian Orchestra Travis Scott U2 Zach Bryan
• Sports NHL Anaheim Ducks Arizona Coyotes Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Calgary Flames Carolina Hurricanes Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche Columbus Blue Jackets Dallas Stars Detroit Red Wings Edmonton Oilers Florida Panthers Los Angeles Kings Minnesota Wild Montreal Canadiens Nashville Predators New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers Ottawa Senators Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins San Jose Sharks St. Louis Blues Tampa Bay Lightning Toronto Maple Leafs Vancouver Canucks Washington Capitals Winnipeg Jets View More NHL Tickets MLB Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Guardians Colorado Rockies Detroit Tigers Houston Astros Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers Miami Marlins Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Twins New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Seattle Mariners St. Louis Cardinals Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers Washington Nationals View More MLB Tickets NFL Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders View More NFL Tickets NBA Atlanta Hawks Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets Charlotte Hornets Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets Detroit Pistons Golden State Warriors Houston Rockets Indiana Pacers Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Memphis Grizzlies Miami Heat Milwaukee Bucks Minnesota Timberwolves New Orleans Pelicans New York Knicks Oklahoma City Thunder Orlando Magic Philadelphia 76ers Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers Sacramento Kings San Antonio Spurs Toronto Raptors Utah Jazz Washington Wizards View More NBA Tickets NCAA MLS Atlanta United FC Austin FC CF Montreal Charlotte FC Chicago Fire FC Colorado Rapids Columbus Crew D.C. United FC Cincinnati FC Dallas Houston Dynamo FC Inter Miami CF LA Galaxy Los Angeles FC Minnesota United FC Nashville SC New England Revolution New York City FC New York Red Bulls Orlando City SC Philadelphia Union Portland Timbers Real Salt Lake San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders FC Sporting Kansas City St. Louis City SC Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC View More MLS Tickets GOLF TENNIS HORSE RACING CAR RACING WRESTLING VIEW MORE SPORTS
• Concerts Andrea Bocelli Billy Joel Carrie Underwood Cody Johnson Depeche Mode Fall Out Boy Jeff Dunham Jo Koy Journey Lauryn Hill Luke Combs Madonna Mariah Carey Metallica Morgan Wallen Noah Kahan P!nk Romeo Santos Shania Twain SZA Tim McGraw U2 Zach Bryan View More Concerts
• Theater Theatre Aladdin Blue Man Group Cats Cirque du Soleil Come From Away Dancing With The Stars Dear Evan Hansen Disney Road Trip Adventures Fiddler On The Roof Frozen - The Musical Hamilton Jersey Boys Jesus Christ Superstar Les Miserables Mean Girls Miss Saigon My Fair Lady Paw Patrol Live Rent Riverdance Shen Yun The Book Of Mormon The Last Ship The Lion King Phantom Of Opera To Kill A Mockingbird Trolls Live! Waitress Wicked View More Theater Tickets Comedy Gabriel Iglesias Jeff Dunham Matt Rife Kevin Hart Jo Koy Ali Wong Bert Kreischer Bill Burr Dave Chappelle Jerry Seinfeld Jimmy Carr Leanne Morgan Nate Bargatze Taylor Tomlinson Theo Von Trevor Noah View More Comedy Tickets
• 100% Guarantee
• Sports NHL MLB NFL NBA NCAA MLS GOLF TENNIS HORSE RACING CAR RACING WRESTLING VIEW MORE SPORTS Anaheim Ducks Arizona Coyotes Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Calgary Flames Carolina Hurricanes Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche Columbus Blue Jackets Dallas Stars Detroit Red Wings Edmonton Oilers Florida Panthers Los Angeles Kings Minnesota Wild Montreal Canadiens Nashville Predators New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers Ottawa Senators Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins San Jose Sharks St. Louis Blues Tampa Bay Lightning Toronto Maple Leafs Vancouver Canucks Washington Capitals Winnipeg Jets View More NHL Tickets Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Guardians Colorado Rockies Detroit Tigers Houston Astros Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers Miami Marlins Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Twins New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Seattle Mariners St. Louis Cardinals Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers Washington Nationals View More MLB Tickets Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders View More NFL Tickets Atlanta Hawks Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets Charlotte Hornets Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets Detroit Pistons Golden State Warriors Houston Rockets Indiana Pacers Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Memphis Grizzlies Miami Heat Milwaukee Bucks Minnesota Timberwolves New Orleans Pelicans New York Knicks Oklahoma City Thunder Orlando Magic Philadelphia 76ers Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers Sacramento Kings San Antonio Spurs Toronto Raptors Utah Jazz Washington Wizards View More NBA Tickets Atlanta United FC Austin FC CF Montreal Charlotte FC Chicago Fire FC Colorado Rapids Columbus Crew D.C. United FC Cincinnati FC Dallas Houston Dynamo FC Inter Miami CF LA Galaxy Los Angeles FC Minnesota United FC Nashville SC New England Revolution New York City FC New York Red Bulls Orlando City SC Philadelphia Union Portland Timbers Real Salt Lake San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders FC Sporting Kansas City St. Louis City SC Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC View More MLS Tickets
• Theater Theatre Comedy Gabriel Iglesias Jeff Dunham Matt Rife Kevin Hart Jo Koy Ali Wong Bert Kreischer Bill Burr Dave Chappelle Jerry Seinfeld Jimmy Carr Leanne Morgan Nate Bargatze Taylor Tomlinson Theo Von Trevor Noah View More Comedy Aladdin Blue Man Group Cats Cirque du Soleil Come From Away Dancing With The Stars Dear Evan Hansen Disney Road Trip Adventures Fiddler On The Roof Frozen - The Musical Hamilton Jersey Boys Jesus Christ Superstar Les Miserables Mean Girls Miss Saigon My Fair Lady Paw Patrol Live Rent Riverdance Shen Yun The Book Of Mormon The Last Ship The Lion King Phantom Of Opera To Kill A Mockingbird Trolls Live! Waitress Wicked View More Theater

BACKSTAGE PASS

Vip packages, meet & greet, mfa thesis concert meet and greet & vip packages.

Ask your friend to go with you!

How to meet MFA Thesis Concert

Many people would drop everything if they learned they could meet their childhood idol? Now you may be able to meet MFA Thesis Concert in person at an event. Meeting MFA Thesis Concert may be available as part of a meet and greet package where you may be able to meet MFA Thesis Concert and take a photo and be the talk of the town with all your friends.

How much are MFA Thesis Concert meet and greets?

MFA Thesis Concert meet and greets are a special VIP ticket that is very, very limited. Not all shows or performers have meet and greets and the shows that do have MFA Thesis Concert meet and greets may only have a few to be sold. Thus MFA Thesis Concert meet and greet ticket prices may be between $1,000 - $5,000 per ticket due to the exclusivity and limited nature of the product. Check MFA Thesis Concert meet and greet prices with the click of a button. MFA Thesis Concert  Meet and greet prices rarely decrease in price like normal tickets due to their limited and exclusive nature.

Does  MFA Thesis Concert  offer meet and greet tickets?

At times MFA Thesis Concert may possibly offer meet and greet, backstage passes, VIP pass, meet and greet tickets, meet and greet passes, depending on the event.

What Type Of VIP Tickets does MFA Thesis Concert offer?

MFA Thesis Concert may offer VIP tickets, VIP Packages, hospitality packages, fan packages, front row seats, or other ticket packages to their live events.

How much is a MFA Thesis Concert backstage pass?

A MFA Thesis Concert backstage pass can cost between $755 and $3540 to see them live.

How To Buy MFA Thesis Concert VIP tickets?

You can buy MFA Thesis Concert VIP tickets for between $674 and $1344 to see them in concert.

Does MFA Thesis Concert offer VIP packages?

Yes MFA Thesis Concert offers VIP packages that are available to see them on tour and cost between $375 and $2414.

How Much Are MFA Thesis Concert Ticket packages?

 MFA Thesis Concert ticket packages can cost between $401 to $1533 to see them at a show.

How much are MFA Thesis Concert Front row tickets?

You can buy MFA Thesis Concert front row tickets to their concert for between $600 and $1086.

*Disclaimer* Meet and greet tickets are only meet and greets if they are specified in the ticket group, section, row or notes. Meet and greets are very rare and only a handful of performers offer them. They typically range between $1000-$5000 each if they are offered. There are many other VIP tickets or packages that can be found on this site. We also display regular tickets for many events. These regular tickets DO NOT include meet and greets or VIP.

Each package is different. The type of package described in the description of the content on this website may not be the particular one offered for sale unless it is mentioned in the section, row or notes of the exact ticket group you buy. Please refer to the notes of the ticket group you are purchasing for exact amenities which WILL be included as part of your order.

• Trending Concerts

M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, part 2 - Spring 2025

M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, part 2

May 10-24, 2025 opening reception: saturday, may 10, 2-5 p.m., contemporary arts center gallery university art gallery room gallery.

The Department of Art at the University of California, Irvine is pleased to present the solo exhibitions of M.F.A. candidates. Part 1 will take place in April and early May.

Image credit: Yubo Dong - ofstudio photography

Department of Art :  949-824-4917  |  art.arts.uci.edu  | [email protected] University Art Galleries : 949-824-9854 | uag.art.arts.uci.edu | [email protected] Gallery hours: Tuesday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m.

Free admission

Please visit our secure direct giving page and make a gift to support the Department of Art today! Make a Gift

Explore BU Arts Central

Your destination for art, music, theatre, opera, workshops, and more at Boston University

Bu arts central.

Theatrical innovations, immersive exhibitions, guest artists, and operatic odysseys. You can experience the arts in every way with Boston University this year.

Scroll to find upcoming events, and check back as new ones are added throughout the year. Be sure to follow CFA on Instagram , Facebook , and X for the latest news and event postings!

FEATURED EVENTS

Boston University Symphony Orchestra

Tsai performance center.

September 28 , 2024

A historic opening concert of the BU Symphony Orchestra celebrates the inauguration of Boston University’s new president Dr. Melissa Gilliam , the conducting debut of Director of Orchestral Activities Sarah Ioannides , and our talented students launching the 2024-2025 year. The program, embracing diversity and excellence, includes Joan Tower’s powerful “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No.1”, and two symphonic poems that reflect the importance of cultural identity and the beauty of nature. The night also features recent alum Minyung Suh (CFA’24), winner of the 2023 Concerto Competition.

Fringe Festival

October 4 – 20, 2024

• Entry (or, you think you know me) by S. Thomasin Barsotti
• Dark Sisters by Nico Muhly (BUTI’96,’97)
• Siren Song by Jonathan Dove

The annual BU Fringe Festival, now in its 28th season, is a collaboration between BU College of Fine Arts School of Music:  Opera Institute  and  School of Theatre . Every fall, Fringe produces new or rarely performed significant works in the opera and theatre repertoire, bringing performances and audiences together in unique theatrical settings. 

Get Tickets

The SpongeBob Musical

Wheelock family theatre.

October 4 – 27, 2024

Based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg, book by Kyle Jarrow, Musical production conceived by Tina Landau. Plunge into this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show! When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world!

Visit the Full Events Calendar

There’s something happening every day at BU. In addition to featured events listed above, you can check out the complete calendar of upcoming CFA events as well as opportunities for artists and art-lovers alike to experience all of what Boston University has to offer .

Upcoming Events

BU Fall Arts Fair

September 6 , 2024

Join the BU Arts Initiative, BU arts programs, academic units, and selected Boston area arts organizations on the GSU Plaza to explore all that BU and Boston have to offer!

Look for discounts, special offers, internship opportunities, and more! BU Arts Initiative will be giving away two free tickets to the Nutcracker to fair attendees!

1998 • Works by Laurie Simmons

Faye g. jo, and james stone gallery.

September 3 – December 7 , 2024

1998 is a selection of photographs by artist Laurie Simmons. The title, playfully inspired by Taylor Swift’s 1989 album, references work produced by Simmons in the year 1998 for an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art called Metro Pictures. These photographs revisit the miniature elements Simmons introduced in her seminal work of the late 1970s. She is part of The Pictures Generation, a name given to a group of artists who came to prominence in the 1970s, including Cindy Sherman, Barbara Kruger, and Louise Lawler.

Group Crit: MFA Painting and Sculpture 1969 – 2024

808 gallery.

September 3 – October 20, 2024

Group Crit exhibits over 50 MFA and BFA Painting & Sculpture alumni who are visually, materially, and conceptually articulating themselves in conversation with each other. The exhibition, like a good group crit, is a cross-generational discourse on form and ideas. The work at times agrees with each other and at other times agrees to disagree. Group Crit celebrates these varied perspectives and creates a space for them to be appreciated together.

Silber Way Exhibition

1 silber way.

September 10 , 2024

Join BU Arts Initiative for an evening of art and community with a reception to celebrate the 2024-2025 Silber Way Exhibition and featured artists. Artwork will be located in front of the elevators on the 8th and 9th floors of 1 Silber Way. The Silber Way Exhibition is an annual exhibition presented by the BU Arts Initiative that features staff, faculty, alumni, and current student work, curated by a jury of Boston University staff.

Next Stage Workshops

Joan & edgar booth theatre.

September 22 – 28, 2024

• Manspread by Ava Laroche (CFA’25)
• Pyrrhic Victory by Alexa Connors (CFA’25)
• Llorona, or the Weeping Women by Gaby Tovar (CFA’25)

The School of Theatre New Play Initiative presents a series of workshops, scenes, and plays written and directed by BU students. Curated by School of Theatre Director Kirsten Greenidge , this on-its-feet workshop play experience focuses on different areas of a project in the process of development.

Contemporary Perspectives Lecture: Dawoud Bey & Allison Kemmere

Howard thurman center.

September 24, 2024

BU College of Fine Arts School of Visual Arts presents a conversation between groundbreaking artist and MacArthur Fellow Dawoud Bey and the Director of the Addison Gallery of American Art, Allison Kemmerer. Organized by the MFA Print Media & Photography program as part of the Contemporary Perspectives Lecture Series and the Tim Hamill Visiting Artist Series.

A historic opening concert of the BU Symphony Orchestra celebrates the inauguration of Boston University’s new president Dr. Melissa Gilliam , the conducting debut of new Director of Orchestral Activities Sarah Ioannides , and our fine students breaking into the 2024-2025 year. The program, embracing diversity and excellence, includes Joan Tower’s powerful “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No.1”, and two symphonic poems that reflect the importance of cultural identity and the beauty of nature. The night also features recent alum Minyung Suh (CFA’24), winner of the 2023 Concerto Competition.

Fringe Festival: Entry (or, you think you know me)

October 4 – 6, 2024

Play by S. Thomasin Barsotti • Directed by Taylor Stark • After a personal tragedy, Coye and Whit retreat to a lakeside cottage to rest and recover. There, what begins as a benign vacation morphs into a nightmare as they begin to obsess over strange entries in the cottage’s guestbook–entries that describe their emotional experiences; entries that detail their actual grief; and even entries that appear to have been written by them.

GET TICKETS

The Spongebob Musical

Hidden in the Layers

A + a gallery • venice, italy.

October 10 – November 3, 2024

This exhibition showcases new work from a selection of celebrated Boston-based artists working in printmaking, photography, and new media. Hidden in the Layers features two artists, Charles Suggs (CFA’20) and CFA Lecturer Josh Brennan . Other artists featured in the exhibition are Toni Pepe , Deborah Cornell and Lynne Allen , accomplished artists within their field who have mentored both Suggs and Brennan.

Atlantic Exchange

This exhibition is a selection of work from students of the Venice Academy of Fine Arts and the Boston University College of Fine Arts. Atlantic Exchange presents the skill and talent of young artists emerging onto the art scene.

Atlantic Exchange runs concurrently with Hidden in the Layers .

Fringe Festival: Dark Sisters

October 11 – 13, 2024

Opera by Nico Muhly (BUTI’96,’97) • Allison Voth , Music Director • Rose Freeman, Stage Director • Dark Sisters follows one woman’s dangerous attempt to escape her life as a member of the FLDS Church. The male founders of the Mormon faith (Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, chief among them) loom large in American history; Dark Sisters puts the women front and center. 

Fringe Festival: Siren Song

October 19 – 20, 2024

Opera by Jonathan Dove • William Lumpkin , Conductor • Claire Choquette , Stage Director • Siren Song is the bizarre true story of young sailor on HMS Ark Royal exchanging letters with a beautiful and successful model. Over time a romantic and passionate relationship develops, but a meeting proves increasingly difficult to arrange.

Design Week & Design Incubation 11:1

808 commonwealth ave..

October 21 – 25, 2024

BU College of Fine Arts School of Visual Arts presents Design Incubation 11.1: Boston University. The BU Graphic Design department has partnered with Design Incubation to launch DI’s tenth-anniversary colloquium as part of BUGD Design Week. The 2024 Colloquium will showcase design research in lively, interactive sessions featuring practitioners, creators, educators, and students in a live, in-person event. These sessions will explore creative research, practice, and the adjacent fields that influence their work.

Music Faculty Spotlight Performance

Cfa concert hall.

October 25, 2024

The Boston University College of Fine Arts Faculty Spotlight Concert features a delightful and eclectic mix of solo and chamber music performances by our esteemed applied faculty in Boston University School of Music. This concert is free and open to the public.

Intercollegiate Choral Festival

The fenway center, northeastern university.

October 26, 2024

Join the Boston University Singers alongside the choral programs from Boston Conservatory, Northeastern University, and Bridgewater State University for a collaborative, intercollegiate choral festival.

October 28, 2024

This program weaves together themes of fate, nature, and cultural identity. Repertoire includes Verdi, Takemitsu, Kelly-Marie Murphy , Respighi, and Ginastera. Featuring BU Concerto Competition winner trombonist Kevin Virgilio (CFA’24). Each piece, in its way, reflects on the forces—whether destiny, nature, or culture—that shape our world from different perspectives.

Moments in Photography

October 29 – December 3, 2024

Celebrating storytelling through the lens of a camera. Artists Janice Checchio , Jacqueline Ricciardi , and Cydney Scott , all BU photographers, exhibit photographs taken over the course of their careers working as photojournalists. While capturing highlights and conflicts, each artist showcases her own experience preserving a moment.

Kaleidescope • Boston University Choruses and Chamber Orchestra

St. cecilia church, boston.

October 30, 2024

Join the BU Choruses and Chamber Orchestra with guests from the Boston Arts Academy for Kaleidoscope , a concert exploring the vibrant spectrum of sound and color in music. Featuring works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Caroline Shaw, Imant Raminsh, John Corigliano, and Felix Mendelssohn, this program showcases a diverse array of musical textures, reflecting an ever-changing interplay of musical color and styles.

November 13, 2024

This Boston University Symphony Orchestra concert features “El Caminante” conducted by William Lumpkin. This performance features Professor David Guzman in the title role, along with Boston University Opera Institute alums Michelle Johnson (CFA’07) and Nina Yoshida Nelsen (CFA’01,’03). This concert is free and open to the public.

Julius Caesar

November 15 – 17, 2024

Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy directed by Grant Sorenson (CFA’26) revolves around the conspiracy and assassination of the titular character, Julius Caesar, by a group of senators led by Brutus and Cassius.

The play delves into themes of power, betrayal, ambition, and the consequences of political intrigue.

November 22 – December 8 , 2024

“Rediscover the magic of Broadway’s original roller-skating musical, as it glides back to life with all its disco-infused charm and heartfelt storytelling,” says director Gregg Wiggans (CFA’25). Written by Terrence McNally, this innovative musical is set on the ragged fringe of the New York show-biz world. As Anna Antonelli’s roller rink is about to be demolished, the rink becomes an arena in which mother and daughter examine their past, present, and future.

Aurora Borealis: A Festival of Light and Dance

Boston university dance theatre.

December, 2024

Presented in collaboration with the BU Department of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, and devised by artistic Co-Directors: Yo-EL Cassell and Micki Taylor-Pinney , Aurora Borealis: A Festival of Light and Dance is a vibrant exploration of the relationship between light and form with a focus on collaboration and experimentation, featuring multiple dance and movement pieces. All tickets are free, general admission at the door

A Year with Frog and Toad

November 30 – December 21, 2024

Based on the books by Arnold Lobel • Book and Lyrics by Willie Reale • Music by Robert Reale • Waking from hibernation in the Spring, Frog and Toad plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding and learn life lessons along the way. The two best friends celebrate and rejoice in the differences that make them unique and special. Part vaudeville, part make believe… all charm, A Year with Frog and Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures throughout the seasons.

Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo

808 gallery, howard thurman center.

December 6 – 8, 2024

The  Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo  (MICE) is a festival focusing on independent, small press and self-published comics and cartoons. Hundreds of independent comics artists and small press publishers gather alongside thousands of attendees eager to check out new comics, join in on hands-on workshops, and attend inclusive panel discussions. MICE, hosted by Boston University School of Visual Arts, is a free-to-attend event for comics readers of all ages.

Boston University Chamber Orchestra

December 10, 2024

Concluding the Fall 2024 semester’s series of orchestral concerts, Boston University Chamber Orchestra conducted by Sarah Ioannides presents a program of comedy, romantic landscapes, and the pioneering American spirit. Repertoire: Rossini, Carreno, Copland, Stravinsky, Shostakovich. This concert is free and open to the public.

Flora & Ulysses

January 13 – February 9, 2025

Written by John Glore • Based on the novel by Kate DiCamillo • Can a little squirrel change the human heart? After getting sucked up by a vacuum cleaner, a (now hairless) squirrel is rescued by Flora Belle Buckman, a 10-year-old self-proclaimed cynic. She names him Ulysses and discovers he has been reborn a superhero. Indeed, this once average squirrel can suddenly understand Flora, fly, and even write poetry. Together they embark on an adventure full of quirky characters and bursting with heart.

Faculty Spotlight Performance

February 13, 2025

The Boston University College of Fine Arts Faculty Spotlight Concert features a delightful and eclectic mix of solo and chamber music performances by our esteemed applied faculty. Free and open to the public.

Florencia en el Amazonas

February 27 – March 2, 2025

Boston University Opera Institute and School of Theatre present this opera by Daniel Catán, conducted by William Lumpkin , with stage direction by Amy Hutchinson . Steeped in the beautiful style of magical realism, the story follows the journey of the legendary diva Florencia Grimaldi and her fellow passengers on a boat ride down the Amazon.

Multiple Formats: Contemporary Art Book Fair and Symposium

March 21 – 23, 2025

Multiple Formats Contemporary Art Book Fair & Symposium weaves together conversations about artist books and higher education, pedagogical practices involving artist books, artist advocacy, and artist book distribution, collection, and access.

Boston University Spotlight at Carnegie Hall

Weill recital hall at carnegie hall, new york city.

March 25, 2025

Winners of Boston University School of Music’s annual  Carnegie Hall  competition showcase their expressive and technical gifts through the infinite variety of short works for soloist and piano accompaniment by the world’s great composers.

CFA School of Music at Symphony Hall

Symphony hall, boston.

 March 31, 2025

This special evening at Boston’s historic  Symphony Hall features not just one, but three of Boston University’s ensembles: the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Chorus. Repertoire: Bernstein’s  Chichester Psalms , Rosner’s Symphony No. 8 “Trinity”, Strauss’ Rosenkavalier Suite and Ravel’s Daphnis & Chloe Suite No. 2. With conductors Sarah Ioannides ,  Daniel Parsley , and  Kenneth Amis .

Corpus Christi

April 10 – 13, 2025

Written by Terrence McNally and directed by Gregg Wiggans, this is a story that parallels the New Testament’s. McNally’s Christ figure is a character named Joshua, who grows up gay in Corpus Christi, Texas, in the early 1950s, in isolation and torment, an object of scorn. He flees in search of a more accepting environment, gathering along the way a group of disciples who are bound to him by his message of love and tolerance.

Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition

808 gallery • stone gallery.

Boston University School of Visual Arts showcases the work of graduating students in the five graduate programs: Painting, Graphic Design, Sculpture, Print Media & Photography, and Visual Narrative. Exhibitions typically are held on campus in the galleries at the College of Fine Arts, including the Stone Gallery, 808 Gallery, and Commonwealth Gallery, with satellite shows throughout the School of Visual Arts facilities and beyond.

April 16 – 18, 2025

Desdemona & Emilia, both running in Booth Theatre in April, re-examine and reclaim the lives and voices of exceptional women. Desdemona , written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel and directed by Grant Sorenson , deconstructs Shakespeare’s tragedy and the wrongly accused wife of Othello. Vogel’s tongue-in-cheek humor raises serious questions as to the role of women through the ages.

Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi

April 24 – 27, 2025

Puccini’s Suor Angelica tells the story of a woman who bears a child out of wedlock and is sent to a convent for penance. After seven years, she receives tragic news of her son, which sets in motion a series of dire actions that ultimately result in tragedy, forgiveness, and peace.  Gianni Schicchi , considered a comic masterpiece, is a dark satire based on a real story mentioned in Dante’s Inferno and includes the famous aria “O mio babbino caro.” 

April 25 – 27, 2025

Desdemona & Emilia, both running in Booth Theatre in April, re-examine and reclaim the lives and voices of exceptional women. Emilia , written by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm and directed by Taylor Stark , illuminates the story of poet Emilia Bassano with passion, fury, laughter, and song.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition

Boston University School of Visual Arts showcases the work of graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts students, in programs including Painting, Graphic Design, Sculpture, and Printmaking. Exhibitions typically are held on campus in the galleries at the College of Fine Arts, including the Stone Gallery, 808 Gallery, and Commonwealth Gallery, with satellite shows throughout the School of Visual Arts facilities and beyond.

May 16 – June 8, 2025

Music by Matthew Sklar • Book by Bob Martin, Chad Beguelin • Lyrics by Chad Beguelin • Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. So when they hear that trouble is brewing around a small-town prom, they know that it’s time to put a spotlight on the issue…and themselves. THE PROM expertly captures all the humor and heart of a classic musical comedy with a message that resonates with audiences now more than ever.

Past Events

A Summer Place

Stone gallery.

June – August 2024

Equal parts portrait, landscape, and still life,  Breehan James  and  Nancy Wissemann-Widrig ’s paintings are a testament to their deep connection with seasonal, rustic, summer dwellings—Wissemann-Widrig’s on the coast in Maine and James’ in Northern Wisconsin. These acutely-observed rural sites come to life in carefully rendered works, which serve as both an archive of everyday things and a window to nature’s close embrace.

In his artwork on view in the 808 Gallery windows on Comm Ave, Matt Murphy plays with an interchange between sculpture and painting. Sculptures are real physical objects. Viewers also recognize objects in paintings as real physical objects even though the painting is simply a flat surface covered in paint. In this way, paintings craft an illusion of reality. 

Featured Works

Miss an event or just want to relive the magic? Visit our collection of Featured Works, where you’ll find an in-depth look at recent exhibitions, theatrical productions, operas, concerts, and more.

Series Deep Dive

Explore your favorite venues and mediums.

Boston University’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre provides BU students with countless opportunities to experiment, innovate, and take the audience from Commonwealth Avenue to other worlds.

2024 – 2025

• Next Stage Workshops ( Manspread •  Pyrrhic Victory • Llorona , or the Weeping Women ) – September 21 – 28, 2024
• The Rink – November 22 – December 8, 2024
• Florencia en el Amazonas – February 27 – March 2, 2025
• Desdemona – April 16 – 18, 2025
• Emilia – April 25 – 27, 2025

Learn more about this season at Booth , and the full School of Theatre slate of works, at bu.edu/cfa/theatre/season .

Learn More & Get tickets

The annual Boston University Fringe Festival , now in its 28th season, is a collaboration between the College of Fine Arts School of Music:  Opera Institute  and  School of Theatre . Fringe’s mission is to produce new or rarely performed significant works in the opera and theatre repertoire, bringing performances and audiences together in unique theatrical settings.

• Entry (or, you think you know me) – October 4 – 6, 2024
• Dark Sisters – October 11 – 13, 2024
• Siren Song – October 19 – 20, 2024

Learn More & Get Tickets

Opera Institute

The Opera Institute is an intensive, highly selective two-year performance-based training program for emerging operatic artists. Each year, OI presents large and small-scale works across campus, including two main stage productions and the Fringe Festival.

2024 – 2025 Opera Season

• Suor Angelica   &  Gianni Schicchi – April 24 – 27, 2025

Learn more & Get Tickets

Tuesday Night Lecture Series

Hosted by the MFA programs at Boston University School of Visual Arts, the Tuesday Night Lecture Series brings practicing artists and curators to Boston University to present their work. The series is an integral component of the MFA programs which provide two years of intensive studio practice and artistic community in the heart of Boston University’s urban campus. In addition to a public lecture on their work, visiting artists meet with students for individual and group critiques as well as hands-on workshops.

School of Visual Arts Thesis

Every Spring, Boston University School of Visual Arts hosts exhibitions showcasing the work of graduating students in the undergraduate and graduate programs.

Exhibitions typically are held on campus in the galleries at the College of Fine Arts, including the Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery, 808 Gallery, and Commonwealth Gallery, with satellite shows throughout the School of Visual Arts facilities.

Wheelock Family Theatre is one of the largest professional theaters in Boston with performances having been seen by more than one million people. Its impressive outreach to Boston and Greater Boston schools enables Wheelock Family Theatre to entertain and educate approximately 15,000 visiting schoolchildren every year, living out their mission to “create inter-generational and multicultural productions that provide a shared experience for the whole family. Our productions celebrate the diverse range of families found in the world today and seek to unite them in the shared experience of live theatre.”

2024 – 2025 Season

• The Spongebob Musical – October 4 – 27, 2024
• A Year with Frog & Toad – November 30 – December 21, 2024
• Flora & Ulysses – January 13 – February 9, 2025
• The Prom – May 16 – June 8, 2025

Boston University Art Galleries

BUAG is a vibrant resource of learning and cultural engagement for BU, the city of Boston, and the surrounding metro area. The galleries, which are free and open to the public, maintain ongoing rotating exhibitions that feature a wide scope of art from all ranges of mediums and artists.

Learn More & Visit

Large Ensembles

The large ensembles at Boston University, including Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Wind Ensemble, BU Singers, and Symphonic Chorus, play a central role in the education of the School’s instrumentalists who aspire to professions as chamber musicians, ensemble musicians, teachers, or a combination of all three.

Boston University Arts Initiative

The Boston University Arts Initiative ensures that the arts are fundamental to the student experience by developing and supporting university-wide programs to advance the role of the arts at BU through building community; supporting interdisciplinary arts teaching, learning, and research; and highlighting diverse artists and modes of artistry. BUAI hosts a variety of arts events for BU students and the broader Boston community.

Explore Related Topics:

• BU College of Fine Arts
• BU School of Music
• BU School of Theatre
• BU School of Visual Arts
• CFA School of Music
• Share this story

Share this:

• Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)