The Artists-in-Residence Program offers a unique educational resource to the Theater Arts faculty, students and staff. Guest artists and professionals from the industry join the department for residencies and workshops throughout the year. Residencies can last anywhere from a few hours to an entire semester. Guest artists lecture, lead projects, teach master classes, and direct full-length productions.

Past MIT Artists-in-Residence include world-renowned choreographer Gus Solomons, Jr. (MIT BArch, 1961), McDermott award-winning actress and playwright Vinie Burrows, acclaimed dancer and choreographer Alexandra Beller, and Cambridge University American Stage Tour productions. The Residency Program also hosted a Design Symposium in April 2003 which featured presentations by professional theatre designers Karl Eigsti, Janie Howland, and Rafael Jaen.

This past year, noted British actor, author and director Max Hafler joined MIT Theater Arts to direct the IAP Dramashop production, and acclaimed dancer/choreographer Edisa Weeks, artistic director of NYC-based dance company Delirious, created the Dance Theater Ensemble spring concert.