The theatre tradition at DePaul University first took shape in the College Theatre on Sheffield Avenue. Built by the first President of DePaul, the Rev. Peter V. Byrne, the 1,325-seat building was planned as a grand theatre for use by the public on the North Side as well as an assembly and performance hall for students. It opened in June 1907 as the only theatre in the United States founded and operated by Roman Catholic clergy.

The first production was the light opera Otho Visconti. Byrne's ambition was to have a resident winter dramatic company, and a summer stock company that would perform musicals and light opera. The Panic of 1907 and other economic problems prevented development of this vision and increased the burden of the university's deficit. In light of the economic problems, including some that arose from the construction of the College Theatre, Byrne resigned in 1909.

Without the support of its founder, the College Theatre was unable to regain its professional stature. A 1910 attempt to revive the theatre for summer stock performances by new president the Rev. Francis X. McCabe was short-lived. McCabe's picture appeared in a Chicago newspaper with a local actress and this created a minor scandal. Managing a theatre was determined to be an inappropriate duty for a priest and the College Theatre was never again used for professional performances, though student productions were held there until the late 1920s. The building was used for basketball games until 1956, and for student dances after that. It became known affectionately to generations of students as "The Barn". However, its physical condition deteriorated and the University demolished it in 1979.

In 1930, drama at DePaul received energy and direction from David Itkin, who was seeking opportunities to teach other than at the Goodman.

The Department of Drama opened in a DePaul building at 64 E. Lake Street, with large classrooms for acting and The Little Theatre on the third floor. Itkin produced and directed four plays a year in the Little Theatre. The first was Alice in Wonderland. Due to his international reputation and contacts, Itkin was able to produce the world premiere performances of several plays, including Fritz Blocki's The World Between in 1930. His choice of plays consistently demonstrated an interest and respect for human dignity and self-worth that was compatible with DePaul's Vincentian philosophy.

Itkin's accomplishments at DePaul included producing more than 120 plays, performing in productions, and teaching students.

During the mid-1940s, after her graduation from the Goodman School of Drama, Itkin's daughter Bella Itkin joined the faculty of the Department of Drama teaching and directing plays in the evening program. In 1954 the Department of Drama was eliminated from University programs, as part of a general curriculum reevaluation that took place at DePaul during this decade. As a result, David Itkin left DePaul.

From 1954 until the 1980s the Department of Speech and Drama continued the performance tradition at DePaul, performing plays in the Center Theatre on the third floor of Lewis Center and later in the pit area of the Schmitt Academic Center. However, after acquiring the Goodman School of Drama, the University determined that there was no reason to maintain a separate Department of Speech and Drama. Thus, this department was ultimately incorporated into the Goodman School of Drama.