Talent. Passion. Drama. Connection.

In Chicago, it all starts at The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Acclaimed as “a legendary training ground” (Chicago Tribune), The Theatre School was founded as the Goodman School of Drama in 1925, joined DePaul University in 1978 and celebrates its 81st anniversary during the 2006-2007 season. A fully accredited school within a major urban university, The Theatre School is the Midwest's oldest theatre conservatory and is renowned as a one of the top professional theatre training programs in the United States.

The school accepts only a small fraction of the approximately 1,000 applicants who undertake the stringent admissions process of national auditions and interviews. Once admitted, students choose one of 14 specialized areas of study. The school offers B.F.A. degrees in Acting, Costume Design, Costume Technology, Lighting Design, Scenic Design, Theatre Technology, Stage Management, Playwriting, Theatre Management, Dramaturgy/Criticism and Theatre Arts; and M.F.A. degrees in Acting, Directing, and in a ground-breaking partnership with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Arts Leadership.

The current enrollment numbers approximately 300 students from around the United States and several other countries. The faculty/student ratio of one-to-six allows for the continuous interaction and supervision essential for professional theatre training. A majority of the faculty and staff maintain their connections and professional work in all aspects of Chicago’s renowned and thriving theatre industry. This distinguished professional faculty emphasizes not only the theory but also the practice of theatre.

As part of this intensive “learning by doing” philosophy, The Theatre School presents more than 35 productions each season in a variety of venues. These include The Theatre School Showcase, a four-play series of contemporary and classic plays, and Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences, a three-play children’s theatre series, presented at the historic Merle Reskin Theatre (formerly the Blackstone), a Broadway-style 1,325-seat house located in Chicago’s downtown theatre district.

Graduates of The Theatre School can be found working at most Chicago theatres, as well as coast-to-coast and around the globe in theatre, film and television. The list of celebrated artists with our training is long — just a few you may recognize include Gillian Anderson, Kevin Anderson, Theoni V. Aldredge, Bruce Boxleitner, Kelly Coffield, Scott Ellis, Melinda Dillon, Judy Greer, Gloria Foster, Linda Hunt, Harvey Korman, Eugene Lee, Karl Malden, Joe Mantegna, Lois Nettleton, Kevin J. O'Connor, Geraldine Page, Elizabeth Perkins, Amy Pietz, Dunja Ramicova, John C. Reilly, Michael Rooker, Carrie Snodgress, Concetta Tomei, Ted Wass, Larry Yando and Adrian Zmed.