The Theatre School at DePaul University
The Theatre School at DePaul University, previously the Goodman School of Drama (also known as TTS and GSD, respectively) is the drama school of DePaul University. Founded when its very first class was conducted at the Art Institute of Chicago on January 5, 1925, the Goodman School officially became part of DePaul University on July 1, 1978 and was renamed The Theatre School at DePaul University in 1982.[1] The Theatre School is the Midwest region's oldest theatre conservatory and is ranked as one of the top professional theatrical training programs in the United States, enrolling approximately 320 students from North America and abroad. The Theatre School's main performance space is the Merle Reskin Theatre (formerly Blackstone Theatre) in Downtown Chicago.
The Theatre School is organized in three departments with the following degrees are currently on offer:
- Design/Technology
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Costume Design, Costume Technology, Lighting Design, Scenic Design, Sound Design, Stage Management, and Theatre Technology
- Performance
- Theatre Studies
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dramaturgy/Criticism, Playwriting, Theatre Arts (with possible concentrations in Directing and Theatre for Young Audiences), and Theatre Management
- Master of Fine Arts in Arts Leadership
The Theatre School produces over two dozen public theatrical productions and nearly forty total productions each season. The Theatre School Showcase Series features contemporary and classic plays, while the Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences presents plays for children. Other mainstage productions include the New Directors Series (MFA Directing theses) and the New Playwrights Series (BFA Playwriting pieces).
Notable alumni (Goodman School of Drama, 1925–1982)
- Theoni V. Aldredge (BFA Costume Design, 1952)
- Tom Amandes (Certificate Acting, 1981)
- Kevin Anderson (Certificate Acting, 1981)[2]
- Shelley Berman (Acting)
- Tom Bosley (Acting)
- Bruce Boxleitner (Certificate Acting, 1971)[2]
- Melinda Dillon (Acting)
- Dennis Dugan (BFA Acting, 1969)[2]
- Scott Ellis (BFA Acting, 1978)
- Charles Fleischer (Acting)
- Gloria Foster (Acting)
- Dennis Grimaldi (BFA Acting, 1969)
- Linda Hunt (BFA Acting, 1966)
- Harvey Korman (Acting)
- Eugene Lee (BFA Scenic Design, 1964)
- Mick Leavitt (BFA Acting, 1981)[2]
- Karl Malden (BFA Acting, 1937)
- Joe Mantegna (BFA Acting, 1967–1969)[2]
- Lois Nettleton (Acting)
- Geraldine Page (BFA Acting, 1945)
- Betsy Palmer (Acting)
- Elizabeth Perkins (Certificate Acting, 1981)[2]
- Shauneille Perry (MFA Directing, 1952)
- José Quintero (BFA Acting, 1949)
- Steve Smith (BFA Acting, 1977)
- Carrie Snodgress (Acting)
- Lili Taylor (Acting)
- Concetta Tomei (BFA Acting, 1975)[2]
- Sam Wanamaker (Acting, 1938)
- Howard Witt (Certificate Acting, 1967)
- Charlayne Woodard (BFA Acting, 1974–1977)
- Louis Zorich (BFA Acting, 1955–1958)
Notable alumni (The Theatre School, 1982–present)
- Aaron Abrams (BFA Acting, 2001)[2]
- Gillian Anderson (BFA Acting, 1990)[2]
- David-Matthew Barnes (BFA Playwriting, 1996–1997)
- Kevin Bigley (BFA Acting, 2009)
- Jeffrey Nicholas Brown (BFA Acting, 1997)[2]
- W. Earl Brown (MFA Acting, 1989)[2]
- Julianne Buescher (BFA Acting, 1989)
- P. J. Byrne (MFA Acting, 1999)
- Paula Cale (BFA Acting, 1993)[2]
- Monique Coleman (BFA Acting, 2002)
- David Dastmalchian (BFA Acting, 1999)
- Ann Dowd (MFA Acting, 1982)[2]
- Eli Goodman (BFA Acting, 1988–1990)
- Judy Greer (BFA Acting, 1997)[2]
- Sean Gunn (BFA Acting, 1996)[2]
- Zach Helm (BFA Acting, 1996)
- Stana Katic (MFA Acting, 2000–2002)[2]
- Lisa Robin Kelly (BFA Acting, 1992)
- Joe Keery (BFA Acting, 2014)
- Alexander Koch (BFA Acting, 2012)[3]
- Adam Mayfield (BFA Acting, 2000)
- Tarell Alvin McCraney (BFA Acting, 2003)
- Cynthia McWilliams (BFA Acting, 2003)[2]
- Frank Merle (BFA Playwriting, 2001)
- Paul Miller (BFA Lighting Design, 1987)
- Michael Muhney (BFA Acting, 1997)[2]
- Zak Orth (BFA Acting, 1992)
- Caitlin Montanye Parrish (BFA Theatre Studies, 2006)
- Amy Pietz (BFA Acting, 1991)[2]
- John C. Reilly (BFA Acting, 1983–1987)[2]
- Leonard Roberts (BFA Acting, 1995)
- Michael Rooker (BFA Acting, 1982)[2]
- Ashton Sanders (BFA Acting, 2013–2016)
- Casey Siemaszko (BFA Acting, 1983)
- Nina Siemaszko (Acting)
- Ted Wass (BFA Acting, 1985)