DePaul University - The Theatre School (Chicago)

DePaul University's Theatre School is one of the oldest and most storied conservatory programs in America, tracing its origins to 1925 when it was founded as the Goodman School of Drama, affiliated with the Art Institute of Chicago's Goodman Theatre. The school has a remarkable history of survival and reinvention: it faced closure in 1975 due to budget deficits but was saved by a passionate campaign from faculty, students, and alumni. DePaul University assumed stewardship in 1978, and the program was renamed The Theatre School in 1982, beginning a new era of growth and artistic excellence. Located in Chicago's vibrant Lincoln Park neighborhood, the school has been deeply woven into the fabric of Chicago's legendary theater community for a century, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. The Theatre School has produced an astonishing roster of talent that has shaped American theater, film, and television, with particular distinction in the development of Chicago's ensemble theater tradition. Its graduates have founded some of the most important theater companies in the country and have gone on to win virtually every major award in the entertainment industry.

In 2025, The Theatre School at DePaul offers BFA and MFA programs in Acting, along with programs in design, technology, and dramaturgy, operating as a true conservatory within a major Catholic university. The school stages over 30 productions annually, providing extraordinary performance opportunities for students at every level. The BFA program is structured as a four-year conservatory with a learning-by-doing philosophy that puts students on stage from their first year. Training covers a comprehensive range of techniques including Meisner, Viewpoints, classical text work, voice and speech, movement, and on-camera work. The school's location in Chicago — home to Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and hundreds of storefront theaters — provides an unparalleled ecosystem for emerging actors that is arguably the best theater training ground in the country outside of New York. The school has also recently launched a certificate program in intimacy coordination, reflecting its commitment to evolving with industry standards. Note that MFA Acting admission has been temporarily paused as of November 2025.

Admission to The Theatre School requires a rigorous audition process that evaluates acting talent, physical expressiveness, collaborative ability, and potential for growth within the conservatory model. BFA applicants prepare audition materials that typically include two contrasting monologues and may participate in group exercises and interviews during callbacks. The program seeks students who demonstrate genuine passion for the craft, a strong work ethic, and the ability to thrive in an ensemble-based training environment. Academic credentials are considered as part of the broader DePaul application, though the artistic audition is the primary driver of admission decisions. MFA applicants, when admissions are open, follow a similar process with higher expectations for prior training and professional experience. The Theatre School is significantly more selective than DePaul's overall 74% acceptance rate, with strict capacity limits that keep class sizes small and training intensive.

The BFA curriculum is structured as a true conservatory experience, with intensive daily training in acting technique, voice and speech, movement, and scene study from the first year. The program emphasizes a learning-by-doing philosophy, with students cast in productions from early in their training and accumulating substantial performance experience across their four years. Training methodologies draw from Meisner technique, Viewpoints, Laban movement analysis, and classical text approaches, giving students a diverse toolkit of performance skills. MFA students, when the program is admitting, complete an intensive two-year, 120-credit-hour program across six quarters that fast-tracks professional preparation. All students benefit from working with faculty who are themselves active professionals in Chicago's theater community, bringing current industry knowledge and connections directly into the classroom. The school's more than 30 annual productions span classical, contemporary, musical, and experimental work, ensuring that students gain experience across a wide range of performance styles and genres.

The Theatre School attracts actors who are passionate about ensemble-based theater and who are drawn to Chicago's unique position as one of the world's great theater cities. The school's alumni roster is extraordinary: John Malkovich, Jeff Perry, and Gary Sinise — all Steppenwolf Theatre Company founding ensemble members — trained at the Goodman School, as did Joe Mantegna, John C. Reilly, Michael Rooker, Gillian Anderson, and Laurence Fishburne. More recent alumni include Joe Keery from Stranger Things, Sean Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy, and Ray Liotta. The playwright David Mamet is also an alumnus. The Theatre School's deep connections to Chicago's professional theater community mean that graduates frequently transition directly from training into professional work with Chicago companies. The program is particularly well-regarded for developing actors who are generous collaborators, technically skilled, and deeply committed to the ensemble tradition that defines Chicago theater. Many graduates build entire careers in Chicago's thriving scene before some eventually transition to New York or Los Angeles.

MFA tuition at The Theatre School is approximately $40,326 per year, with BFA tuition following DePaul's standard undergraduate rates of approximately $42,000 per year. Every admitted MFA applicant receives a Theatre School Scholarship ranging from $18,000 to $21,000 annually, significantly reducing the cost of the two-year graduate program. Additional need-based financial aid is available through DePaul's financial aid office, and BFA students can access merit scholarships and university grants. Chicago's cost of living, while substantial, is significantly lower than New York or Los Angeles, stretching students' budgets further and making it more feasible to focus on training without the crushing housing costs of coastal cities. Compared to programs at NYU, Columbia, or Carnegie Mellon, The Theatre School offers a competitive financial picture, particularly for MFA students receiving guaranteed scholarships. The combination of guaranteed MFA scholarships and Chicago's relative affordability makes The Theatre School one of the more accessible options among top-ranked conservatories.

The Theatre School at DePaul is the ideal choice for actors who are passionate about ensemble theater, drawn to Chicago's extraordinary theater community, and willing to build their early careers in one of the best cities in the world for live performance. If you want to work with some of the most respected theater companies in America and develop as a generous, technically skilled ensemble player, this program offers an environment and tradition that is genuinely irreplaceable. The program is particularly well-suited for actors who value the collaborative, company-based approach to theater that defines Chicago's scene. Actors who are primarily focused on film and television careers and want to be in New York or Los Angeles from the start should consider programs in those markets. If cost is a primary concern, public university programs like UNCSA or SUNY Purchase offer comparable conservatory training at significantly lower tuition. For actors drawn to Chicago but who want an MFA, check the current status of the MFA program's admission pause before planning your application.

Immerse yourself in Chicago's theater scene from day one — see shows at Steppenwolf, Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, and especially the storefront theaters that are the heart and soul of Chicago theater culture. Build relationships with working professionals in the Chicago community, as many Theatre School faculty and guest artists are actively involved in professional companies and can connect you to opportunities. Take advantage of the school's 30-plus annual productions by auditioning broadly and seeking performance opportunities in diverse styles and genres. If you are interested in building a career in Chicago, start making connections with companies and casting directors during your training rather than waiting until after graduation. Research the school's alumni network and reach out to graduates who are working in areas that interest you — the Theatre School community is tight-knit and generally supportive of fellow alumni. If you are considering the MFA program, stay in contact with the admissions office regarding the current pause on admissions, and use any waiting period to build your professional credits and audition skills.