Northwestern University — School of Communication Theatre

Northwestern University's School of Communication Theatre program in Evanston, Illinois, stands as one of the most distinguished university-level theatre training programs in the United States. With more than 30 full-time faculty members covering acting, directing, design, playwriting, music theatre, dance, and theatre history, the program offers an exceptionally broad and deep curriculum that few peer institutions can match. Students stage approximately 40 productions annually in the Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, supplemented by numerous student-produced works in smaller venues across campus. The program offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree options, allowing students to tailor their education to their specific artistic and academic goals. Northwestern's theatre department benefits from its position within the School of Communication, which encourages interdisciplinary work across performance studies, radio/television/film, and communication sciences. The combination of rigorous academic study with extensive practical performance experience creates graduates who are both intellectually sophisticated and professionally prepared.

The alumni roster of Northwestern's theatre program reads like a who's who of American entertainment, including Stephen Colbert, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Schwimmer, Zach Braff, Megan Mullally, and many other household names. This remarkable alumni network extends across Broadway, film, television, and comedy, demonstrating the program's ability to develop versatile performers who succeed across multiple entertainment mediums. Current students benefit from these alumni connections through mentorship opportunities, industry panels, and networking events that bridge campus training with professional careers. The program's proximity to Chicago — one of America's great theatre cities — provides unparalleled access to professional productions, internship opportunities, and the vibrant storefront theatre scene that distinguishes the city. Faculty members frequently maintain active professional careers in Chicago theatre, bringing current industry knowledge directly into the classroom. Northwestern graduates often transition seamlessly into the Chicago theatre ecosystem before moving to New York or Los Angeles.

The Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts serves as the primary production facility for Northwestern's theatre program, housing multiple performance spaces that accommodate everything from intimate black box productions to full-scale musical theatre. The center's technical facilities, costume shops, and design studios provide students with professional-grade resources for all aspects of theatrical production. Beyond the Wirtz Center, student theatre groups operate independently across campus, giving aspiring directors, playwrights, and producers opportunities to develop their craft outside the formal curriculum. The Waa-Mu Show, an annual original student-written musical that has been a Northwestern tradition since 1929, represents one of the oldest and most prestigious student theatrical productions in the country. This combination of faculty-directed and student-driven theatrical activity creates an environment where creative initiative is encouraged alongside structured training. Students who thrive in this environment tend to be self-motivated artists who value both academic rigor and creative independence.

Northwestern's theatre curriculum emphasizes a holistic approach to theatre education, integrating performance training with scholarly study in ways that distinguish it from pure conservatory programs. Acting students study multiple methodologies, including Stanislavski-based techniques, Meisner work, viewpoints, and various physical theatre approaches, developing a versatile toolkit rather than allegiance to a single method. The directing program trains students in both classical and contemporary approaches, with opportunities to direct in departmental and student-produced settings. Design students work across scenic, lighting, costume, sound, and projection design, often collaborating with professional designers on mainstage productions. The playwriting program nurtures new voices through workshops, readings, and fully staged productions of student-written work. This breadth of training means that Northwestern graduates enter the profession with a comprehensive understanding of theatrical collaboration, even if they specialize in one particular discipline.

The music theatre program at Northwestern deserves particular attention, as it has consistently produced performers who work at the highest levels of the industry. Students in the music theatre track receive training in acting, singing, and dance that rivals dedicated conservatory programs, while also completing Northwestern's demanding liberal arts curriculum. The program benefits from Chicago's robust musical theatre scene, which includes major touring productions, regional premieres, and innovative new works at theatres like the Lookingglass, Steppenwolf, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Senior showcases in both New York and Chicago connect graduating students directly with agents, casting directors, and producers. The program's selective admissions process ensures small cohorts of exceptionally talented students who push each other to higher levels of achievement. Faculty members with Broadway, national tour, and regional theatre credits bring professional standards and industry connections to every aspect of the training.

Tuition at Northwestern University runs approximately $65,000 per year, placing it among the most expensive options for theatre training in the country. However, the university offers substantial financial aid packages that can significantly reduce the net cost for qualifying students, including need-based grants, merit scholarships, and work-study opportunities. Students should weigh this investment against the program's exceptional track record of producing working professionals and the value of a Northwestern degree in contexts beyond the entertainment industry. The combination of elite theatre training with a prestigious university education provides graduates with career flexibility that pure conservatory programs may not offer. Students who pursue careers outside of performance after graduation find that their Northwestern degree opens doors in arts administration, education, media, business, and many other fields. For families evaluating the return on investment, the dual value of conservatory-quality training and an internationally recognized university degree is a compelling consideration.

Northwestern's theatre program maintains strong relationships with professional theatre companies throughout the Chicago area and beyond, creating pathways for students to transition from academic training to professional careers. The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center regularly hosts professional guest artists who direct, design, and teach alongside the permanent faculty, exposing students to diverse working methods and professional networks. Internship opportunities with Chicago theatre companies, casting offices, and production houses allow students to gain real-world experience while still enrolled in the program. The program's Career Development office provides guidance on headshots, resumes, agent outreach, and the business side of a theatre career that many academic programs neglect. Alumni panels and industry showcases create direct connections between current students and working professionals who understand the specific challenges of transitioning from training to career. These professional development resources complement the artistic training to produce graduates who are not only talented but also savvy about navigating the entertainment industry.

Northwestern's theatre program is best suited for students who want rigorous conservatory-style training within the context of a world-class research university. Students who thrive here are intellectually curious artists who value the intersection of scholarship and practice, and who want their theatre education enriched by exposure to disciplines like communication studies, journalism, engineering, and the sciences. The program is not ideal for students who want a pure conservatory experience with no academic requirements beyond their art form — those students may be better served by standalone conservatories like Juilliard or AMDA. However, for students who see themselves as artist-scholars and who want maximum career flexibility after graduation, Northwestern offers a combination of artistic excellence and academic prestige that is virtually unmatched in American higher education. The program's proven track record of producing successful professionals across every sector of the entertainment industry speaks to the effectiveness of this integrated approach. Prospective students should visit campus, attend a production at the Wirtz Center, and speak with current students to determine whether Northwestern's unique blend of rigorous training and expansive education aligns with their artistic and personal goals.