Private school14.1K
Program
Program snapshot
Admissions
Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App RequiredAudition format
In-Person or VirtualProgram profile
Highly Selective25-40 StudentsProgram
Quick links
Program snapshot
Admissions
Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App RequiredAudition format
In-Person or VirtualProgram profile
Highly Selective25-40 StudentsBrowse programs
PROGRAM RECOGNITION
•Midwest's oldest theatre conservatory — founded in 1925 as the Goodman School of Drama, celebrating 100 years of training
•Highly selective: ~2,000 applicants compete for 134 spots across all Theatre School programs
•Rooted in the Chicago theatre tradition — physicality, truth in action, collaboration, spontaneity
TRAINING
•First year builds a broad technical foundation; years 2–4 refine individual artistic voice and add advanced skills
•Prepares actors for both stage and screen with conservatory-level rigor
•Faculty of ~30 full-time and ~65 adjunct professional artists — all courses faculty-taught
PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTIONS
•30+ productions per year (~300 performances, ~28,000 audience members annually)
•Three performance venues: 250-seat Watts Stage (thrust), 100-seat Healy Theatre (flexible black box), and studio spaces
NOTABLE ALUMNI
•Gillian Anderson — Emmy winner (The X-Files, The Crown)
•John C. Reilly — Oscar nominee (Chicago, Step Brothers)
•Judy Greer — Archer, 13 Going on 30, Ant-Man
•Sean Gunn — Gilmore Girls, Guardians of the Galaxy
•Michael Rooker — The Walking Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy
•David Dastmalchian — The Dark Knight, The Suicide Squad
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
•Internships at Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Public Theater, Kennedy Center, and more
•Greece Summer Acting Intensive on the island of Hydra
LOCATION
•Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood — direct access to one of the country's most active professional theatre scenes
Academic info
Snapshot
3.78
Avg GPA (W)
76%
Admit Rate
school-wide
69%
Grad Rate
14,090
Enrollment
$68,751
Earnings
10yr after
Costs & Aid
Average Annual Cost
$30,902
after typical aid
Tuition & Fees
$45,999
before aid
Average annual cost reflects the grants and scholarships most students receive.
$0-30k$27,359
$30-48k$25,950
$48-75k$28,687
$75-110k$31,057
$110k+$37,092
Program info updated 3d ago
PROGRAM RECOGNITION
•Midwest's oldest theatre conservatory — founded in 1925 as the Goodman School of Drama, celebrating 100 years of training
•Highly selective: ~2,000 applicants compete for 134 spots across all Theatre School programs
•Rooted in the Chicago theatre tradition — physicality, truth in action, collaboration, spontaneity
TRAINING
•First year builds a broad technical foundation; years 2–4 refine individual artistic voice and add advanced skills
•Prepares actors for both stage and screen with conservatory-level rigor
•Faculty of ~30 full-time and ~65 adjunct professional artists — all courses faculty-taught
PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTIONS
•30+ productions per year (~300 performances, ~28,000 audience members annually)
•Three performance venues: 250-seat Watts Stage (thrust), 100-seat Healy Theatre (flexible black box), and studio spaces
NOTABLE ALUMNI
•Gillian Anderson — Emmy winner (The X-Files, The Crown)
•John C. Reilly — Oscar nominee (Chicago, Step Brothers)
•Judy Greer — Archer, 13 Going on 30, Ant-Man
•Sean Gunn — Gilmore Girls, Guardians of the Galaxy
•Michael Rooker — The Walking Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy
•David Dastmalchian — The Dark Knight, The Suicide Squad
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
•Internships at Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Public Theater, Kennedy Center, and more
•Greece Summer Acting Intensive on the island of Hydra
LOCATION
•Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood — direct access to one of the country's most active professional theatre scenes
Updated 3d ago
