Program
Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewIn-Person or VirtualHighly Selective25-40 StudentsUniversity App Required
Program Characteristics
Prescreen Required
Audition Required
No Interview
Highly Selective
25-40 Students
University App Required
Program Highlights
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
Expert Tips
Be your true self in your introduction video!
Key Info
University AppApplication
Apply atSchool Website
Deadlines
Early ActionNov 15, 2025
Regular DecisionFeb 1, 2026
Program AppApplication
Apply atSchool Website
Deadline
Prescreen/ApplicationDec 1, 2025
Auditions
Callback Audition (Chicago)Jan 17, 2026
Callback Audition (New York)Jan 24–25, 2026
Callback Audition (Chicago)Jan 31, 2026
Callback Audition (Chicago)Feb 2, 2026
Audition Fee
$65Waiver
Prescreen Requirements
Monologues
TWO MONOLOGUES, approximately 1 minute each:
•One monologue MUST be contemporary (written after 2000)
•Second can be contemporary OR classical/heightened text (we encourage contemporary for both)
•Choose characters whose age and experience are close to your own
•Must be from PLAYS (not film/TV scripts)
•Read the entire play to understand context
Additional Materials
•SLATE consisting of:
-Brief introduction (waist up): your name, monologue titles/playwrights
-Brief answer to ONE prompt: (a) What are you passionate about that has nothing to do with theatre or performance? OR (b) What is something that you are deeply curious about and why?
•PHOTOGRAPH
•High school TRANSCRIPT sent directly to Theatre School Admissions
Callback Requirements
Monologues
ONE PREPARED MONOLOGUE
•Perform one of your two prescreen monologues in front of other students and faculty
•May reuse a monologue from your prescreen video
Additional Materials
CALLBACK REQUIREMENTS
•Complete questionnaire in Blue Demon Domain (required before registering for callback)
•Dress in comfortable clothing appropriate for physical movement
•Must be present for the entire callback session (approximately 3 hours)
CALLBACK FORMAT
•Brief information session and faculty introductions
•Sample class led by faculty (may include improv, acting exercises, vocal expression, or movement work)
•Perform one prepared monologue
•Assigned scene partner for open-text scene work under faculty direction
•1-2 questions about your audition submission and collaboration process
Good to Know
PRESCREEN VIDEO DUE DECEMBER 1. Submit via Blue Demon Domain (available ~24 hours after submitting DePaul application). Callback decisions emailed within ~2 weeks. Rooted in Chicago tradition: physicality, truth in action, communication, collaboration, spontaneity.
What's The Process
STEP 1: VIDEO PRESCREEN
•Submit DePaul application naming BFA Acting as intended major by December 1
•Within ~24 hours, gain access to the Blue Demon Domain
•Upload audition fee, photograph, and prescreen video to the Blue Demon Domain by December 1
•Callback decisions emailed on a rolling basis, typically within 2 weeks of receiving materials
STEP 2: CALLBACK AUDITION
•Invitation-only — must pass prescreen to register
•Complete questionnaire in Blue Demon Domain, then use callback email link to register for a session
•Group format lasting approximately 3 hours — must stay for entire session
•Dress in comfortable clothing appropriate for physical movement
•Session includes:
-Brief information session and faculty introductions
-Sample class (improv, acting exercises, vocal expression, or movement work)
-Perform one prepared monologue (may reuse from prescreen)
-Open-text scene work with assigned partner under faculty direction
-1–2 questions about your submission and collaboration process
DECISIONS
•All applicants receive a final admission decision by mid-March
•Three outcomes: admit, waitlist, or deny
•Admitted students must respond by May 1
Scholarship Info
THEATRE SCHOOL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP
•Every admitted Theatre School student receives a renewable merit-based scholarship ($15,000–$30,000)
•Based on combination of academic record and audition/interview performance
•Automatically considered — no separate scholarship application required
•Renewable up to four years provided student remains in good standing
•FAFSA not required for Theatre School Scholarship (but recommended for additional need-based aid)
•Scholarship amount and renewal requirements communicated in admission decision letter
Program info updated Mar 23, 11:48 PM
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 Mar 23, 11:48 PM
Academic School Information
3.78
Avg GPA (W)
76%
Admit Rate
69%
Grad Rate
14,090
Enrollment
$68,751
Earnings
10yr after
Tuition & Fees
$45,999
before aid
Average Annual Cost
$30,902
after typical aid
Average annual cost is often lower than tuition because it accounts for grants and scholarships most students receive. It includes tuition, room & board, books, and supplies.
Family Income $0 - $30k$27,359
Family Income $30k - $48k$25,950
Family Income $48k - $75k$28,687
Family Income $75k - $110k$31,057
Family Income $110k+$37,092
