Chicago Acting Schools

The Theatre School - DePaul University
www.depaul.edu

Located in the heart of the Windy City, this is one of the oldest acting schools in Chicago. Geraldine Page and John C. Reilly are among the alumni. Students benefit from a low faculty-student ratio during their acting studies, which include movement, voice, speech, scene study, dialects, stage combat, make-up, improvisation, Shakespeare and the classics, film and television acting, auditioning technique, voice over, African dance and musical theatre. The training draws from a wide range of methods (Stanislavski, Meisner, Spolin, Grotowski, Linklater, Laban, etc.) and uses techniques like Yoga and Tai Chi to develop the actor's instrument. Acting students are also required to take 13 courses in liberal studies.

Performance opportunities: The program focuses heavily on performance. The school stages more then 35 plays per season, some at a 1,325-seat theatre in downtown Chicago. After the first year of training, each student in both the undergrad and graduate programs appears in at least 3 productions each year. If you are considering applying for this acting school in Chicago, you can arrange to watch a play for free.

Career preparation: Most acting teachers at the conservatory are working professionals. Acting students often work on productions with student playwrights and directors, building relationships for the future. They also take courses to learn the business of acting and how to market themselves, as well as workshops with agents and casting directors. Graduating students appear in an industry showcase in Chicago, LA and New York. In each city, students have an opportunity to network with alumni in a series of events organized by the acting school.

Degree: BFA in Acting or MFA in Acting.

Tuition Fee: $28,625 yearly (plus approximately $9,800 for room and board) for the BFA program; $26,900 yearly for the MFA program.

Financial Aid: Students can apply for grants (for undergrads only), loans and work-study programs. Talent and academic scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $14,000 per year are available during all 4 years of study for undergrads, plus one-year merit scholarships based on their previous year of study. Graduate students are considered for yearly renewable talent scholarships.

What you'll need to apply: Transcripts, test scores for BFA applicants, 3 letters of recommendation, a photograph and an audition (held at the acting school in Chicago and in several other major cities). MFA applicants also need to submit a resume.

Acceptance rate: 47 students are accepted into the undergraduate program out of approximately 700 applicants. 10 students are accepted into the graduate program (5 men and 5 women). In both programs, acceptance into the second year is by invitation only.