Northwestern University

This prestigious theater university is located just half an hour from Chicago. Although this school doesn't offer an acting conservatory program and freshmen cannot take acting classes, aspiring actors can major in theatre here.

Northwestern alumni include Warren Beatty, David Schwimmer and Zach Braff, to name a few. Beyond acting, voice and movement training, students learn about other aspects of the theater like playwriting, directing and stage production while also studying history, literature and criticism. Other courses include characterization, dialects and make-up. Students are also required to work backstage as crew members.

In addition, this is one of the acting schools in Chicago that offers a Music Theatre Certificate program to select voice and theatre students.

Performance opportunities: Students can audition for school productions as early as their freshman year. Productions are staged at any of 5 theatres, including a 1,100 seat proscenium theater. The school produces 8 mainstage productions every year, plus a summer festival, a presentation of an original student-written musical and over 30 lab productions. Students can audition for the children's theater tour, a 9-week run of matinees and also get involved with The Mime Company. Finally, actors have the opportunity to participate in over 50 student productions staged throughout the year.

Career preparation: Internships for credit are available. Graduating students appear in a monologue and scene night in front of industry players in Chicago and can also audition for a New York showcase. Students can attend seminars given by agents, casting directors and other professionals. The Northwestern University Entertainment Alliance helps students' and alumni's networking efforts.

Degree: B.A. in Theater.

Financial Aid: Need-based scholarships are available, as well as grants, loans and federal work-study programs.

What you'll need to apply: Test scores, school report and a teacher evaluation, plus TOEFL scores for applicants whose first language is not English. No audition is required.

Acceptance rate: The school accepts 370 undergrads into the theatre major.

Website: http://www.northwestern.edu

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