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Statement on Culture at The Theatre School
DePaul's Vincentian Mission compels us to embrace the God-given dignity of each member of our community. As artists and educators whose goal is to concretely show the expansive breadth of life and humanity, it is important to hold ourselves accountable to our university mission and namesake, St. Vincent DePaul.
We recognize that to teach theatre, we must explore the human condition in all its manifestations. Most plays contain an element of conflict, whether that be: person vs. person, person vs. nature, or person vs. society. It is through conflict that we dialogue with ourselves and others about the world in which we want to live. Through encouraging open dialogue, constructive feedback, and processes for reconciliation, we hope our faculty, staff, students and audiences will deepen their appreciation for the complexity of life and continue to honor the Vincentian Tradition.
What is being done
The Theatre School has a dedicated staff person who focuses on student support and helping faculty and staff explore cultural and societal trends in theatre.
We offer student, faculty, and staff training opportunities to share best practices, learn from experts, and examine syllabi. This includes a recent performance symposium that explored Jewish identity, an accessibility audit of our curriculum and internal practices led by an external accessibility consultant, book clubs that explore varying topics important to higher education and training artists, and anti-racism training.
We are refining community feedback processes (such as our Concern Resolution Path and our Postproduction Review Process) to identify barriers to our community needs.
What must be done
The foundation of our current strategic plan focuses on defining, imagining, and implementing 21st century conservatory training. A cornerstone of this goal is to stay current with all the trends and discussions happening in and around live performance. Some of the action items within include:
- Evaluate current trainings, research other offerings, propose new and/or added trainings.
- Yearly surveys and focus group community meetings to discuss “Sense of Belonging" at The Theatre School.
- Cyclically refining processes and guidelines for student concerns.
- A yearly review of TTS manuals and policies for bias.
- Exploring and resolving any issues of workload imbalance for students, faculty, and staff.
- Provide internal transparent reporting practices and update the community on progress to date.
Diversity Action Statement
The Theatre School is committed to fostering and nurturing the reality of who people are, who they have been, and who they want to be. We embrace the diversity of what we see, what we hear and what we feel. We give voice; we represent people and ideas. Our community engages in lively exploration, between and beyond categories of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, religion, nationality, ability and artistic discipline. We examine, appreciate and share the complexities of culture through artistic collaboration, and in doing so, create a safe and supportive environment for our students, faculty, staff, audiences and visitors.
The Theatre School of DePaul University provides conservatory-based professional theatre training of the highest caliber. From its origins in 1925 as the Goodman School of Drama to our present home at DePaul University, The Theatre School fuels the Chicago, national, and international theatre communities with new generations of exceptional theatre practitioners, leaders, and thinkers.
The Theatre School adheres to a "learn by doing" philosophy. Every TTS student is guaranteed multiple high-quality, discipline-specific production experiences where classroom theories are applied in practice. Throughout their careers at TTS, students engage with a broad scope of literature including canonical, contemporary, and original works that embody diverse aesthetic, cultural, spiritual, and ideological perspectives, preparing them for a field increasingly invested in global concerns. In addition to specialized training, The Theatre School strives to develop the whole individual by encouraging students to access the myriad learning opportunities available to them at DePaul and in Chicago.
The Theatre School makes the most of its location in the heart of Chicago's remarkably diverse theatre community by cultivating nationally recognized theatre practitioners as faculty. The faculty nurtures close relationships with students through a hands-on, personal approach to mentorship. In addition to bringing vast real world experience to the classroom, TTS faculty provides students entering the profession with robust networks in Chicago, nationally and internationally. TTS students experience valuable interactions with notable professionals at all levels through internships, apprenticeships, and guest artist visits.
Graduates of TTS's programs enter the profession with highly developed, flexible skills that prepare them to work on any scale—from storefront theatres, not-for-profit regional companies to large-scale commercial productions. TTS graduates value professionalism, creative problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and service. As alumni of an institution founded on Vincentian principles, TTS graduates strive to be compassionate members of society who put into practice their belief in theatre's power to make a lasting, positive social impact in the world.
The completion of a purpose-built facility in 2013 has ushered in a new era for the school, and embodies DePaul University's commitment to fostering the Arts as a key component of civic life. For TTS students, faculty, and staff, the facility provides the necessary resources for achieving excellence in training. For the wider DePaul student body, the new facility creates an opportunity to enhance the educational experience. TTS seeks to deepen its engagement with our neighbors and the City of Chicago by producing diverse, socially engaged work. In addition to productions, TTS will build community interaction through cross-departmental partnerships, collaborations with other Chicago organizations, and by hosting national and international conferences and symposia.
The Theatre School will continue to enhance its national profile by graduating theatre artists who are prepared to impact the field on every level, and by deepening connections to our network of alumni working throughout the U.S. and beyond.
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We will educate enterprising artists, thinkers, innovators, leaders, and globally conscious citizens who transform communities across DePaul, Chicago, the nation, and the world.
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We will support an expert, passionate faculty and staff committed to advancing the vibrancy of live theatre and performance while continually adapting to a broadening and changing profession.
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We will become a role model of diversity and inclusion for the University and the field.
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We will produce public programs and performances that challenge, entertain, and stimulate the imagination.
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We will foster cross-disciplinary collaboration to further student understanding and appreciation for every aspect of theatre work.
Our Student Body and Community
The school accepts only a small fraction of over 1,890 applicants each year who undertake the stringent admissions process of national auditions and interviews. Students apply and enter one of fifteen undergraduate (BFA) majors or a graduate (MFA) program in Acting or Intimacy Professionals for Theatre & Cinema Certification. The current enrollment numbers approximately 460 students from around the United States and several other countries. The faculty/student ratio of one-to-six allows for the continuous interaction and supervision essential for professional theatre training. A majority of the faculty and staff maintain their connections and professional work in all aspects of Chicago's renowned and thriving theatre industry.