On July 14th, 1928, DePaul opened a building at 64 E. Lake St. The building itself was a social and educational nexus for the DePaul community. On the third floor, DePaul’s drama department opened its first set of classrooms, intended for classes in acting and "The Little Theatre".
The Little Theatre Movement was a European-inspired theatre trend that privileged small, experimental centers of drama. As Europeans immigrated to America in the early 20th century, and American artists traveled to Europe, the experimental and progressive construct of Little Theatre was slowly introduced to an American audience. Leading groups, such as that of Max Reinhardt, the Abbey Theatre, the Vieux Colombier, and the Moscow Art Theatre, toured in America, directly influencing the development of the Little Theatre Movement and bringing it straight to DePaul’s doorstep.
Goodman faculty member David Itkin sought additional teaching opportunities — connected with DePaul — and produced numerous plays in his first year at 64 E. Lake St., including the world premiere of Fritz Blocki's The World Between. Itkin, of the famed Moscow Art Theatre’s Hebrew language company, Habima, immigrated to Chicago in 1929. He was hired at the Goodman by Thomas Wood Stevens to direct a production of The Golem by H. Leivick. He spoke no English, and directed the play by tone of voice only.
Beloved by students, Itkin continued to teach and direct at both the Goodman School of Drama and at DePaul University's Department of Drama. In 1932, his daughter Bella joined her father in America and enrolled at the Goodman School. The Itkin family remained at the school for nearly fifty years after David’s arrival, working on hundreds of productions. They leave a lasting impact on the Theatre School’s legacy and serve as a reminder of the institution's humble immigrant roots.
The Centennial Stories are written by Theatre School student and Marketing Office Assistant, Eva Strazek, with thanks to Joan Starkey, Kate Shuert, Liv Queen Majestic, and Dean Corrin.