In the summer of 1986, The Theatre School secured its future at DePaul.
The Theatre School was evaluated by DePaul’s Board of Trustees and given an endorsement that guaranteed the School’s future at the university. With this new sense of safety and security, the university purchased St. Vincent’s Elementary School on Kenmore Avenue, which became the new home of The Theatre School.
At the same time, a five-year transfer agreement between the Art Institute and DePaul University came to an end, and the license to use the “Goodman” name expired. The Board of Trustees of DePaul University adopted a new title, and the school officially became The Theatre School at DePaul University.
The following year, The Theatre School launched the Theatre Studies program, offering degrees in Playwriting, History/Criticism, Children’s Drama/Youth Theatre, and General Theatre Arts. Numerous nationally renowned faculty members joined the school to strengthen its training. As the curriculum expanded, the School’s guiding philosophy remained the same — to provide rigorous, practical training in all aspects of theatre arts and prepare young artists for careers in the profession.
The Centennial Stories are written by TTS student and Marketing Office Assistant, Eva Strazek, with special thanks to Joan Starkey, Kate Shuert, Liv Queen Majestic, and Dean Corrin.