Roosevelt University
Request More Info
DifferentiatorsExpectationsFacultyAdmission InfoRelated Programs
Roosevelt acting students performing in a play
Location: Chicago
Start Term: Fall
Program Type: Major

The Theatre Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) consists of 200 undergraduate students, divided between our acting and musical theatre programs. Students are guaranteed onstage performance credit while they are at CCPA — more time onstage means more training for your future career in the theatre.

Our faculty is comprised of full-time professors as well as many active theatre professionals who lend their unique talents and expertise to the Conservatory. At CCPA, our students learn from and work alongside Chicago's very best, and a low student/faculty ratio results in focused study tailored to each student's needs.

Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, CCPA is just steps away from Chicago's bustling theatre district and the Tony award-winning Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre — and our students have graced the stages of them all. An outstanding internship program provides CCPA's students with placements at some of Chicago's best theatres, and upperclassmen in good standing are allowed to audition for productions outside of CCPA, adding valuable professional credits to their resumes prior to graduation.

Jim Iorio
, Co-Head of Acting
jiorio01@roosevelt.edu
312-341-2347
Barbara Zahora
, Co-Head of Acting
bzahora@roosevelt.edu
312-341-2161

What Differentiates Us

Performance

Performance

Students are guaranteed onstage performance credit while they are at CCPA — more time onstage means more training for your future career in the theatre.

Location

Location

Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, CCPA is just steps away from Chicago's bustling theatre district and the Tony award-winning Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre — and our students have graced the stages of them all.

Internships

Internships

An outstanding internship program provides CCPA's students with placements at some of Chicago's best theatres, and upperclassmen in good standing are allowed to audition for productions outside of CCPA, adding valuable professional credits to their resumes prior to graduation.

Expectations & Requirements

Standards

The BFA in Acting is a pre-professional degree program designed to develop a strong foundation in the skills required for a career as an actor on stage, and in film and television. The acting program provides students with intensive training in several techniques including Stanislavski-based work, Viewpoints, period styles, on-camera technique, circus arts, stage combat, and Linklater voice and body technique. Acting majors also receive training in dance and voice lessons as part of their curriculum. Along with opportunities to perform in mainstage and blackbox productions, acting majors also have the opportunity to intern at some of Chicago’s most prestigious theatres including Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf Theater Company and Goodman Theatre, and dozens of smaller Chicago theatres.

View Academic Catalog

Faculty

Michelle Areyzaga
Michelle Areyzaga
Artist Faculty Theatre
Derek Barham
Derek Barham
Adjunct Faculty
Mikael Burke
Mikael Burke
Adjunct Faculty
Jeffrey Christian
Jeffrey Christian
Adjunct Faculty
Chuck Coyl
Chuck Coyl
Adjunct Faculty
Casey Cross
Casey Cross
Adjunct Faculty
Becky Curl
Becky Curl
Adjunct Faculty
Shanesia Davis
Shanesia Davis
Visiting Artist Teaching Acting
Allen Desterhaft
Allen Desterhaft
Adjunct Faculty
Morgan DiFonzo
Morgan DiFonzo
Adjunct Faculty
Ben Dillinger
Ben Dillinger
Adjunct Faculty
Arianne Dolan
Arianne Dolan
Adjunct Faculty
Adrian Dunn
Adrian Dunn
Artist Faculty Theatre
Gretchen Eng
Gretchen Eng
Adjunct Faculty
Al Goldfarb
Al Goldfarb
Adjunct Faculty
Nadine Gomes
Nadine Gomes
Lecturer Theatre
Susan Gosdick
Susan Gosdick
Adjunct Faculty
Gina Graffagna
Gina Graffagna
Artist Faculty Theatre
George Howe
George Howe
Adjunct Faculty
Jim Iorio
Jim Iorio
Assistant Professor of Physical Theatre
Tia Jemison
Tia Jemison
Adjunct Faculty
Elise Kauzlaric
Elise Kauzlaric
Assistant Professor of Theatre
Rachel Klippel
Rachel Klippel
Artist Faculty Theatre
Jane Lanier
Jane Lanier
Associate Professor of Musical Theatre
Michael Lasswell
Michael Lasswell
Teaching Professor of Theatre
Kristen Mackie
Kristen Mackie
Lecturer and Coordinator Fast-Trk Theatre
Tammy Mader
Tammy Mader
Lecturer Musical Theatre
Ann McMann-Kotze
Ann McMann-Kotze
Artist Faculty Theatre
Daniel Millhouse
Daniel Millhouse
Adjunct Faculty
Jeffrey Poindexter
Jeffrey Poindexter
Adjunct Faculty
Chris Richard
Chris Richard
Artist Faculty Theatre
Carolyn Brady
Carolyn Brady
Artist Faculty Theatre
Dan Roberts
Dan Roberts
Adjunct Faculty
Kim Sagami
Kim Sagami
Adjunct Faculty
Doreen Sayegh
Doreen Sayegh
Adjunct Faculty
Sarah Schafer
Sarah Schafer
Adjunct Faculty
Stephen Schellhardt
Stephen Schellhardt
Assistant Program Musical Theatre
Roell Schmidt
Roell Schmidt
Adjunct Faculty
Rebecca Schorsch
Rebecca Schorsch
Artist Faculty Theatre
Steve Scott
Steve Scott
Adjunct Faculty
Bonnie Shadrake
Bonnie Shadrake
Head Musical Direction of Theatre
Craig Springer
Craig Springer
Artist Faculty Theatre
Daniel Stetzel
Daniel Stetzel
Lecturer Theatre
Nick Sula
Nick Sula
Adjunct Faculty
Jumaane Taylor
Jumaane Taylor
Adjunct Faculty
Sarah Taylor
Sarah Taylor
Adjunct Faculty
Laura Wade
Laura Wade
Adjunct Faculty
Barbara Zahora
Barbara Zahora
Assistant Teaching Professor of Theater

Admission Info

Theater production

All applicants to the BFA Acting are required to submit pre-screen materials for review before they can be invited to a live virtual audition. Pre-screens are to be submitted through GetAcceptd.com beginning September 1st.

You may not submit your pre-screen materials until you have first submitted the Roosevelt University Undergraduate Application. The Pre-Screen deadline is December 1st, though earlier submission is highly recommended.

Prescreen Requirements:

  • 2 60-90 second contemporary monologues (written during the 20th Century-present) from published plays. This time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds.
  • Monologues must be from published plays. Monologues cannot be from musicals, television shows, or movies.
  • Monologues should be filmed in a “close-up” shot which means the top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame.

BFA Acting LIVE VIRTUAL Auditions

All BFA auditions will be conducted in real-time in a live virtual format via GetAcceptd. No in-person auditions will take place this year.

Requirements:

  • 2 60-90 second contemporary monologues (written during the 20th Century-present) from published plays.  Monologues cannot be from musicals, television shows, or movies.
Learn more about CCPA admission