Become the role. Along with opportunities to perform in main stage and black box productions, acting majors intern at some of Chicago's most prestigious theatres including the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, and the Goodman Theatre. Learn from incredible faculty and live in the heart of downtown Chicago!
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.
What Differentiates Us
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.
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.
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.
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.
Faculty
Admission Info
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 AUDITIONS
Students can audition in-person on campus, at New York or Chicago Unifieds OR in a virtual-live formal during our virtual audition weekend.
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.