DePaul Theatre School Celebrates Spring Season of New Work and Comedy

The Theatre School at DePaul University (TTS) is closing out its spring season with a dynamic lineup of performances, festivals, and educational initiatives that spotlight emerging voices in theatre, comedy, and arts education across Chicago.

Now through May 30, Wrights of Spring returns as the school’s annual festival celebrating original work by the next generation of playwrights and comedy artists. Produced by BFA Theatre Management students, the collaborative festival provides students with an intensive developmental laboratory to workshop and present new plays, comedy performances, and creative projects before live audiences. Since launching in 1996, Wrights of Spring has showcased works by more than 170 playwrights, with more than 30 later receiving full productions through The Theatre School’s New Playwrights Series, Studio Series, and Lab Series. The festival also includes special events celebrating student-generated work, including comedy showcases, music performances, the Debutante Ball, and student awards presentations. Tickets are available for purchase online.

The season also features the New Playwrights Series world premiere of Content by Joseph Frantzen, running May 22–31 in the Healy Theatre. Selected by faculty as this year’s featured production, the dark satire follows true crime YouTuber Nathan Kraus as he investigates the mysterious disappearance of Abigail Faulkner, raising questions about ethics, trauma, and the commodification of grief in digital culture. Tickets are available for purchase online.

In addition to new plays, TTS is expanding its comedy programming through TTSNL, a new Comedy Arts initiative inspired by the format of Saturday Night Live. The series features live sketch comedy performances guest-hosted by local comedians and featuring musical artists, while students from Design and Technology collaborate on technical and production elements. The next performance takes place May 22. Tickets are available for purchase online.

Beyond the stage, The Theatre School continues to deepen its commitment to arts education and community engagement through Creative Root, its theatre education program serving Chicago schools. This spring, Creative Root was awarded a Creative Schools Fund grant supporting a new partnership with Amundsen High School. Through the Theatre 360 residency, more than 100 students in grades 9–12 are participating in a 12-session immersive theatre program centered around Mirror of Most Value: A Ms. Marvel Play. Students work directly with professional teaching artists and Theatre School students to explore acting, storytelling, voice, movement, dramaturgy, and design while developing their own creative voices. Creative Root programs are aligned with Illinois Fine Arts and Social Emotional Learning standards and can be customized for in-school or after-school partnerships throughout the city.

“Through productions, festivals, and programs like Creative Root, The Theatre School is committed to creating opportunities for students to develop their artistic voices while building meaningful connections with the broader Chicago community,” said Martine Kei Green-Rogers, Dean of The Theatre School at DePaul University. “Whether on stage, in the classroom, or through comedy and new play development, these experiences empower students to collaborate, take creative risks, and understand the impact storytelling can have on the world around them.”

Together, these initiatives reflect The Theatre School’s ongoing mission to cultivate the next generation of artists while expanding access to meaningful arts experiences throughout Chicago communities. For more information about performances, tickets, and programs, visit https://theatre.depaul.edu/ and follow on Instagram and Facebook for updates and upcoming events.

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ABOUT THE THEATRE SCHOOL AT DEPAUL UNIVERSITY:

The Theatre School at DePaul University is one of the nation’s premier theatre conservatories, dedicated to training the next generation of artists, storytellers, and creative leaders. Acclaimed as “a legendary training ground” by the Chicago Tribune, The Theatre School was founded as the Goodman School of Drama in 1925 and joined DePaul University in 1978. As the Midwest’s oldest theatre conservatory and one of the top professional theatre training programs in the United States, The Theatre School combines rigorous professional training with mentorship, collaboration, and innovation across acting, playwriting, dramaturgy, comedy arts, design, technology, and arts education. Located in Chicago, students gain hands-on experience through productions, festivals, and outreach programs while engaging deeply with the city’s vibrant cultural landscape.

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