School of Drama Records

Carnegie-Mellon became the first university in the world to offer a college drama degree with the establishment of its School of Drama in February 1914 by Thomas Wood Stevens. The program’s first production was Shakespeare’s “Two Gentleman of Verona” and the early drama curriculum included courses on the history of theater, direction and makeup, dramatic literature, composition, the history of costume, and costume making. In 1940, the School of Drama’s previously known degrees (bachelor’s of arts and master’s of arts) became degrees in “Fine Arts” (B.F.A. and M.F.A). The Fine Arts program was implemented into the School of Drama by department head, Henry Boettcher in 1942 and classes included: Thought and Expression, the History of Arts and Civilization, and Individual and Social Psychology. The School of Drama published its first annual newsletter in 1952 which still runs today with help from professor Elizabeth “Bess” Kimberly. To promote further education in dramatic studies, the School began offering a Ph.D. program in 1965. The Ph.D. curriculum was developed by department head, Robert Corrigan and James Rosenberg and was short-lived since it only lasted ten years. Throughout its history, the School seized opportunities to work alongside other programs at Carnegie-Mellon to develop new programs. In 1945, the School of Drama collaborated with the School of Engineering to offer radio acting courses using the University’s new student-run radio station. Later, in 1998, the School coupled with the School of Computer Science to create the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) which encouraged collaboration between students in order to generate technologically influenced art and theater projects. The School of Drama began holding the annual “Showcase of New Plays” program which was discovered by School of Drama Artistic Director, Frank Gagliano, in 1987. The Showcase lasted until 1998 and gave students the opportunity to create, design, and direct their own plays with help from the CMU Drama staff. Participating students were given a $1000 stipend and presented their plays at the Carnegie Mellon Kresge and Studio Theaters at the end of the term. In 2003, the School of Drama created “Playground” – a one week, student-run festival which concluded with the presentation of short, 15-45 minute productions that were created as a result of collaborative efforts from School of Drama students and students from other programs. More recently, in 2011, the School of Drama integrated the John Wells Directing Program into its graduate curriculum, giving directing students opportunities to further develop their skills. Due to the generosity of various alumni, the School of Drama has continuously expanded its facilities. Initially, the School of Drama utilized the Carnegie Theater in the College of Fine Arts (renamed to the Kresge Theater in 1974) for the majority of its productions until the elite Purnell Center for the Arts opened in 1998 with the financial help of notable alumni/donor, Verner S. Purnell. One year later, the Helen Wayne Rauh Theater was established by Richard E. Rauh, who also recently created the Centennial Fellowship Fund to aid future School of Drama students. In 2001, the School of Drama began operating out of the new Chosky Theater located inside the Purnell Center which constitutes as the School’s largest performance space. The school’s alumni include household names in the theatre profession and entertainment industry who have become actors, directors, production designers, skilled technicians, and creative visionaries. Some of Carnegie Mellon’s drama alumni include iconic television stars, producers, and playwrights. Alumni have won Academy Awards® and Tony Awards® for their innovative work in set, costume and lighting design as well as in acting, directing and producing.