Madelyn Strasma (she/her/hers)
BFA Acting
Class of 2025
Email: madelynstrasma@gmail.com
IG: @madelynstrasma
TikTok: @madelyn.stroosma
What is your FAVORITE thing about your program?
I think it’d have to be the people I’m surrounded by. We are all so different personality-wise but so talented and lovely to talk to. That way I feel like I am getting different perspectives, I’m working with different people than I have before.
What would you change about your program? Why?
More cohesion and community throughout the school and different grade levels. It is something that my grade is trying to work on, but the institution and the way it is set up makes this pretty difficult.
How would you describe the overall vibe of your program? Competitive? Supportive? A bit of both? Something else?!
SUPER supportive!!! A big thing we talk about is ensemble growth more than individual growth, and I feel very loved by my fellow actors.
What was the biggest surprise about your program that you didn’t anticipate as an incoming freshman?
I went in with little expectations, so this one was difficult to think about. But I’d probably say how involved crew is your freshman year. All TTS (The Theatre School) first year students are required to do crew, and it is a really involved process with rehearsals from like 6-11PM four or five days a week. Luckily it’s normally no more than four weeks a quarter, unless you are stage managing. (But also I’ll say it’s really nice to have the college crew experience, because I just applied for a job this summer to do crew professionally at a Chicago theatre, and you needed collegiate experience to apply).
What makes your program unique?
Saying two (sorry!). The first being the incredible building that TTS has. It has state of the art movement classrooms and voice studios, and every acting room is a black box. It’s wonderful. There’s also seating all around, and I just feel like a very comfortable and community-driven place. The second thing being that it’s doing theatre in Chicago! Chicago is such an improv/devising city, that I feel like the training I am receiving is absolutely building off of that. I’ve heard professors tell us that professionals can tell when a student is a DePaul actor because of the diverse training we receive.
Real talk: How do the audition & casting processes function at your program?
Basically, no acting onstage first year, second year you are simply assigned roles in “intros” (which are blackbox shows). These intros happen every quarter (so three for your second year). Then your third and fourth year, you’re in something called the “casting pool” with the MFA Actors as well. You can choose which shows you want to audition for, and then you are called back for 2-3 shows guaranteed so you can get that experience. You’re guaranteed casting in a show for 2 out of 3 quarters those last two years. And you have a quarter off both years -- so really, you’ll always be in two shows, but only one per quarter if that at all makes sense.
What’s it like outside of performance classes? Is it possible to participate in extracurriculars? Greek life? Double majors? Minors?
It is definitely possible to participate in extracurriculars and to have minors or even double minors (you only need to take 6 classes to get a minor), and Greek life is possible. Granted I will admit greater DePaul does not have th most robust extracurriculars, and certainly not the largest Greek life.
Does your school help you pursue professional working opportunities during the year, over the summer, and/or post-graduation? How so?
They actively discourage professional acting opportunities during the school year, and by actively discourage I mean it is not allowed. However that policy is being reviewed, and nonetheless you can work professionally during the summer, or on your off quarter from DePaul shows your fourth year. They do not help you pursue these activities though, unless you reach out to a teacher. Post-grad, we have three showcases: Chicago, NYC, and LA. There is also a website that has acting reels of all DePaul grads (which I believe you can find online if you search!) Honestly that’s about all I know, DePaul is really feels like it’s “in the moment training”, so I don’t know too much about what the curriculum is our opportunities are in the higher years.
Are there any opportunities and/or resources that you feel are lacking in your program?
Alumni connection, and again overall closeness of community even within the current student body.
What’s the dynamic like between students and faculty?
It is really nice! Very much same playing level “power” wise. I’ve never felt worried going to their offices to talk about literally anything, and basically all of your teachers encourage you to visit them and chat!
What types of structures are in place for students to receive feedback inside and outside of the classroom? How about for students to give feedback?
Teachers will either just respond to assignments, or they will require a meeting with them where either party can give feedback. On a grander scale, there are performance meetings once a quarter in which it is sort of like an open forum for complaints and information to be distributed among faculty and all BFA and MFA acting majors.
What steps has your school taken/is your school currently taking to promote greater representation for minority communities and to ensure greater equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the educational environment?
DePaul is casting and admitting students with no basis given to gender. For example, there are only 12 women in my class out of the 33 actors, this is because they go off of skill. Plus, gender can always change. Representation wise, there is a diversity office with an amazing head, and the school is constantly trying to work with minority students and faculty to ensure that everything is casted correctly with shows and just that the school’s learning environment is safe and representative.
What types of resources does your school encourage/make available for students in regards to mental, physical, and emotional health?
There are school counselors you can talk to, but more importantly teachers have a lot of outside of school resources like good therapy places or hotlines you can call.
What were you most worried about as an incoming freshman that you TOTALLY didn’t need to be worried about?
Just like being ready to act right away. You really start with the super basics and then work your way up with your ensemble. Thank goodness no monologues or scenes right away (in fact, no scenes until acting second quarter).
How did you know that this was the right place for you?
I liked the city, I liked the students I talked to, I liked the building, and honestly it is a very reputable program and a school I was very proud to even just get in.