The Stars That Shine: Famous Alumni of the David Geffen Yale School of Drama
In some minds, New Haven may be most famous for its wide variety of delicious pizzas, but its true claim to fame in many circles is the David Geffen Yale School of Drama, which officially turns 100 this year. The Yale School of Drama has been shaping the world of theater and film for decades, boasting a rich and storied history of educating some of the most successful and acclaimed actors in the industry. This famed institution offers master’s degrees in a variety of theatrical disciples, including playwriting and directing, but may be best known for its astounding list of acting alumni. Its prestigious reputation is evident in the wealth of talent that its alumni have brought to the stage and screen. The school's impact extends far beyond New Haven, Connecticut, as these famous Yale drama alumni have gone on to light up the entertainment world with their outstanding performances, versatile acting skills, and starring roles.
A Century of Excellence: The Yale School of Drama
Founded in 1924 as the Department of Drama in the School of Fine Arts, the school provides training in every discipline of the theatre - acting, design (set design, costume design, lighting design, projection design, and sound design), directing, dramaturgy and dramatic criticism, playwriting, stage management, technical design and production, and theatre management. The school traces its roots to the Yale Dramatic Association, the second-oldest college theatre association in the US, founded in 1900. In 1924, Yale benefactor Edward S. Harkness provided funds to the Department of Drama in the School of Fine Arts and for the construction of the University Theatre, later to become the school's primary building. Completed in 1931, it was designed by Clarence H. In 1955, the department was organized as a separate professional school, the first such in the Ivy League. In 1966, under Dean Robert Brustein, the Yale Repertory Theatre was formed to establish further ties between the professional and academic communities. Lloyd Richards, dean and artistic director from 1979 to 1991, increased the theatre's emphasis on new plays, premiering works by Athol Fugard, Lee Blessing, and August Wilson. Richards' successor as dean and artistic director, Stan Wojewodski Jr., continued to emphasize the production of new plays, including several important works by Suzan-Lori Parks and Theatre de la Jeune Lune.
A variety of locations on the Yale University campus serve the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. The University Theatre is a proscenium theatre that is shared with the undergraduate dramatic association and also houses the school's main administrative offices. The Yale Repertory Theatre is located in the former building of the Calvary Baptist Church and contains an auditorium and the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale/Yale Repertory Theatre box office. Additional facilities include the Iseman Theater in Holcombe T. Green Jr. Hall, the School of Drama Annex, and the Robert B.
Training and Philosophy
As Bundy notes, the program is very hands-on and involves a great deal more than academic exercises. “We put on about 15 of our own productions, another 12 or 15 at the Yale Cabaret, and students participate in the five or so productions every year at Yale Rep.” he says. “About half the plays we produce are written by playwrights in the program, and directors can propose one project for each year. Other students have less agency to set their own agenda-although the cabaret is entirely student-run. Luckily, as of now, this training is free to all students. “In recent years, we’ve been able to reduce student indebtedness upon graduation, and in 2021, the Geffen Foundation made a gift of $150 million has made the school tuition free in perpetuity,” notes Bundy. “I find it incredibly impressive that a philanthropist would do this for a graduate arts program. But I believe Mr. As for instilling thinking in the school’s students, Bundy sums up the institution’s mission this way: “One of our biggest jobs here is to impress on our students to stay in the moment, work with the people you want to work with, and focus on today,” he says. “We constantly remind people that careers in the arts rarely follow a predictable path, so what’s become more and more important is to help our students identify their value system. That will position them for lifelong growth.
The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale offers a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in acting, design, sound design, directing, dramaturgy and dramatic criticism, playwriting, stage management, technical design and production, and theatre management. Students must hold an undergraduate degree and complete their program of study with distinction, which requires three years in residence. The school also offers a Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.) to students who hold an M.F.A. degree in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism and have written a dissertation approved by the D.F.A. A Certificate in Drama is available to those students who do not hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited college, but who are admitted and complete the same training as M.F.A. students. Founded in 1968, the Yale Cabaret is an entirely student-run extracurricular activity that allows students to create productions of their own.
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“We are truly the only graduate theater program that trains every discipline of theater,” says James Bundy, a former student who has served as the school’s dean since 2002. (He also teaches acting at the school and at Yale University, as well as being the artistic director of Yale Repertory Theatre). Choosing who those students are-and who they are learning from-is Bundy’s most important priority. “Our most important decisions are who comes to teach and who comes to learn,” he says. “The number one job is to attract the most interesting people to faculty and student body. I think, when considering applications for students you need to bring an appreciation for individuality and difference; if everyone looked or sounded the same, that would be boring. There is no such thing as cookie cutter artistry. Bundy takes equal care in choosing the school’s faculty. “We must give the people who study here-and work here-the resources they need to work at the high level,” he says. “The task of teaching the skills students need never changes; in fact, the building blocks haven’t changed in a couple of thousands of years, Still, many of the premises of theater making are being reexamined, from who is doing it, who is seeing it, to how we make theater organizations more responsible to the community they are serving. The context of our work keeps changing, as do the technologies-often in ways that influence the art form’s aesthetic direction.
Notable Alumni
The school's impact extends far beyond New Haven, Connecticut, as these famous Yale drama alumni have gone on to light up the entertainment world with their outstanding performances, versatile acting skills, and starring roles. The drama school has played a major role in molding the careers of its alumni by providing them with exceptional training and opportunities to prepare for illustrious achievements in theater, film, and television. These Yale stars have excelled in their respective fields and elevated the craft to new heights.
Here are some of the most celebrated graduates:
- Meryl Streep: With over 20 Academy Award nominations and a reputation as one of the greatest actresses of all time, Meryl is pretty much a walking masterpiece. Meryl Streep graduated from Yale’s School of Drama, where she perfected her ability to make you cry, laugh, and wonder why your life isn’t as glamorous as hers. The Devil Wears Prada, Doubt, Fantastic Mr.
- Paul Newman: Charmed audiences with his varied roles during his long, prolific career. Paul got his B.A.
- Sigourney Weaver: Known for her roles in blockbuster films and timeless classics, Weaver's contribution to the industry has made her a true icon in both theater and film. Sigourney graduated from Stanford with a B.A.
- Angela Bassett: Hosted by President Richard C. The festivities will include the original production of "I Get a Kick Out of Blue," featuring Angela Bassett '80, '83 DRA
- Courtney B. Vance: Courtney got his B.A. from Harvard and then got his MFA at Yale in 1986. Real-life spouses Angela Bassett and Courtney B.
- Charles S. Dutton: Charles S. Dutton '83 DRA
- Jodie Foster: Not only did she star in the classic movie Taxi Driver at a ridiculously young age, but she also graduated with a degree in literature from Yale. She’s the ultimate overachiever: an Oscar-winning actress, a director, and an intellectual powerhouse. If you ran into Jodie on the quad, you’d probably feel embarrassed to talk to her. Jodie Foster '85.
- David Alan Grier: David Alan Grier '81 DRA
- Malcolm Gets: Malcolm Gets '92 DRA
- Harry Hamlin: Harry Hamlin '71
- Jane Kaczmarek: Jane Kaczmarek '82 DRA
- Stacy Keach: Stacy Keach '66 DRA
- Bronson Pinchot: Bronson Pinchot '81
- Courtney Vance: Courtney Vance '86 DRA
- Joan Van Ark: Joan Van Ark '64 DRA
- Sam Waterston: Sam Waterston '62
- Henry Winkler: Henry Winkler '70 DRA
- Dick Cavett: Dick Cavett '58
- Liev Schreiber
Other notable alumni include: Directors: John Badham, Mark Brokaw, Arvin Brown, David Brustein, Marc Flanigan, Richard Fleischer, Richard Foreman, Ulu Grosbard, George Roy Hill, Elia Kazan, Asaad Kelada, Lloyd Richards, Susan H. Writers: Erik Ehn, Frank Gilroy, Bert Granet, Albert Innaurato, David C. Ives, Larry Kramer, Archibald MacLeish, James Magruder, Donald Margulies, David Milch, Tad Mosel, Lyn Notteag, Sam Pottle, Peter Stone, Ted Tally, Gary B. Producers: James Burrows, Bruce Cohen, Tony Converse, T.
"Stage Blue": Celebrating Yale's Legacy
Marking the School of Drama's 75th anniversary, the Yale Dramatic Association's 100th anniversary and the University's 300th birthday, Yale will host a gala, bi-coastal bash on Monday, Nov. The event, called "Stage Blue," will celebrate the contributions of Yale and its alumni to theater, film, television and the entertainment industry. Hosted by President Richard C. The festivities will include the original production of "I Get a Kick Out of Blue," featuring Angela Bassett '80, '83 DRA, Dick Cavett '58, Charles S. Dutton '83 DRA, Jodie Foster '85, David Alan Grier '81 DRA, Malcolm Gets '92 DRA, Harry Hamlin '71, Jane Kaczmarek '82 DRA, Stacy Keach '66 DRA, Bronson Pinchot '81, Meryl Streep '75 DRA, Courtney Vance '86 DRA, Joan Van Ark '64 DRA, Sam Waterston '62, Henry Winkler '70 DRA and other famous alumni.
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Material for the performance has been provided by such notable theater professionals as A.R. Gurney '58 DRA, Mitch Leigh '51 MUS, '52 MUS, Paul Rudnick '58 MED, John Guare '63 DRA, Maury Yeston '67, '73 M.A., '74 Ph.D., David Henry Hwang '83 DRA, Christopher Durang '74 DRA and others. Tony award-winner Richard Maltby Jr. Portions of the show will take place in both cities, and the performance will be simulcast back and forth between the celebrations in New York and Los Angeles. It will also be broadcast to Yale's University Theatre, 222 York St., where members of the Yale community can view it free of charge.
Countless writers, designers, actors, musicians and producers trace their professional roots to Yale. "Stage Blue" will celebrate their accomplishments while, at the same time, benefiting the next generation of artists. Yale became one of the first universities in the nation to offer training for the professional theater with the establishment of a Department of Drama in 1925. In 1955, the department became a full-fledged graduate program, the Yale School of Drama. A hotbed of theater talent since its establishment in 1900, the Yale University Dramatic Association has been an important part of the New Haven theater scene for a full century. Tickets are required for admittance to the University Theatre; these will be available on Monday, Nov. at the Yale Rep box office, corner of Chapel and York streets. Tickets for the on-campus satellite showing can also be reserved by calling (203) 432-1234. Many prominent alumni of the University are affiliated with the gala celebration "Stage Blue.".
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