Alumni Spotlight

John Drea Makes Broadway Debut

John Drea, Class of 2020, is heading to Broadway starring alongside Laurie Metcalf, Micah Stock, and Meghan Gerachis in Samuel D. Hunter's "Little Bear Ridge Road."

Bob Newhart, the genteel but sharply satirical comic whose TV series 鈥淭he Bob Newhart Show鈥� and 鈥淣ewhart鈥� were huge hits throughout the 1970s and 鈥�80s, died Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 94. - Variety

In Memoriam: Jonathan Wilson

We are deeply saddened by the death of Professor of Theatre Jonathan Wilson, who passed away suddenly on Sunday, June 23. Professor Wilson鈥檚 contributions to Loyola Theatre, to generations of theatre students and theater artists here and across the nation, as well as the world of American Theatre warrant tribute. Our thoughts are with Professor Wilson鈥檚 family, friends, and community.

Plans are underway for a memorial hosted by the Department of Fine and Performing Arts in the Fall. Click to read about Professor Wilson and sign up to receive details about the memorial when they are available.

Bob Newhart's improbable journey from Loyola business student to American comedy icon

Loyola Today features Fairview in the Arts & Culture section.

"An antique dining table, an upholstered ottoman, and a blanket draped over an armchair with calculated effortlessness. It might look like your great aunt鈥檚 house, but it鈥檚 the set of Fairview, a Pulitzer prize-winning play by Jackie Sibblies Drury. DeRon Williams, PhD, is directing the show at Loyola this spring." - Vivian Ewing

Art with Impact: Empathy on Stage

"The point of learning how to make theatre is to do it, and to do it in community, and to do it in service to the world"

鈥淭he most epic human is now an ancestor. He taught me and so many actors. He was special not just because he was a talented director and tough ass professor. But because he held space for the black theatre students at Loyola to learn, grow, and thrive. I learned August Wilson from this man. I wouldn鈥檛 be the actor I am today without this man. There just aren鈥檛 enough words to describe what he means to me and so many others.鈥� - Angela Alise, Chicago actor

"Loyola Theatre鈥檚 rendition of this story is entertaining as ever. Striking the perfect balance between humor and heart, the show demonstrated the cast鈥檚 skills in music and acting alike, as they managed to stay in character while singing in harmony and playing a wide array of instruments. " - Loyola Phoenix

Click to read the full review.

The League of Chicago Theatres, in collaboration with Loyola Career Services and the Loyola Theatre Program, recently hosted a Theatre Industry Career Fair on the Lake Shore campus with over 400 attendees and 37 participating organizations. The day began with a robust panel discussion on the varied career paths possible in today's theatre industry. Click to watch a recording of this insightful conversation.

How Hashtag Booked's Danielle Pinnock and LaNisa Renee Frederick Are Using Comedy as Activism

While theatre has been on pause and auditions have been on Zoom, Danielle Pinnock and LaNisa Renee Frederick have taken their comedy-activism to new heights. Launched in 2018, Hashtag Booked is Pinnock and Frederick鈥檚 improvised sketch Instagram series that shares 鈥渁 raw slice of the #actorslife,鈥� diving into their experiences of being Black actors in show business.

The MacKenzie Scott Foundation awards a $5 million grant to the Black Ensemble Theatre, founded by Loyola Theatre alumna Jackie Taylor ('68). The Black Ensemble Theatre along with the National Museum of Mexican Art are among the Chicago cultural institutions to receive sizable donations by the foundation.