Several faculty, staff and alumni from DePaul’s Theatre School were recently honored in Chicago magazine’s “Best of Chicago 2011” edition.
Some of those featured were Dexter Bullard, head of the Master of Fine Arts acting program, and Nick Sandys, a stage combat instructor and choreographer for the school. Chicago magazine chose Bullard as “best director,” and Sandys recieved “best actor.”
Bullard was praised for his supreme directing of “Circle Mirror Transformation,” a drama that Chicago magazine predicted would be akin to “Dante’s ninth circle of performance-art hell.” Bullard surprised critics with the play, which was “improbably fascinating.” He was also commended for his delicate balance of “quality and quantity” in his theater work last year. In addition to his position at DePaul, Bullard stood as Artistic Director of the ensemble “Plasticene.”
Sandys took “best actor” for his outstanding performance in Remy Bumppo’s “The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?” He played the lead character, who falls romantically in love with a goat. Chicago magazine referred to his role as “a task as close to impossible as things get in the land of suspended disbelief.”
“Really it is no different than making them believe you are in love with this or that other character on stage,” Sandys said of his difficult role. “It is all about imagination, about taking your own experience of loving someone (or even something) and transferring and heightening that feeling. We have all been in love, with a person, with a pet–that is the shared experience to which the audience can relate easily.”
Although proud of his performance in “The Goat,” Sandys was surprised to be chosen as “best actor.”
“It is a lovely compliment and a distinct honor, because this city is so full of terrific actors and we all know each others’ work and admire it, and hope to come up to that high standard,” he said. “So, to be singled out feels both a little absurd and like a great pat on the back for a job well done.”
Both Bullard and Sandys thanked their collegues and were proud to be a part of Depaul’s Theatre program.
“DePaul is the top theater program in Chicago (and arguably, nationally) for a reason – our people,” Bullard said. “Students, faculty and staff are highly motivated people who work extremely well together in close quarters. We give and take and build and thrive. The result is theater companies, plays, and careers that make Chicago a better place to live for everyone.”
“It is not just a great business network to belong to, but it inspires you to get more involved, to seek out new connections and expand one’s own artistic field,” Sandys said. “Because who wouldn’t want to work with these people?”
Other DePaul Theatre School notables were alumni PJ Powers and Nick Bowling, co-founders of The TimeLine Theatre, named “best theatre company.” Adjunct professors Eva Breneman, Louis Contey and alumni Keith Parham, Juliet Hart, Lindsey Pate, Emily Ruesswig and Benjamin Thiem contribute to The TimeLine Theatre.