Acclaimed theatre director Michael Maggio, associate artistic director of Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, has been named dean of  The Theatre School, DePaul University, effective July 1. He succeeds John Ransford Watts, who has held the position since 1979.

The Theatre School was founded as the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1925. Maggio, 47, will be the second dean to lead the school since it was acquired by DePaul in 1978. "The Theatre School is a nationally renowned training conservatory," said the Rev. John P. Minogue, C.M., president of DePaul. "I believe the second era of The Theatre School is about to dawn, an era marked by deep involvement with world-class Chicago theatre venues."

"Michael Maggio’s proven commitment to The Theatre School combined with his artistic accomplishments and reputation promise to be of enormous benefit to the school and DePaul," said Richard Meister, executive vice president for academic affairs. "We are fortunate to have attracted him to this position."

"I am thrilled about Maggio’s appointment," said Watts. "The strengths and qualities he brings, and his connections with regional theatres and theatres in Chicago, will be wonderful for the school."

Maggio said he looks forward to the challenge of building on Watts’ accomplishments. "I want to continue to raise The Theatre School’s local and national profile in the theatre community while strengthening the bridges between the school and all areas of the university," he said. "I’ve been most impressed by the strength of the program’s faculty and staff and gratified by seeing firsthand the growth in the students under

their tutelage."

Maggio is a veteran theatre director and producer with more than 20 years of regional and national experience. He has served as the associate artistic director of the Goodman Theatre since 1987 and has directed more than 50 productions since 1970 at the Goodman and other regional theatres, including the New York Shakespeare Festival, Guthrie Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Cleveland Playhouse, as well as local venues such as Northlight Theatre, Wisdom Bridge and Remains Theatre.

Maggio joined The Theatre School’s faculty as an associate professor in 1997 after serving as a guest director, teaching advanced directing and scene study. In addition to his full-time duties as a faculty member, he has served on many school and university-wide committees. He also directed "A Century of Stories" for the university’s centennial convocation in September 1998.

Maggio will continue as associate artistic director of the Goodman Theatre while he is dean and will direct Boy Meets Girl by Rebecca Gilman at the Goodman next season. His most recent productions include Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot at the Goodman Theatre and the world premiere of Keith Reddin’s The Perpetual Patient, an adaptation of Molière’s The Imaginary Invalid, at The Theatre School last season. He is currently directing The Theatre School’s production of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, adapted by Frank Galati, set to run May 21 to 30 at DePaul’s Merle Reskin Theatre. He will also direct The Beaux Stratagem by George Farquhar as the opening production of The Theatre School Showcase 75th anniversary season in November.

Maggio is the recipient of several theatre awards, including Joseph Jefferson Awards for his direction of A Little Night Music at the Goodman Theatre, Black Snow on the Goodman Mainstage and Wings in the Goodman Studio. He later received an Obie Award for his direction of Wings at the New York Shakespeare Festival. The production received the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical. He was nominated for a Barrymore Award for his direction of Another Midsummer Night at the American Music Theatre Festival during the 1996-97 season. He received The Theatre School Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1993.

Maggio is a member of the board of the Arts and Business Council of Chicago and founding chairman of the Michael Merritt Awards in Theatre Design and Collaboration. Previously, he served as artistic advisor to Columbia College’s Music and Theatre departments, and was artistic director of Northlight Theatre and Woodstock Music Theatre. He holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in theatre from the University of Arizona.

DePaul’s Theatre School is the Midwest's oldest theatre conservatory and currently enrolls about 300 students from around the United States and several foreign countries. Approximately 1,000 applicants audition for admission annually. The school is known for its highly structured and practical approach to theatre training. Degrees are granted in acting, directing, costume design, scenic design, lighting design, theatre technology, costume technology, production management, playwriting, theatre management, dramaturgy/criticism and general theatre studies. In addition, the school produces a five-play Showcase series and three-play Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences series at the Merle Reskin Theatre each season.