The Hollywood Reporter praised The Theatre School at DePaul University for its low student-faculty ratio and notable alumni when the entertainment magazine included The Theatre School this month in its list of top drama schools.

“There’s something in the water in Chicago,” Laurence Mark, who produced the films “Jerry Maguire” and “Julie & Julia,” told The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s a great place for actors, and so is DePaul.”

The Theatre School benefits from a 6-to-1 student faculty-ratio and its location in Chicago, “what some consider the nation's second-best theater town,” according to the magazine. Theatre School alumni who have found success in acting include Gillian Anderson, Kevin Anderson, Judy Greer, Karl Malden, Joe Mantegna, Elizabeth Perkins and John C. Reilly.

The Hollywood Reporter selected 25 schools for its list by polling Casting Society of America members and theater insiders. The magazine recognized the schools as effective training grounds for aspiring actors. Other prestigious drama schools to make the list were The Julliard School, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, Yale University School of Drama and Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

The Hollywood Reporter is a weekly magazine dedicated to publishing the latest news on Hollywood and the entertainment industry. It produces in-depth coverage of industry trends and columns, reviews and features on the latest television and box-office offerings.

About The Theatre School

The Theatre School at DePaul University educates, trains and inspires students of theatre in a conservatory setting that is rigorous, disciplined and culturally diverse. The school and its students strive for the highest level of professional skill and artistry. A commitment to diversity and equality in education is central to its mission. As an integral part of the training, The Theatre School produces public programs and performances from a wide repertoire of classic, contemporary and original plays that challenge, entertain and stimulate the imagination. The school seeks to enhance the intellectual and cultural life of the university community, the city and the profession. For more information, visit theatreschool.depaul.edu.

About DePaul University

With more than 25,000 students, DePaul University is the largest Catholic university in the United States and the largest private, nonprofit university in the Midwest. The university offers approximately 275 graduate and undergraduate programs of study on three Chicago campuses and three suburban campuses. Founded in 1898, DePaul remains committed to providing a quality education through personal attention to students from a wide range of backgrounds. For more information, visit www.depaul.edu.