LOS ANGELES — Forest Whitaker, LeVar Burton and the late John Ritter are just some of the most notable names to come out of USC’s theatre school — now the School of Dramatic Arts.  The school renovated the 80-year-old United University Church building to create its new home set to open this fall.

Its latest challenge, though, is ensuring its students are prepared to succeed in an ever-changing digital world.

“That’s how artists are working these days is fluently between stage and screen and digital media and every other which way,” said Emily Roxworthy, dean of the USC School of Dramatic Arts.

She came to USC in 2021 from UC San Diego and says her primary focus has been creating what she calls a multi-hyphenate student.

“[These are] students who can specialize in a particular skill set but also be initiating artists, creating their own content,” Roxworthy said. “To my knowledge, we’re the only drama school teaching classes like the Creator as an Entrepreneur. We also have a class called Creating Content for the Actor and Going Viral.”

She says using social media is important for artists from marginalized communities, who may not see as many opportunities in the entertainment industry and can use social media to help create their own material. Surveys show a growing number of young people nationwide want to be professional content creators.

“That’s where we see social media and film, television and theater all intersecting, and I think it’s heading there very rapidly, so we want to be on that cutting edge,” she said.

Devin Craig is a second-year student in Master of Fine Arts in Acting program. Like most who come here, he wants to be an actor. He grew up playing basketball in Alabama until he saw his high school put on High School Musical. 

“Just watching people be able to be open and be themselves and experience emotions. It was something that I didn’t have in my life, but I was really looking for it and I kind of found it,” Craig said.

From intense movement classes to scenic design and text study, Roxworthy says students get all the tools and skills they need to thrive in all facets of the entertainment industry, no matter the size of the stage or screen.  

“We aim to stream all of our main stage productions next season, so our musicals, our new plays, our classical plays, so you’ll be able to see our work around the world and really training our students to be creating sets, and costumes, and performances that can read across both mediums,” Roxworthy said.

In an industry that is anything but easy, Craig says he’s soaking up as much experience as possible.

“Hollywood’s down the street, the LA weather, and these teachers, man,” he said.

He’s just grateful for any chance to shine in front of an audience or behind the scenes.

Let Inside the Issues know your thoughts and watch Monday through Friday at 8 and 11 p.m. on Spectrum News 1.