It is with sadness that we have learned of the death of Joseph Slowik. Joe was an alumnus and Professor Emeritus of acting and directing at The Theatre School at DePaul University, formerly the Goodman School of Drama, where he taught for 54 years until his retirement in 1997. Joe passed away on January 27 at the age of 87.
Joe began teaching in 1953, after earning his MFA from the Goodman School of Drama. He played a key role as a core faculty member in transitioning the Goodman School of Drama to DePaul University. During his tenure, he served as the long-time head of the MFA directing program at The Theatre School, and directed more than a hundred productions over the course of four decades, including The Time of Your Life, Journey of the Fifth Horse, The Rose Tattoo, A Shayna Maidel, The Good Woman of Setzuan, Camino Real, The Skin of Our Teeth, Strider, Yerma and Mother Courage and Her Children. He was the 2001 recipient of the Theatre School's Excellence in Teaching Award.
Professionally, Joe directed numerous productions, collaborating with such artists as Eugenie Leontovich, Leo G. Carrol, Alvin Epstein, Nancy Kwan, and alumni Scott Ellis and Louis Zorich. He was nominated for four Joseph Jefferson Awards as Best Director for his productions at the Goodman and Body Politic Theatres. The recipient of Kosciuszko Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities grants, Joe studied Eastern European theatre at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and with Jerzy Grotowski at the Polish Lab Theatre in Poland. As an actor, he played a supporting role in the internationally released Polish film Love It Or Leave It. As a cultural specialist under the auspices of the U.S. Information Agency he directed Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf for the Singapore Repertory Theatre, and returned to direct the theater's first play of the millennium.
Joe brought so many inspiring qualities to his work at The Theatre School, among them: his wisdom, inspiration, high standards, insistence on discipline, and a deep commitment to his students. He exhibited great generosity in sharing ideas and information with his colleagues. Countless directors and performers were impacted through his mentorship.
In 2007, Goodman School of Drama Alumnus and award-winning director Scott Ellis honored Professor Emeritus Joseph Slowik at the Annual Awards for Excellence in the Arts, and addressed students by creating an endowed scholarship in Slowik's name.
"What I remember about Joe was his joy of teaching and directing. The energy he brought into a room, he was always wanting to work. He pushed you, he challenged you, always to find and play the truth. Always the truth. And isn't that what acting is all about? Slowik knew this, and that is the gift he gave to me. So in return, I am now going to present and give a scholarship in honor of him. I hope that this helps you in your journey and a beginning. But I truly wish that when you leave this school and you start your life in the theatre, you will also find a Joe Slowik. No matter how many ups and downs that you will have, and there will be many, you will always have a little voice behind you saying, "Find the truth." - Scott Ellis, 2007
A memorial service celebrating Joe's life will be forthcoming.
Our condolences go to the family, friends, colleagues, and former students who mourn the passing of Joe. May he rest in peace.
Source: Mission and Values email, January 3, 2017
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| Bella Itkin and Joe Slowik 2010. Photo courtesy: John Bridges |
John Bridges writes:
"Joe Slowik and Bella Itkin are colleagues once again. Here's a shot I took of them in 2010 at a party that the DePaul Theatre School held for them.
Bella passed in 2011 about a week before her 91st birthday; Joe passed yesterday, less than two weeks before his 90th birthday. The Theatre School started as the Goodman School of Drama in 1925, moving to DePaul University in 1978. It's safe to say that these two theatre artists/teachers/directors/mentors pretty much WERE the school.
I like to think that they're in heaven now, sitting at a table playing poker, drinks at their sides, with two of their favorites, Jerzy Grotowski and Anton Chekov. As each hand is dealt, Joe is thinking, "I wish these three would show more intention in the way they hold their cards!" while Bella is thinking, "I can tell by the way they're sitting and the way they're holding their cards who has the best hand!" Jerzy and Anton are thinking, 'It's nice to have these two here!'"
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