Major: Theater
As a senior in high school, Christopher Corrigan wasn’t thinking about college.
“I had kind of ignored the next step of my education,” he said. “All of the sudden, July was upon me and all my friends were talking about getting ready for school. I said to myself, ‘Hmmmm, I should probably be doing that ... I guess I better apply to College of DuPage.’ So I did and the rest is history.”
Corrigan initially signed up for general education courses while trying to find himself and a possible career.
“I was kind of just floating. The Theater program at COD is what guided me to myself,” he said. “I used to love theater when I was younger and I had chosen not to participate in it in high school. So when I got to COD, I decided to do theater again. Coming at it from a professional structure, which COD’s Theater department supplies, gave me a new love and appreciation for theater. I found a passion for participating in something and goals became set. I had to keep learning and studying it!”
While at COD, Corrigan received the John Belushi Acting Scholarship from the College of DuPage Foundation.
“That scholarship taught me a lot about working hard and it stretched me in my theater studies,” he said. “I was working on multiple shows both terms, one of which was a professional production, and was put in a couple of positions of leadership in the Theater department. That scholarship provided me with not just funds to afford my last year but opportunities and confidence.”
Corrigan earned both Associate in Arts and Associate in General Studies degrees before transferring to North Central College and completing a bachelor’s degree in Theater. After graduation, he embarked on a three-month acting tour in North and South Carolina, making lasting relationships and gathering enough stories to write a novel of cautionary tales about the world of touring theater. He then worked in retail and auditioned around Chicago as well as for Walt Disney World. He also did a sixth-month local tour of “Robin Hood” at schools and theater spaces.
My COD experience is still guiding my goals today. It really put me on the path of becoming the person I am.
Christopher Corrigan
As the Lead Programs and Education Assistant at the Robert R. McCormick Museum at Cantigny Park, Corrigan starred in a series of popular “Two Minute Tour” videos. He left to be the director of entertainment and programming at a new senior living community in Elgin but returned to Cantigny as the public engagement coordinator at Cantigny Park.
“Getting to help educate and interact with the community through a museum and its legacy was a really rewarding experience,” he said. “I used my background to create theatrical programming for the museum and actually wrote two plays for Cantigny. Both were radio play adaptations of classic stories—‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ I actually did ‘A Christmas Carol’ twice, at Cantigny and in 2021 with Summer Place Theater in Naperville. They reached out to me and asked if they could produce my piece for their summer season and asked if I would come direct it!”
Corrigan is now the adult programs coordinator for the Schaumburg Township District Library. Considering he attended College of DuPage at the last minute, he is grateful for what COD provided him.
“When I started, I would never have guessed it would have benefited my life as much as it has. Nor would I have figured that I would have formed lasting friendships with my professors,” he said. “I was shy and introverted when I started, but my time with the dedicated theater staff changed that. I love engaging with others, helping others and making everyone around me laugh. I would never have found this passion for engaging with people if it weren’t for COD and the Theater program.
“My COD experience is still guiding my goals today. It really put me on the path of becoming the person I am. If you don't know what the next step is, this is a great place to go and find out what that is. COD, to me, is like an airport terminal. The high school bus has dropped you off and maybe you aren’t sure where you want to go next. It’s not wise to just buy a random ticket and see what happens. You need to take your time before deciding which plane to board. Don’t just panic pick a college because your education is a journey. Take the time to find what the right next step is, and COD it just the place to help you make that decision. Then enjoy the journey, because it goes by faster than you realize!”
Learn more about the Theater program at College of DuPage
COD Theater Success Stories
“COD provided invaluable connections, both personally and professionally, that I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else.” - Ron May
Ron's COD StoryCOD Theater Success Stories
"It was priceless to be in classes with teenagers and adults returning to school because the various perspectives offered richness to classroom discussion that I wouldn’t get in a homogeneous classroom population." - Nicole Hendricks
Nicole's COD StoryCOD Theater Success Stories
"COD is really good about keeping that family relationship going." - Erica Burger
Erica's COD StoryCOD Theater Success Stories
"Because of the generosity and openness and encouragement I received at COD, I have the tools and the confidence to pursue this dream no matter how ‘impractical’ and uncertain." - Nicole Bloomsmith
Nicole's COD StoryCOD Theater Success Stories
"Your time will come when it’s right. Never measure your own success against that of your peers and friends, as it will polarize you and give you pause. See what they did to succeed and foster that fire on the trail that you’re blazing!" - Patrick Ryan
Patrick's COD Story