March 30, 2020

Dear SDA Community,

All of us at the USC School of Dramatic Arts hope you, your friends and loved ones are doing well and staying healthy and safe during this challenging time. We are, collectively, being asked to rethink how we engage with each other, and how we navigate our daily lives. Things that we may have once taken for granted – like trips to the grocery store, in person meetings, or being in a theatre together – are experiences we can’t wait to have again! Nonetheless, in this time of seeming disconnect, I have been surprised at the level of connectivity I have been able to share, virtually, with all of you. And I must take this opportunity to express how grateful and overwhelmed we are by the support and creative collaboration offered by our entire community.

The School of Dramatic Arts isn’t a place, it’s a collection of people united by a passion. All of us – current and former students, staff, alumni, donors, friends – we are the School. Let’s continue to stay in touch and find ways to lift one another up for as long as this crisis lasts. I recognize the extent of the challenges that so many are facing, and yet I have faith in the resilience, adaptability, and strength of dramatic artists and creators in the midst of unpredictable and unprecedented events.

We will continue to communicate with you regularly and keep you abreast of new information as it becomes available. Additionally, official updates on the COVID-19 can be accessed on USC’s dedicated webpage, https://sites.usc.edu/coronavirus/.

Thank you and be well.

David Bridel
Dean