Professor Lindberg lands summer gig at Steppenwolf Theatre

This summer, Professor Carl Lindberg spent 10 weeks in Chicago acting professionally at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. 

Lindberg, who is the drama professor and program chair at the Ankeny campus, was part of the cast of “You Will Get Sick” by Noah Diaz. He calls the theater a “world-renowned theater company and one of the most important theater companies in America.” Lindberg trained at Steppenwolf 20 years ago, and said it was a long-time dream to work professionally at the theater.

Lindburg said, “The Steppenwolf Theatre Company was always somewhere that I wanted to work and has always been a dream place to work at for me. It was an exciting part to check that off my bucket list.”

He hopes to share his experiences with students to benefit them as well by providing networking opportunities. Lindberg emphasizes the importance of “building bridges” and networking for students to avoid being overlooked.

Lindberg’s path in acting began with a high school speech class. He said he wasn’t doing well, so he auditioned for a spring musical to earn extra credit. Lindberg went to graduate school but said he wasn’t planning on teaching. However, he grew to learn the importance of teaching the business side of acting and sharing his industry experience with students. 

Lindberg advises students to step away from their devices and be present with the people they are with. He stresses the importance of authenticity in building trust and collaboration in the industry, as DMACC is a great starting point for many students.

“When you leave DMACC, you will know what industry is like. You will be able to find work in the industry,” Lindberg said. 

The upcoming DMACC plays this semester are “The Apiary” by Kate Douglas with showtimes from October 3 through October 12, and “Kate and Sam Are Not Breaking Up,” by Joel Kim Booster with showtimes from November 14 through November 23. 

Auditions for the spring production of “Macbeth” will be held in the first or second week of the spring semester. 

If interested, you can find the DMACC Theatre program on social media @dmacctheatre or contact Professor Lindberg directly through his email celindberg@dmacc.edu.