September 1968, Juilliard’s Drama Division opened its doors to the first class of actors, designated as Group I. The Drama Division convocation was held on September 24 at International House with an address by John Houseman, first director of the department (1968-1976), and welcome messgages by President Peter Mennin, Dean Gideon Waldrop, and the registrar, Judson Ehrbar.

American director, producer, and administrator John Houseman and the French director, teacher, and actor Michel Saint‑Denis established the Drama Division in 1968 and instituted a four-year curriculum based upon the pedagogical principals developed by Saint-Denis and his wife Suria for conservatories in Europe and Canada. Original faculty members were Rene Auberjonois, Brian Bedford, Hovey Burgess, Margaret Freed, Linda Gudde, William Hickey, Houseman, Michael Kahn, Judith Leibowitz, Julius Novick, Michel and Suria Saint-Denis, Edith Skinner, Elizabeth Smith, William Woodman, and Moni Yakim.