 He left Brown in 1990 and worked as a carpenter, a barista, a housepainter, and interviewed former steelworkers for a historical society in Pittsburgh.He then went on to study theatre at New York’s prestigious Juilliard School as a member of the Drama Division's "Group 25" (1992–1996).While at Juilliard, Conrad appeared in a stage adaptation of John Irving's novel "The Cider House Rules", written by Peter Parnell and co-directed by actor Tom Hulce.