Theatre Staff

Artistic Director

Deb Alley has worked in professional theatre for more than 25 years. She graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Directing from Illinois State University; was co-founder and Managing Director for Columbus Ensemble Theatre; served as the Director of Children's Theatre/Special Events at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island, IL; worked as a stage manager on three national tours, and was Associate Producer for DramaSearch Productions Company.

Her credits at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival include serving as Production Stage Manager, Production Manager, Company Manager, and Associate Artistic Director. She directed Julius Caesar during the 2006 season and Much Ado About Nothing in 2007. She has directed shows as varied as The House of Blue Leaves, The Laramie Project, Vinegar Tom, My Fair Lady, The Rivals, Caucasian Chalk Circle, Servant of Two Masters, Pippin, The Arkansas Bear, and the world premiere of Nancy Van deVate's one act opera, Where the Cross is Made.

Deb is currently an Associate Professor of Theatre at Illinois State University.

Managing Director

Dick Folse is the Managing Director for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and has spent ten years facilitating educational outreach for Illinois State University. He is the co-founder of the Blank Canvas program, a program funded through a State Farm Youth Advisory Board grant that promotes college attendance and digital arts to underrepresented community youth.

As life-long friend of the theatre, he is pleased to be part of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival organization. Dick has an Master of Fine Arts in Drawing and Printmaking.

Production Manager

Chad Lowell is Production Manager for The Illinois Shakespeare Festival as well as Production Coordinator for the School of Theatre at Illinois State University. He began working for the Festival in 2002, and became Production Manager in 2003. He earned his master's degree from the University of Georgia in Scenery and Lighting Design.

Before spending his summers with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, he worked seven summers with the Highlands Playhouse in Highlands, North Carolina. There he worked in a number of different capacities including Technical Director, Resident Scene Designer, and Resident Lighting Designer.