Thank you for your interest in the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. The Festival is now entering its 32nd season, producing energetic new interpretations of plays, with the artistry and humanity of the Shakespearean canon as our inspiration and guide. The Festival performs to audiences of over 10,000 every summer and operates under an Actors' Equity U/RTA Tier II contract.
The Illinois Shakespeare Festival operates as a repertory company. Actors are contracted to play multiple roles in two or more of the season productions. Opportunities to understudy and to act in the Green shows may also be available.
For the 2009 season, the Festival plans to hire a company of 16-18 talented and versatile actors. The Festival seeks out actors who are passionate about working on Shakespearean texts and enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge, energy, and talents with other artists and with our audience members. Creating a positive and supportive environment that fosters artistic excellence is of primary importance at the Festival.
Festival actors are contracted to play as cast in the season. Non-Equity actors may be offered specific roles or a position with the company with roles to be cast upon arrival in May. Non-equity actors receive a stipend. The Festival provides all housing.
Contract Dates have not been announced for the 2009 season.
Performers are invited to regional auditions on the basis of photo and resume. A hard copy of these, with a written request for an audition, should be sent to the Artistic Director at the address listed below. Audition dvd's and tapes are also accepted. An audition schedule will be posted on this page by mid-September; auditions are generally held in late October through early December with offers typically made between January and March.
If you have any further questions, please contact Deb Alley, Artistic Director:
Deb Alley
Artistic Director
Illinois State University
Campus Box 5700
Normal IL 61790-5700
dralley@ilstu.edu
