Interested in becoming a company member? Check out some of the details of Festival life.
The entire company works six days a week with Monday as the day off. Indoor build and rehearsal happens at Illinois State University’s theatre building (Centennial East) and the Center for the Performing Arts. Those facilities include two rehearsal halls, costume shop, scene shop, metals area, paint area, craft room, dye room, callboards, and various classroom, meeting, and office spaces.
There are three rehearsal slots in the workday: 11-12:30 p.m. Green Show/Fight Call, 1-5 p.m. Primary and Secondary Rehearsal, and 7-11 p.m. Primary and Secondary Rehearsal. Acting interns are cast in the Green Shows once they arrive at the Festival and complete auditions. The primary rehearsal space is the Theatre in the Center for the Performing Arts, a new, multi-million dollar facility. The other is the School of Theatre’s Allen Theatre, a small black box space. Vocal coaching, individual meetings, and Green Show rehearsals happen in the School of Theatre classroom spaces (Centennial East and Centennial West).
Scene shop works calls are from 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. with two 15 minute breaks and a one hour lunch. Costume shop work calls are 8:20 a.m.-6:30 p.m. with the same breaks. Props and paint generally follow the scene shop schedule and crafts follow the costume shop schedule. Lighting calls run with the scene shop until focus. Once the company moves into tech rehearsals, the schedules will change.
While employed with the Festival, transportation will be provided by designated drivers in 12 passenger vans between housing, work/rehearsal calls, and performances. Company Management will e-mail the transportation schedule to the entire company the night before in addition to posting it on the call boards in Centennial East and at College Station Apartments.
Individual van runs will not be made so some company members may need to report to rehearsals or meetings earlier than called or stay later than released. It takes thirty-five to forty minutes to walk between housing and campus and about twelve minutes by bike. The city bus is free to Festival employees who have obtained a University ID card.
Illinois Shakespeare Festival company members are considered seasonal employees of Illinois State University and are entitled to an Illinois State University ID for the summer. This ID allows you to check books out from Milner Library, ride free on the Bloomington-Normal buses, and cash checks up to $50 for free at the Braden Box Office. You may also use the ISU Recreation Center for $17-32 a month, depending on the activities you choose, and you may purchase an on-campus summer parking pass for $70.
The Festival will issue you a photo ID badge soon after you arrive. By showing this badge, company members receive discounts at the Festival gift shop and various discounts or perks from local bars, bookstores, and restaurants. Company members enjoy private opening night parties for each show as well as other picnics and scheduled events at company housing. As long as seats are available, company members may attend any season performance without a ticket. To attend the opening parties, receive discounts or tickets, company members must show a picture ID badge.