Thank you for your interest in working with The Illinois Shakespeare Festival. The Festival is now entering its 31st 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 Greenshows may also be available.
For the 2008 season, we have hired a company of 16 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.
The entire company (actors and technicians) will meet on May 14th, with rehearsals beginning that evening. Taming of the Shrew opens June 27th, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) opens June 28th, and Titus Andronicus opens July 18th. Plays run in repertory until August 10th, with 36 performances in all.
Performers are invited to regional auditions on the basis of photo, resume, and application. Auditions are generally held in late October through early December. Offers are typically made between January and March.
If you have any further questions, please contact Deb Alley, Artistic Director:
Deb Alley
Artistic Director
Campus Box 5700
Illinois State University
Normal IL 61790-5700
dralley@ilstu.edu