Camps and Classes
Registration
Registration is now open. Register now
Limited scholarships are available. Please complete the scholarship application.
Questions?
Cristen Monson
(309) 438-3936
cbmonso@IllinoisState.edu
2022 Youth Camps
Bard Buddies: Elementary
Attention adventurers! Join us on a trek through the magical worlds of William Shakespeare. Discover who William Shakespeare was and meet fairies, ghosts, witches, bears, and more. Students will create and explore the power of storytelling through crafts and activities.
Who: Students entering 3rd through 5th grades
When: July 11-22, Monday-Friday, 1-2:30 p.m.
Location: In-Person
Cost: $200 per student
Maximum enrollment: 15 students
Shakespeare’s Apprentices: Middle School
Come and learn why Shakespeare’s plays do not have to be intimidating! Join us in this three-week emersion into all things “the Bard.” This camp allows students to gain more focused experience in a variety of theatre skills such as character work, stage combat, movement and voice while collaborating as a company to produce the one act play, Romeo to Go, a play by Jonathan Rand. During the final week of camp, students will perform Romeo to Go at the Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) Theatre on the campus of Illinois State University. Family and friends are invited to the final performance on Thursday, July 28. **Information on the final performance is listed below.
Who: Students entering 6th through 8th grades
When: July 11-29, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon
Location: In-Person
Cost: $300 per student
Maximum enrollment: 25 students
NEW! Shakespeare's Musicians: Musical Theatre Camp
This musical theatre intensive allows students to hone and work on theatre skills, such as voice, physical character work, and musical theatre solo and partner scene work. Students will collaborate as a company to produce an original musical revue of songs from popular Broadway musicals. This revue will be directed by Illinois State University Professor Jimmy Chrismon. During the final week of camp, students will perform at the Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) Theatre on the campus of Illinois State University. Family and friends are invited to the final performance on Thursday, July 28. *Information on the final performance is listed below.
Who: Students entering 6th through 12th grades
When: July 11-29, Monday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. (except date of Final Performance)
Location: In-Person
Cost: $300 per student (or $250 if the student is also enrolled in one of the morning camps. Students will be supervised during the lunch break.)
Maximum enrollment: 20 students
Shakespeare’s Players: High School
This theatre intensive allows high school students to hone and work on theatre skills such as Shakespeare’s text, physical character work, stage combat, movement, and voice. Participants will collaborate as a company to produce a one-act adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing to take place at the Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) Theatre on the campus of Illinois State University. Family and friends are invited to the final performance on Thursday, July 28. *Information on the final performance is listed below.
Who: Students entering 9th through 12th grades
When: July 11-29, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon
Location: In-Person
Cost: $300 per student
Maximum enrollment: 25 students
Final Performance
Family and friends are invited to the final performance 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at the Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) Theatre on the campus of Illinois State University. House opens at 8:50 a.m. for seating.
The final performance includes Shakespeare’s Apprentices performing Romeo to Go, Shakespeare’s Players performing an adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, and Shakespeare’s Musicians performing their musical theatre showcase.
Tickets will be available online at a later date. Family and friends can purchase $5 adult tickets or $3 youth tickets; each ticket grants the holder access to all three performances.
Please note: Shakespeare’s Musicians will not meet from 1-4 p.m. the afternoon of the performance, due to their participation in the morning showcase.
2022 Adult Classes
[06.13.22 Update: Please note that Much Ado About Comedy and "my flesh, my blood" have been canceled due to low enrollment. Thank you to those who were interested.]
NEW! Much Ado About Comedy
This workshop explores the conventions of Shakespearean comedy in Much Ado About Nothing. What did comedy mean in Shakespeare’s time? How does it relate to our modern definitions of comedy, including popular genres such as the rom com? By dissecting the play’s two love plots, we will see how Shakespeare pushes the genre of comedy in new directions, anticipating the tragicomedies of his late career. During the workshop, we will also have guest visits from cast and creative team members of the ISF production of Much Ado About Nothing. Instructor Dr. Kee-Yoon Nahm.
Dr. Kee-Yoon Nahm
Dr. Kee-Yoon Nahm is the Illinois Shakespeare Festival dramaturg and author of the “Beyond the Stage” article series in the ISF Friends Newsletter. He is an assistant professor of Theatre Studies at Illinois State University. In addition to working as a professional dramaturg, he is also a theatre translator. His work has been presented at Yale Repertory Theatre, Coalescence Theatre Project, the National Theatre Company of Korea, the National Dance Company of Korea, and the Seoul Performing Arts Festival, among others.
NEW! “my flesh, my blood”: Family Matters in King Lear
This workshop dives right into the prickly family feuds at the heart of one of Shakespeare’s darkest tragedies. Join us for interactive lectures on “family” in Shakespeare’s day and find your voice in discussions on famous speeches and character conflicts. Class includes guest visits from members of the ISF production of King Lear. Instructor Dr. Tara Lyons.
Dr. Tara Lyons
Dr. Tara Lyons is an associate professor of English at Illinois State University. She teaches courses on Shakespeare, early British literature, gender, and book history. She is currently writing a book on collections of plays in Shakespeare’s day and editing Henry the Sixth Part 2 for the Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe for Oxford University Press.
Instructors
Dr. Jimmy Chrismon
Dr. Jimmy Chrismon is excited to be returning to the summer camps at ISF. He is part of the theatre teacher education faculty at Illinois State University and is very much looking forward to working with you this summer. He has 17 years of experience teaching high school theatre, and is an actor and director.
Parker Daugherty
Parker Daugherty is a sophomore musical theatre and theatre education double major with a minor in English and is ecstatic to be returning to the Illinois Shakespeare Festival summer camps this year. He cannot wait to start working with the wonderful students and is looking forward to seeing everyone this summer!
Caitlyn Martin
Caitlyn Martin is a senior at Illinois State University studying theatre teacher education and psychology. In high school, she was involved in many aspects of theatre including acting, directing, costumes, and hair and makeup designs. She has continued working in the theatre in college on both mainstage productions as well as smaller shows. She has worked as an assistant director, a stage manager, and a hair and makeup designer. Caitlyn is so excited to be back for another summer with ISF and cannot wait to get started!
Ryan Renc
Ryan Renc is very excited to be returning to the Illinois Shakespeare Festival summer camps this year! Entering his junior year at Illinois State University, Ryan is studying theatre teacher education and acting with a minor in English. He is so excited to start working and looks forward to making this an incredible summer!
Morgan Whalen
Morgan Whalen is going into her senior year as a theatre education major at Illinois State University, and she is thrilled to be working with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival once again this summer. She cannot wait to start working with so many students and fuel their love of theatre!