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General Work Conditions

The entire company works six days a week with Monday as the day off. Indoor build and rehearsals happen 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.

Rehearsals

There are two four-hour rehearsal periods in the workday: one in the afternoon (generally 12-4 p.m.) and a second in the evening (generally 6-10 p.m.). Techs and dresses run until midnight with appropriate adjustments in the afternoon rehearsals. The primary indoor rehearsal space is the Center for the Performing Arts Theatre. Vocal coaching, as well as secondary and Theatre for Young Audiences rehearsals, happen in the School of Theatre, Dance, and Film classroom spaces (Centennial East and Centennial West).

Work Calls

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.

Transportation and Travel

While employed with the Festival, some 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 company housing.

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.

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival is a proud member of the University Resident Theatre Association. For more than 50 years, URTA has been a leading force in the continued renewal of the American theatre by supporting excellence in professional training of new artists.

The AEA-URTA Agreement with Actors’ Equity Association allows professional theatre to be produced in university settings, offering students the invaluable experience of working alongside, and learning from, professional guest artists.

URTA members elevate the field by embodying the highest quality standards in theatre production and training, and undergo a rigorous peer assessment to assure they are committed to shared principles of professional practice, integrity, and ethics in the recruitment and training of theatre artists. Over the last half century, URTA member institutions have produced tens of thousands of theatre artists who continue to make important contributions to the theatrical and entertainment industries.

Illinois State University is an EOE/AA employer. Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.

Photo: Members of the 2021 Illinois Shakespeare Festival Company