Internship Program
The Illinois Shakespeare Festival offers an internship program for qualified college students to expand their skills and gain experience in a professional theatre environment. As part of the ISF Internship Program, you will gain hands-on, real-world experience in a creative and supportive environment. You will have the opportunity to work one on one with professionals in your chosen area of study. You will be able to develop work that you can feature in your personal professional portfolio. For all internships, we are looking for individuals that are interesting in focusing their work on a specific area of study. To advance your learning opportunities we are looking for individuals who possess effective communication skills, are organized, and are detail-oriented. Individuals who apply must adhere to all health and safety guidelines set forth by Illinois Shakespeare Festival and Illinois State University. This may include, but not be limited to, daily health check-ins, COVID-19 testing, and additional required training.
Internship Status:
Internship applications for the 2026 Season are now open! Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. You will be contacted via email within two weeks of submission of your application for an interview.
Internships offered for the summer 2026 season:
| Acting | |
| Company Management | |
| Costume Shop | |
| Craft Shop | |
| Lighting/Electrics | |
| Marketing | |
| Prop Shop | |
| Scenic Artist | |
| Scene Shop/Carpentry | |
| Sound Shop | |
| Stage Management |
Featured benefits of the ISF Internship Program
- Interns will participate in an internship class once a week for professional development and education. Interns will be registered for THE 398 - Professional Practice in Theatre at Illinois State University for the summer 2026 term. Our summer 2026 course will be facilitated by faculty members.
- Interns will receive mentoring from professional artists on staff at Illinois State University and from other institutions. Interns will also attend a weekly class facilitated by guest instructors allowing interns to learn about a broad range of creative areas within a professional theatre.
- ISF provides free housing during your internship for those individuals who are not currently residents of the Bloomington/Normal area.
- A $70.00 per week food reimbursement.
- Complimentary tickets for mainstage productions.
Eligibility Requirements
- Current enrollment in a college program with an anticipated graduation date of August 2026 or later.
- Ability to commit to the full summer season. All internships are full-time commitments. Depending on your internship area, the summer schedule will run from May 2026 through August 2026.
- Reside in, or able to relocate to, Bloomington-Normal, IL for the duration of the internship.
- Pass a standard background check.
- Individuals who apply must adhere to all health and safety guidelines set forth by Illinois Shakespeare Festival and Illinois State University.
Selection Criteria
- A strong desire to work in a specific intern's area of study.
- A resume and cover letter.
- Effective communication skills, organization, and attention to detail.
- Ability to demonstrate the basic skills listed below:
Recommended Skills by Internship Area
Acting
-
- Basic knowledge of rehearsal and performance practices
- An interest in gaining experience working with other professionals in your field
- Basic knowledge of backstage procedures
- Acting interns are members of the Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) acting company, perform in select mainstage productions, and serve as understudies for the professional company.
Company Management
-
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
- Basic knowledge of organizational structure
- Strong interpersonal skills are important for this position
- An interest in gaining experience working in a summer festival environment
- Valid driver’s license is recommended
- Ability to lift 30 lbs.
Lighting/Electrics
-
- Basic knowledge of lighting terminology
- Experience focusing instruments
- Ability to read and understand a lighting plot and paperwork
- Basic knowledge of lighting instruments and electrics shop equipment
- Ability to work at heights
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- This internship is also a crew position for performance
Marketing
-
- Familiarity with marketing computer software and social media platforms.
- Good understanding of the latest marketing trends and techniques.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Must have a passion for marketing.
- Outstanding multitasking abilities.
- Strong interpersonal skills are important for this position.
- An interest in gaining experience working in a summer festival environment.
- Basic knowledge of rehearsal and performance practices is recommended.
Prop Shop
-
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel, Adobe Photoshop
- Basic painting techniques
- Basic knowledge of shop tools including electric and pneumatic tools
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- This internship is also a crew position for performance
Scenic Artist
-
- Basic knowledge of scenic painting principles
- Ability to read basic scenic elevations and paint elevations
- Basic knowledge of paint shop equipment
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- Ability to work at heights
Scene Shop/Carpentry
-
- Basic knowledge of scenic construction best practices
- Ability to read basic scenic drawings
- Basic knowledge of shop tools including electric and pneumatic tools
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- Ability to work at heights
- This internship may also be a crew position for performance
Sound Shop
-
- Basic knowledge of sound terminology
- Experience handling and installation of sound equipment
- Ability to read and understand a sound plot and associated paperwork
- Basic knowledge of sound equipment
- Ability to work at heights
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- This internship is also a crew position for performance
Stage Management
-
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
- Basic knowledge of rehearsal and performance practices
- An interest in gaining experience working on an AEA production
- Solid interpersonal skills are important for this position
- Basic knowledge of backstage procedures
- Valid driver’s license is recommended
- Ability to lift 30 lbs.
- This internship is also a crew position for performance
Apply
Submit your Illinois Shakespeare Festival Internship application today.
Acting Internships
-
- Acting Internship applications for the Summer 2026 Season are now closed.
- Applicants interested in an Acting Internship should complete the application above and submit an audition video.
- Illinois State University students are encouraged to audition for the Sutter Family Shakespeare Scholarship.
Questions?
Production Internships: ISFstaffing@ilstu.eduActing Internships: ISFauditions@gmail.com
The Sutter Family Shakespeare Scholarship
The Sutter Family Shakespeare Scholarship was established by Craig Sutter in memory of his mother, G. Jean Sutter, and his father, H. Everett Sutter. Their passion for the arts and civic engagement resonated with him from a young age. Sutter has been an avid supporter and patron of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival since 1996. His involvement in the Festival has ranged from sponsoring ice cream socials, which provide opportunities for patrons and cast members to mingle, to acting in walk-on roles with the company. "Sutter Scholars" study theatre at Illinois State University and take part in a coveted internship with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
Details
Freshman students at Illinois State University may apply for the Sutter Family Shakespeare Scholarship. This scholarship, awarded based on audition, recognizes students with a high level of acting talent. The scholarship recipient will receive an acting internship for one season with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and an academic scholarship award of $500 per semester for three years ($3,000 total).
Qualifications
- Be accepted for enrollment or be enrolled in good standing at Illinois State University.
- Be a student majoring in theatre.
- Participate in the Illinois Shakespeare Festival internship program for one summer as a "Sutter Scholar."
To Apply
Students wishing to be considered for the Sutter Family Shakespeare Scholarship should participate in the ISF on-campus auditions each season. Please visit Casting for audition information.
Past "Sutter Scholars"
- 2026 - Rosemarie Erban, Sophia Joyce, Leyla Cohen
- 2025 - Dimitri Marinakos, Devin Creighton 2024 - Carvell Price, Andrew Faber
- 2023 - Triniti Cruz
- 2022 - Joshua Thomas
- 2021 - Abigail Anderson
- 2020 - Nora McKirdie
- 2019 - Carol Kelleher
- 2018 - Jack Hradecky
- 2017 - Owen McGee
- 2016 - Thomas Russell
- 2015 - Christian Frieden