School of Theatre and Dance
Welcome to the School of Theatre and Dance at Illinois State University. We invite you to take a look around and learn more about our nationally recognized undergraduate and graduate programs.
In the School of Theatre and Dance, we provide pre-professional training to dedicated young actors, dancers, designers and educators. This is a competitive program but there is work for everybody. You will be encouraged to demonstrate your craft by participating in some of the ten major productions, two dance concerts and dozens of smaller plays and performances presented every year. For examples of the kinds of shows we produce please see our schedule of upcoming performances.
Information for Current Students
Current students seeking information on production assignments, production calendars, and Practicum contracts should head over to the Productions Page.
Cast lists for all Spring 2013 producitons, including the ISDT Spring Concert, are now posted on the Auditions Page. To find out more information about the the audition process and policies, please visit the Auditions Page.
Any student in good standing (including first-semester freshmen) may audition for Illinois State Dance Theatre — the company that puts on our Dance concerts in winter and spring. The ISDT audition takes place on Wednesday, August 22, at 6:30 p.m., in the Dance Studio (Centennial East 116A). Registration and warm-up begin at 6:00 p.m. Come prepared to dance in bare feet, jazz shoes and ballet shoes (pointe shoes if appropriate).
Need a room for a meeting or rehearsal space? Head over to the Facilities Page.
Students interested in serving on a Committee for the School of Theatre and Dance or College of Fine Arts during the 2012-2013 year, or those who wish to receive more information on Registered Student Organizations, are asked to fill out this online Committee and RSO Interest Form.
Information for Prospective Students: Auditions and Evaluations
When you apply to Illinois State University you will be asked to sign up for an audition, portfolio review or interview date. An audition is required if you intend to pursue one of the performance sequences: Acting, Dance, or Dance Education. A portfolio review and interview are required for the Design/Production sequence. If you intend to pursue the Theatre Education or Theatre Studies sequence you just need to be accepted by Illinois State University, and declare one of those sequences as your major. (But you may still want to interview with us for School of Theatre and Dance scholarships.) For more information please see Audition, Portfolio Review, and Scholarship Interview Guidelines.
Students in the performance sequences are evaluated by the faculty on an ongoing basis. You will be judged on the basis of your talent, classroom preparation, level of production participation and commitment to your art. Actress Judith Ivey (“Designing Women,” Tony Award-winner for “Hurlyburly”) said that during her time in the School of Theatre and Dance, “They made demands on you that a lot of professionals since then have never made on me. It prepared me for what has turned out to be a wonderful career.”
Our Faculty
We have more than 30 faculty members in the School of Theatre and Dance, so we are able to keep our studio classes small. We offer individualized instruction in a supportive environment which means you will have lots of contact with your instructors.
Our teachers stay involved in the professional world, working as directors, designers, actors, dancers, and choreographers. On top of that, Illinois State is one of the leading schools in producing Theatre teachers. Illinois State started as a teacher-training college, and the School of Theatre and Dance is proud to continue that tradition.
Undergraduate Areas of Study
The School of Theatre and Dance offers conservatory-level training within the context of a liberal arts education. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in one of six sequences:
Theatre Connections
Theatre Connections is the School's initiative to get involved in the campus and local communities, and to encourage students and residents to be socially and politically active through the arts.
The Illinois Shakespeare Festival
During the summer months, the School of Theatre and Dance is proud to be the home of the nationally acclaimed Illinois Shakespeare Festival. The Festival offers top students an opportunity to work side-by-side with professionals from around the world.
We Are Proud of Our Graduates
Located just two hours south of Chicago, Illinois State University has been described as “a large university with a small college feel.” The School of Theatre and Dance has provided a steppingstone into the professional theatre world for many acclaimed actors, including the founding members of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company, as well as hundreds of graduates who can be found in theatre companies and schools throughout the Midwest and beyond—acting, dancing, directing, designing and educating the theatre artists of the future.
The School of Theatre and Dance Advantage
- We provide professional training in a liberal arts setting.
- Our highly qualified faculty members maintain active involvement in the professional world.
- We provide a supportive environment that encourages exploration and growth.
- Our extensive production program enhances the classroom learning experience.
- We are committed to individualized instruction.
