Will be emailed out the week of December 16th.

List of colleges and universities participating in College Auditions/Presentations (PDF):  Will be posted by December 20

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL ACTING AUDITION SPOTS HAVE BEEN FILLED. THERE ARE LIMITED TECH PRESENTATIONS SPOTS REMAINING.

Eligibility is limited to Juniors or Seniors who plan to enter college in the school year 25–26 or 26–27 to study theatre. Juniors are strongly encouraged to apply. As in the past, all Illinois college and university theatre departments have been invited to participate in this program, as well as other theatre departments from outside of Illinois. The goal is to give students an opportunity to audition/present for college representatives while refining and enriching their auditioning/presenting skills.

In-Person Auditions / Technical Interviews will be held Friday, January 10, 2025.

Warm-up rooms will be available on Friday, January 10 to help prepare student actors. To help make the process as user-friendly as possible, we will discuss audition/presentation information during this meeting.

STUDENTS: While it would be great to give EVERY student a chance to experience this process, please remember that spaces are limited and the time for our college representatives to see these talented students is at a premium. Please register ONLY if you are seriously considering a career in the theatre. The Illinois High School Theatre Festival reserves the right to limit the number of students a school may have based on overall numbers and available time slots.

College Auditions and Interviews Waitlist

Audition/Presentation Requirements

• Auditions must not exceed two minutes, including introductions and transitions. Auditions will be timed. Students should prepare…
  • A single monologue, or
  • Two short contrasting monologues, or
  • A short monologue and 16 bars of a song. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring appropriately marked sheet music in your key.
    
    
• Technical Interviews will be scheduled simultaneously with the performance auditions. Presentations are for any student wishing to pursue technical theatre, technical design (costume, sound, set, lighting, etc.), directing, or stage management. Students will…
  • Display their work (i.e. portfolios, pictures, displays) to a rotating group of 6-8 college/university representatives
  • Give a 5-7 minute presentation at each group
    
  • Answer questions from the college/university representatives
    
    
• All student auditionees/presenters must be registered with their school (except All-State cast and crew members) for the Festival. 
  
  
• Each auditionee/presenter must pay a non-refundable $45 audition/presentation fee. This will be collected when filling out the online college auditions registration form.
  
  
• NOTE REGARDING CALLBACKS: Students must use their own email during registration, NOT the sponsor's email. After auditions and presentations, students will receive emails regarding colleges and universities who wish to speak to them further. It is the student’s responsibility to visit each college representative on the exhibit floor.
  
  

Audition/Presentation Process