Illinois Theatre Association - Community Theatre

Community Theatre

Divisional Events and Meetings

To contact the Youth Theatre representatives and/or join the Committee, please email communitytheatre@illinoistheatre.org.

Join us at the Professional Theatre Opportunities (PTO) on Saturday, March 7, 2026!

Workshop for Professional Auditions

Division Representatives

Karen Shuman

Expires 2027

Alka Sharma is the Founder and Director of Mandi Theater, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promote Indian theater to the American community at large. Passionately immersed in the world of theater, she has won several acting accolades as an amateur artist both in India and abroad. A strong patron of the arts, Alka has been active in Indian Theatre since her school and college days, where she acted and directed several short plays. She has directed and acted in lead roles in multiple successful productions. She and her team also bagged many awards in the field of Theatre and Community Service, and has been strengthening the Indian roots in the USA.

Laura Palti

Expires 2026

Laura Palti serves as the Executive Director of Debut Theatre, where she leads the organization’s mission to inspire, educate, and engage audiences through the power of live performance. With a strong background in administration and community engagement, Laura is dedicated to supporting both emerging and established artists while ensuring theater remains accessible to all.

Before joining Debut Theatre, Laura held leadership roles in property management at Neder Capital, where she focused on building collaborative partnerships, expanding community outreach, and strengthening organizational growth. She is especially passionate about nurturing young talent and fostering a vibrant arts community that reflects diverse voices and stories.

Under her leadership, Debut Theatre continues to grow as a creative hub, offering innovative productions and programs that connect audiences of all ages. Laura believes deeply in theater’s ability to spark dialogue, strengthen communities, and celebrate the shared human experience.

Upcoming events

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ITA 2026 Come Together Community Theatre Festival

Start
11/07/2026

End
11/08/2026

Location
Morton College Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, 3801 S Central Ave, Cicero, IL 60804

Register

Come Together: The Heartbeat of Community Theatre in Illinois

There is something uniquely powerful about community theatre. It’s more than a stage and it’s more than lights and lines. It’s a gathering place. It’s where strangers become castmates, where castmates become friends and friends become family. This year’s theme for Illinois’ bi-annual community theatre festival, Come Together, beautifully captures the essence of what community theatre has always been, and continues to be, across Illinois.

In towns big and small across our state, community theatres serve as creative homes. They welcome people of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels. That spirit of inclusion is what makes community theatre so special. It doesn’t just invite participation; it depends on it.

Come Together celebrates the collaborative art that is the essence of community theatre. Your theatre can participate in our biannual play competition with a chance to represent our state and our region at the American Association of Community Theatre’s AACTFest in June of 2027. You’ll be able to network with other theatre makers and celebrate the very essence of community theatre.

Come Together will be Nov. 7th and 8th at Morton College (time TBD).

For more information contact communitytheatre@illinoistheatre.org.

Show details

Past events

03/07/2026	ITA Professional Theatre Opportunities: Interviews, Auditions and Networking
10/24/2025	9th Annual Multilingual Theater Festival
10/11/2025	The Center Southland Spotlight
10/03/2025	Jekyll & Hyde
09/27/2025	South Chicago Dance Theatre
08/09/2025	Annual Member Celebration
08/06/2025	Beetlejiuce Jr.
06/20/2025	The PROM Broadway Musical
04/25/2025	NRP Presents Steel Magnolias
04/18/2025	"Sab Thath Para Reh Jayega"
02/22/2025	WCKY, Murder Mystery Fundraiser
03/02/2024	Puppetry Basics
11/14/2023	Financing Your Fine Arts
11/12/2023	TIE Best Practices for Consent-Based Work with Minors

Past Event Recordings

Thanks to the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) for awarding ITA with a "Certificate of Appreciation" after the 2023 Illinois State Community Theatre Festival!