Ongoing

• Volunteer to be a Production Respondent - shows viewed August 22 - November 15, 2025
  Email: PlaySelection@ihstf.org for more information, of simply complete the link above

August 2025

• August 18:  Festival website is updated with 2026 Festival Information
• August 18: 3:00 pm:  Production Application Opens
• August 19: 12:00 pm:  Workshops Application Opens
• August 19: 12:00 pm:  School Registration Opens
• August 19: 12:00 pm:  Exhibitor Registration Opens
• August 20:  Sponsorship Opportunities posted on the website!
• August 22:  First day to respond to Full-Length & Showcase Productions

September 2025

• September 30 (extended):  Production Application closes:  In order to be considered to bring your production to Festival, all fees and forms related to the production application must be turned in by this date.  This is the last day to request a refund for a Production submission.

October 2025

• October 10:  Productions performed prior to this date must give 3 weeks' advance notice (email playselection@ihstf.org)
• October 17:  DUE- School Registration (process completed) - ONLY for schools submitting shows for consideration
• October 31:  DUE - School Registration (process completed) - for all schools.  If you submit the school registration form by October 31, that does not mean you are accepted to Festival.  The order in which all required materials are received is the order each school is ranked and accepted until capacity is reached.  We normally fill to capacity a week prior to the deadline.  The form will remain open as we do have a wait list.  On November 24, we will accept schools off the wait list until final capacity is reached.

November 2025

• November 1:  Last day to request a refund less a processing fee for School Registration - no refunds will be provided after this date.
• November 1:  Last day to request a refund less a processing fee for Exhibit Registration - no refunds will be provided after this date.
• November 5:  DUE: Administrative Support Award Nominations Form

• November 5:  DUE:  Workshop Application

• November 10:  DUE: Ad’s for Festival program

• November 19:  DUE:  College Audition Application, Resume Form, Payment (The link to apply will be emailed to the primary school sponsor once the school has completed the school registration process)

• November 19:  The last day to respond to productions

• November 19:  The last day to request a refund for College Auditions - no refunds will be provided after this date.

• November 19:  DUE:  Director Response Form - This is ONLY for schools submitting a production for consideration.  The link to this form will be emailed to a Production School from the Directors for Play Selection once their production has been viewed.

• November 20 (extended):  DUE:  Exhibit Registration

• November 23:  1:00 pm - 5:00 pm CT - Directors of submitted shows must be available by phone

December 2025

• December 7:  9:00 am - 2:00 pm - Play Selection Tech Meeting for selected productions at ISU - information will be provided via email to the schools that are accepted on Nov.24 at 5pm
• December 10:  DUE: Digital slide show submissions
• December 15:  Preliminary Festival schedule is posted on the website
• December 15:  DUE: Pre-registered workshop sign-up
• December 15:  Pre-registered show ticket sign-up

January 2026

January 8 - 10, 2026:  50th Annual Illinois High School Theatre Festival