By: Danny Yuska, ITA High School Division Representative

Interview with Anthony Greer: IHSTF Excecutive Director

We sat down with Anthony and asked a few questions about his theatrical adventure. Here is what he said...

What is your name?  What pronouns do you use?

By: Mark Begovich, ITA President-Elect

The 2026 Illinois High School Theatre Festival Planning Committee celebrated the 50th Anniversary in grand style. The Festival and the All-State production are always a massive undertaking, but this year, the team worked a little harder to honor the legacy of one of the largest high school theatre events in the country.

We want to feature these hardworking committee members so that you know who these amazing ITA Volunteers are!

Allan Kimball- Executive Director

A Bit About You- “I am the retired Director of Theatre from Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg. Before coming to SIC, I was the Theatre and Speech instructor at DuQuoin High School.  I have been involved with ITA and the Festival for many years, both at DuQuoin and SIC.  I have served on the Festival Planning Committee off and on for 7 years and as a member of the All-State Production Staff for 4 productions, including directing the All-State Production of Aida in 2020.”

Why You Support The ITA- “The ITA is a vital part of theatre in the state of Illinois.  It has produced and continues to produce, the teachers, technicians, and actors that shape and nourish those who live and love live theatre.  It is a resource for all of us who are involved in theatre.  The ITA provides a networking system that is essential for our personal and professional growth.”

Why You Volunteer For The Festival- “I love theatre.  I can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't fascinated by the magic of live theatre.  I love being a part of something that provides that sense of wonder to thousands of students every year. My parents always took me to see shows.  This is my way of paying if forward.  I want everyone who attends the Festival to walk away from this experience with the same feeling of awe that I have every time I see a show.”

Michelle Bayer- All-State Producer/ Secondary Rep

A Bit About You- “I have been teaching theatre, biology, English, and special education for 31 years at Oak Park and River Forest High School.  I am the performing arts chair, directing and supervising over twelve productions in our three theatres each year.  It is my greatest joy to share my love of theatre with our amazing students, who thrive in the supportive environment we try to create at OPRF. “

Why You Support The ITA- “I like to be involved with the ITA because, as a theatre educator, we can be isolated in our buildings.  The ITA allows me the opportunity to collaborate with theatre artists from all over the State of Illinois.  Their support, encouragement, and advice help me grow individually and as a drama program.”

Why You Volunteer For The Festival- “I loved the Theatre Festival as a student.  My teacher was the executive director during my senior year, and I saw all that the festival had to offer students.  I want to be a small part in carrying the banner  of IHSTF to as many kids as I can.”

Christina Ordonez- All-State Producer/ ITA Secretary

A Bit About You- “I work at Hoffman Estates High School in multiple roles: Technology and Media Department Chair, Auditorium Manager, Theatre Director, New Educator Coordinator, and Professional Learning Lead.  Previous to that, I was an English and Reading teacher.  I love reading and spending time with friends and family.“

Why You Support The ITA- “I am honored to be the ITA Secretary, as well as All-State Producer, as I believe this organization is integral to instilling a love of the Arts and Theatre through all age groups in Illinois.  Theatre is here to shine a light not just on what is, but what could be, and the ITA fosters that hope and possibility for artists, young and old alike.  Theatre is where all art forms come together in a common message, and I believe in the ability of the ITA to shape that message of support and alliance of ALL people in Illinois.”

Why You Volunteer For The Festival- “Theatrefest has been a huge influence on my life, my siblings' lives, and my students' lives since 1994. The ability to not only give back to that community but to hopefully strengthen it for future generations is a privilege.  Plus, the people I've met through the committee are WONDERFUL and have become colleagues I can turn to for advice and laughter.”

Anna McSweeney- All-State Director

A Bit About You- “I'm an active Mom of two littles who loves spending time outside playing with them.  Currently, I am a dean at Addison Trail High School, theatre director, and student council sponsor.  I love vacationing and exploring new places, and so thankful to live in Illinois!“

Why You Support The ITA- “They really supported my journey in becoming a teacher with the partnership with ISU, intern/chaperone program, and even the connections I made with other teachers.”

Why You Volunteer For The Festival- “It's been a dream of mine since 2001 to direct an All-State.”

Thank you to all the Festival Committee members! We will celebrate you later this year.

By: Wesley Skym, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Youth Theatre Division Representative

Introduction: Evolution of Technology in the Theatre Classroom

The drama classroom remains an environment focused on interactivity, personal relationships, speaking, and creativity. As technology and schools evolve together, the integration of new technologies and approaches remains at the forefront of district initiatives. The theatre classroom is not immune to these initiatives, even outside of typically technical theatre elements like sound design and lighting. One such example includes using new media to extend devised theatre experiences in the classroom, exploring themes from Shakespeare using media platforms like email, mobile devices, and more (Jensen, 2011). This use offers just one of many approaches to technological advancements within drama lessons in the classroom in the digital age. As a current theatre educator, the idea of using artificial intelligence in my practices continues to interest me, just as other technological advancements have in the past. I myself have explored the use of artificial intelligence programs like MagicSchoolAI to quickly adapt lessons for groups of students, specifically using it to assist in the creation of a text analysis unit for a class with behavioral concerns that were unable to handle the playful nature of an active drama classroom. This ability to streamline my planning within a short amount of time opened my receptiveness to using artificial intelligence as an educator.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an air of panic within the field of Theatre Education. Worry that our classes would be cut, difficulty finding new careers with shutdown schools, and trying to figure out how to facilitate a classroom so reliant on human interaction and movement in an online class were just some of the many common concerns. Returning to in-person was a relief to many, but simply continuing on without acknowledging the need to adapt and evolve would be an error on the part of any educator. In my master's program, I completed a thesis on the virtual classroom from its conception in distance learning. As part of this research, I developed the HI-FIVES framework, a model designed to evaluate the effectiveness, accessibility, and engagement potential of educational technologies (Skym, 2024). While my initial work addressed early applications of AI in education, the rapid advancements in this field call for a reevaluation. In this project, I hope to assess how AI can be effectively integrated into the theatre classroom while maintaining its core values of creativity and collaboration.

With the rapid growth of AI, the theatre classroom is on the brink of falling behind once again. It is imperative that those who teach theatre work now to familiarize themselves with programs and ways to integrate their use into their curriculum to stay ahead of the industry, as seen with the integration of other media forms prior to AI (Skym, 2024). There are a variety of routes to take to integrate the use of AI into current practice and still uphold the core values in the world of Theatre. Before exploring these routes, one must first understand the benefits of technological approaches when combined with theories of learning.

Theory/Concepts: Benefits of Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Learning

Technology use in education has roots in multiple educational theories, which often support its adoption within districts (Skym, 2024). Constructivism is one such base theory, with students being able to make their own learning via self-direction and efficacy (McLeod, 2003). Much technology used in classrooms builds on this approach as students are more active in the classroom, even motivating students to take their learning outside the school with their own personal devices. Technology helps students learn through building collaboration via virtual resources, quick feedback, assisting with the formation of communication skills, and supporting the use of high-level thinking skills (Isik, 2018). The idea of conditions of learning (Gagne, 1985) is supported by artificial intelligence integration as well due to the quick response or feedback from generative AI that can assist in reinforcement that leads to learning (Gagne et al., 1992; Mollick & Mollick, 2023). Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development is another learning theory that supports the use of educational technologies, especially as artificial intelligence enters the space. AI devices can offer timely feedback as a tutor of sorts, with the ability to respond with corrections and text to students in real time (Ocumpaugh et al., 2024). In this sense, the computerized system becomes the more knowledgeable other (MKO) that students learn with and from. This is continued through more communicative versions of AI using large language models (LLMs) powered by generative pre-trained transformers (GPT) that can instantly generate responses to prompts (Mollick & Mollick, 2023).

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Read the rest of the report here: Be Not Afraid of Greatness: Artificial Intelligence and Theatre Education.pdf - Google Drive

By: Judy Klingner, ITA President

Across Illinois, there are students whose schools don’t fund theatre…whose administrators don’t see its value…whose opportunities are limited before they even step into a rehearsal room.

But thanks to the Illinois Theatre Association, those students are not being left behind.

This year, ITA invested $10,158.20 in grants and scholarships to ensure young artists could experience the transformative power of theatre at the 2026 Illinois High School Theatre Festival.

Because of YOU and your support:

• Eighty-five students from seven high schools - urban, rural, and everywhere in between - received help covering registration fees, meal cards, and hotel stays.
• Four remarkable students earned the Clif Aldridge Scholarship, allowing them to join the 2026 All-State production of Newsies at no cost.
• Students who might never have set foot on a stage now have a place to belong, to grow, and to be seen.

For some of these teens, theatre isn’t just an extracurricular - it’s the safest place they know. It’s where confidence is born, friendships are built, and futures begin to take shape.

And when their schools can’t - or won’t - support theatre, ITA steps in. That is the heart of our mission: to inspire, empower, and make theatre accessible to every student in every community in Illinois.

Your membership, your advocacy, and your belief in the power of storytelling are what keep doors open for students who desperately need them. Together, we’re not just supporting theatre. We’re shaping lives. We’re shaping theatre in Illinois.