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ILLINOIS THEATRE ASSOCIATION PRESENTS


50th Annual

Illinois High School Theatre Festival


January 8 - 10, 2026

Location: Illinois State University


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About The IHSTF

Prior to 1976, there had been theatre leaders in the state who felt there was a need for an alternative to a statewide student theatrical event of a competitive nature. Several of these theatre educators formed local theatre festivals in their general geographic areas. Jerry Proffit of Niles East High School and Cary Libkin of Riverside-Brookfield High School were two of these leaders. They developed a regional, localized theatre festival for their high school students and, because of their success, provided the spark for the creation of the state-wide Illinois High School Theatre Festival.

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Thank you to our 2025 Illinois Theatre High School Festival Sponsors! 


2026 Planning Committee

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Allan Kimball
executivedirector@ihstf.org

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Brandon Lewis
emeritus@ihstf.org

SECRETARY/2027 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TBD
secretary@ihstf.org

ALL-STATE PRODUCERS
Michelle Bayer and Christina Ordonez
allstateproducers@ihstf.org

ALL-STATE DIRECTOR
Anna McSweeney
allstatedirector@ihstf.org

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: AUDITIONS
Katy Richey and Marty Lynch
collegeauditions@ihstf.org

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: EXHIBITS
Jessi Lim and Kevin Phelan

exhibits@ihstf.org


ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: PROMOTIONS
Madison Gillis and Jolaine Orlin
promotions@ihstf.org

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: WORKSHOPS
Daniel Williams and Anthony Greer
workshops@ihstf.org

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: PLAY SELECTION
Jordan Richey, Andy Bero, and Brett Kalker
playselection@ihstf.org

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: HOSPITALITY
Meghan Reimers and Raquel Bliffen
hospitality@ihstf.org

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: TECHNOLOGY
Michael Karasch and Andrew Rosenblat
technology@ihstf.org

HISTORIAN/DOCUMENTARIAN
Vacant
historian@ihstf.org

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: MENTORSHIP
Hannah Drake and Cher Schwartz
mentorship@ihstf.org

BOX OFFICE AND TICKETING
Kelly Regnier and Mark Begovich
boxoffice@ihstf.org

STATEWIDE INCLUSION
Hannah Drake
inclusion@ihstf.org

SOCIAL MEDIA
Ashley Santiago, Keegan Tucker, and Cody Rodger
socialmedia@ihstf.org

50th ANNIVERSARY
Sue Aldridge
50th@ihstf.org

ISU LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS
Megan McCann

ISU DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE
James Chrismon
jdchri1@ilstu.edu

UIUC DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE
J.W. Morrissette
jwmorris@illinois.edu

Allison Moody
amoody@illinois.edu

STUDENT COMMITTEE
  • Maddie Beyer
  • Kate McCOnville
  • Nina Falco
  • Evie Ballad
  • Kennedy McCarten
  • Landon Thurston


ITA PRESIDENT
Judy Klinger
president@illinoistheatre.org

ITA TREASURER
Dennis Anastasopouls
treasurer@illinoistheatre.org

ITA LIAISONS
Michelle Bayer and Ryan Lambert 
secondaryschooltheatre@illinoistheatre.org


2026 All-State - NEWSIES

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Allan Kimball

2025 ALL-STATE DIRECTOR

Anna McSweeney, Addison Trail High School

2025 ALL-STATE PRODUCERS
Michelle Bayer, Oak Park River Forest High School
Christina Ordonez, Hoffman Estates High School



Illinois High School Theatre Festival Objectives

To enrich the education of high school students:

  • By helping them realize through this experience that theatre is one way of
  • fulfilling each individual's innate need and desire to create
  • By bringing diverse young persons together in an environment of creative and imaginative stimuli where theatre can be witnessed, experienced, ingested, talked about, and lived
  • By providing experiences in which each student can recognize and share common ambitions, goals, and interests with other students from diverse communities and programs
  • By allowing students to witness different types and styles of theatre processes and performance
  • By providing opportunities for students to showcase their creative efforts

To serve teachers, directors, and theatre sponsors:

  • By demonstrating specific educational theatre materials and techniques
  • By providing exposure to various program sizes and alternative approaches for theatre programs
  • By providing a showcase for accomplishments of student groups
  • By developing a forum and network for the exchange and sharing of ideas to build and expand theatre programs

Event is Made Possible By:





Illinois High School Theatre Festival

General Questions:
info@ihstf.org

IHSTF 2025 Executive Director

Allan Kimball

executivedirector@ihstf.org


All-State Questions Only:

allstateproducers@ihstf.org

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