The Illinois Shakespeare Festival (ISF) is proud to announce the acting company for the 2021 season. These 13 actors were selected from a pool of over 700 submissions and have traveled from across the United States to perform Measure for Measure and The Winter’s Tale in rotating repertory July 3 through August 6, 2021, at Ewing Theatre.
The festival returns to live theater this summer after the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This season has been the culmination of over a year’s worth of planning, including dedicated collaboration with departments across Illinois State and the Actors’ Equity Association, the labor union representing American actors and stage managers.
Past patrons of the festival will recognize some familiar faces returning this year. Lisa Gaye Dixon, Isa Guitian, Nathan Stark, and Chauncy Thomas were all members of the 2019 company that performed As You Like It and Pride and Prejudice at the outdoor Ewing Theatre, and Caesar inside at the Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Illinois State University. ISF is also home to the Sutter Family Shakespeare Scholarship, an award given to qualified students studying theatre. Carol Kelleher and Nora McKirdie are current “Sutter Scholars” making their debut on the ISF stage this summer.
For tickets or more information on the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, visit IllinoisShakes.com.
