Illinois High School Theatre Festival

49th Annual Illinois High School Theater Festival In University of Illinois.

Schedule Of Events

Anne of Green Gables 9:00 AM 11:30 AM Foelinger Auditorium

Presented by South Elgin High School When Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide to take in a foster child, they request a boy. Imagine their surprise when Anne, a girl of boundless imagination with a mouth to match, shows up on their doorstep. Still, the two of them take a chance on her in hopes they can do some good. As Anne comes of age, her curiosity and wonder may get her in trouble, but ultimately her capacity for love teaches them all what it means to create and commit to family in this inventive and timeless free adaptation of the heartwarming classic by L.M. Montgomery.

Clue: High School Edition 9:00 AM 10:30 AM KCPA Colwell Playhouse

It will be to your advantage to be present on this date because Sequoit Theater presents: Clue High School Edition On Stage. Come take part in this dinner party, where six eccentric guests, based on the Clue board game, will meet to bring to end a certain long standing confidential and painful financial liability.

Twelfth Night 9:30 AM 11:00 AM Lincoln Hall Theater
A short and sweet Shakespearean comedy about identity and love, family, friends, and trickery.

Clue: High School Edition 11:00 AM 12:30pm - KCPA Colwell Playhouse

It will be to your advantage to be present on this date because Sequoit Theater presents: Clue High School Edition On Stage. Come take part in this dinner party, where six eccentric guests, based on the Clue board game, will meet to bring to end a certain long standing confidential and painful financial liability.

Legally Blonde 11:30 AM 1:15pm - KCPA Foellinger Great Hall
The show tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her exboyfriend Warner. She discovers how her knowledge of the law can help others, and she successfully defends exercise queen Brooke Wyndham in a murder trial. Throughout the show, very few characters have faith in Elle, with the exception of her aesthetician Paulette, but she manages to surprise them when she defies expectations while staying true to herself.

 Twelfth Night 11:30 AM 1:00pm - Lincoln Hall Theater
 A short and sweet Shakespearean comedy about identity and love, family, friends, and trickery.

All State-The Prom 2:00pm - 4:00pm - KCPA Tryon Festival Theatre Level 5

The careers of four eccentric Broadway stars are struggling and they desperately need a new stage upon which to shine bright once more. Seeking out a cause, they head straight to small-town Indiana. Through social media, they have heard of trouble brewing around a school prom. Local girl, Emma Nolan, wants to take her girlfriend to prom but the homophobic PTA are on a mission to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow. Determined to transform lives and put themselves back in the limelight, the Broadway celebrities muscle in to change the town and give Emma the prom she deserves.

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 2:15pm - 4:15pm - Foelinger Auditorium

In this fun filled and lively performance, a group of children navigate life, puberty and love within the scope of a county spelling bee. This is one performance you will not want to miss!

Legally Blonde 2:30pm - 4:45pm - KCPA Foellinger Great Hall

The show tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her exboyfriend Warner. She discovers how her knowledge of the law can help others, and she successfully defends exercise queen Brooke Wyndham in a murder trial. Throughout the show, very few characters have faith in Elle, with the exception of her aesthetician Paulette, but she manages to surprise them when she defies expectations while staying true to herself.

Fools 3:30pm - 5:30pm - Lincoln Hall Theater

This 1981 Neil Simon "comic fable" is full of humor, even if it's a bit over the heads of the citizens of a small Ukrainian village in the late 1800s. Leon Tolchinsky is ecstatic. He’s landed a terrific teaching job in Kulyenchikov. However, the village is not as normal as he believes. The town has been cursed with Chronic Stupidity for two hundred years! Leon’s job, if he chooses to accept it: save the village and marry the girl of his dreams-before succumbing to the curse himself!

Mamma Mia 4:00pm - 6:15pm - KCPA Colwell Playhouse
Join Sophie, Donna, and the irresistible tunes of ABBA on this journey toward self discovery, family, and true love.

Trap 4:30pm - 6:00pm - KCPA Studio Theatre Level 5

MENACHAP, CALIFORNIA. An incomprehensible event: every person in the audience of a high school play falls unconscious—every person but one. Using interviews with witnesses, loved ones, first responders, and the investigators pursuing the case, a theatre ensemble brings the story of the strange event to life, documentary-style. But as the strands weave together into an increasingly dangerous web, it becomes clear that this phenomenon might not be entirely in the past. Unnerving, exhilarating, and wildly inventive, you've never walked into anything quite like Trap.

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 4:45pm - 6:45pm - Foelinger Auditorium

In this fun filled and lively performance, a group of children navigate life, puberty and love within the scope of a county spelling bee. This is one performance you will not want to miss!

Fools 6:00pm - 8:00pm - Lincoln Hall Theater

This 1981 Neil Simon "comic fable" is full of humor, even if it's a bit over the heads of the citizens of a small Ukrainian village in the late 1800s. Leon Tolchinsky is ecstatic. He’s landed a terrific teaching job in Kulyenchikov. However, the village is not as normal as he believes. The town has been cursed with Chronic Stupidity for two hundred years! Leon’s job, if he chooses to accept it: save the village and marry the girl of his dreams-before succumbing to the curse himself!

All State-The Prom 6:30pm - 9:00pm - KCPA Tryon Festival Theatre Level 5

The careers of four eccentric Broadway stars are struggling and they desperately need a new stage upon which to shine bright once more. Seeking out a cause, they head straight to small-town Indiana. Through social media, they have heard of trouble brewing around a school prom. Local girl, Emma Nolan, wants to take her girlfriend to prom but the homophobic PTA are on a mission to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow. Determined to transform lives and put themselves back in the limelight, the Broadway celebrities muscle in to change the town and give Emma the prom she deserves.

All-Fest Improv 8:00pm - 9:00pm - KCPA Foellinger Great Hall

Come watch the amazing improv skills of fellow thespians! Hosted by ComedySportz Quad Cities this performance will showcase all of the hard work undertaken by a group of students who auditioned earlier in the day. Don't miss out on the hilarity!

Trap 7:00pm - 8:30pm - KCPA Studio Theatre Level 5

MENACHAP, CALIFORNIA. An incomprehensible event: every person in the audience of a high school play falls unconscious—every person but one. Using interviews with witnesses, loved ones, first responders, and the investigators pursuing the case, a theatre ensemble brings the story of the strange event to life, documentary-style. But as the strands weave together into an increasingly dangerous web, it becomes clear that this phenomenon might not be entirely in the past. Unnerving, exhilarating, and wildly inventive, you've never walked into anything quite like Trap.

Six: Teen Version 9:30pm - 11:00pm - Foelinger Auditorium

The Oak Park and River Forest High School Theatre Department has over 350 active students involved in co-curricular theatre arts. The building contains three different theatre spaces. The co-curricular program is rich: two large scale musicals (over 100 students in the cast, 40 in the crew and 35 in the orchestra), four main stage plays, four student directed productions, an evening of one-acts, two showcases and a children’s musical that performs at local elementary schools. Curricular offerings are Acting I, Acting II, Theatre Tech & Design, Advanced Theatre, Directing and Musical Theatre. The program is student led as directors, stage managers and technical directors. Both the curricular and co-curricular programs keep growing

Six: Teen Version 9:30pm - 11:00pm - KCPA Colwell Playhouse

CUSD#140-NTA Illinois Thespian troupe #8558 presents SIX THE MUSICAL- Teen Edition! Hear the tales of Henry VIII's six wives and help them crown the "leader of the Band" from their ranks. Who had it the worse during their time with the King? Is that where their story ends? This pop concert like musical challenges their audience to SEE THEM for the fabulous Queens they are. Performance contains mature subject matter and much HERstory!

Six: Teen Version 9:30pm - 11:00pm - KCPA Foellinger Great Hall

Six: Teen Edition exists so that the six incredible women at the center of Henry VIII’s “HIS-torical” tale are finally afforded the opportunity to “Be Seen” as more than a footnote in one man’s pursuit of an heir.Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the Six wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse - remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration of 21st century girl power!