About
Summer Camps for Youth is a program where students entering grades 1st–12th perform adaptations of Shakespeare. Participants perform these adaptations on the same Illinois Shakespeare Festival stage used by professional actors.
• Ages: 6–17 years old
Established in 1978, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival is a professional repertory company that produces mainstage productions, free family-friendly performances, and numerous community events over the summer. The Festival launched the Summer Camps for Youth program in 2017. The Festival reaches over 10,000 patrons each season and is part of the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University.
The Festival’s leadership includes Robert Quinlan, Artistic Director; Ann Haugo, Producer; Marty Lynch, Budget Manager; Allie Nicholson, Production Manager; Kee-Yoon Nahm, Dramaturg; Natasha Warloe, Personnel and Communications Manager; Nick Benson, Center for the Performing Arts Manager; and Scott Irelan, Dean of the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts. The Illinois Shakespeare Festival Society, founded in 1983 as Central Illinois’ community support wing of the Festival, is led for 2025–2026 by John Danenberger (President), Erich Brandt (Vice President), and Jane Schurter (Secretary), with additional leadership from Toni Tucker, Director of Ewing Cultural Center, and Emily Grimany, Student Representative.
The Festival produces free Theatre for Young Audiences shows and offers Bard in a Box touring performances that bring Shakespearean adaptations to schools and community centers in the area. The organization states that it brings professional artistry, economic attention, and civic engagement to Illinois while exposing new generations and populations to the arts, and it expresses thankfulness for continued partnerships with the community.
Last updated May 14, 2026.
• Ages: 6–17 years old
Established in 1978, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival is a professional repertory company that produces mainstage productions, free family-friendly performances, and numerous community events over the summer. The Festival launched the Summer Camps for Youth program in 2017. The Festival reaches over 10,000 patrons each season and is part of the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University.
The Festival’s leadership includes Robert Quinlan, Artistic Director; Ann Haugo, Producer; Marty Lynch, Budget Manager; Allie Nicholson, Production Manager; Kee-Yoon Nahm, Dramaturg; Natasha Warloe, Personnel and Communications Manager; Nick Benson, Center for the Performing Arts Manager; and Scott Irelan, Dean of the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts. The Illinois Shakespeare Festival Society, founded in 1983 as Central Illinois’ community support wing of the Festival, is led for 2025–2026 by John Danenberger (President), Erich Brandt (Vice President), and Jane Schurter (Secretary), with additional leadership from Toni Tucker, Director of Ewing Cultural Center, and Emily Grimany, Student Representative.
The Festival produces free Theatre for Young Audiences shows and offers Bard in a Box touring performances that bring Shakespearean adaptations to schools and community centers in the area. The organization states that it brings professional artistry, economic attention, and civic engagement to Illinois while exposing new generations and populations to the arts, and it expresses thankfulness for continued partnerships with the community.
Last updated May 14, 2026.
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