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

Schedule Of Events

Opening Ceremony 6:00pm - 7:10pm - KCPA Foellinger Great Hall

This year‘s opening ceremony is meant to celebrate the collaborative nature of Theatre. From the moment you walk into the great hall, you’ll be entertained by one of the premier high school performance groups in the state, the St Francis High School Music Ensemble. They will be joined on stage with Broadway star and former IHSTF All-State cast member, John Clay III. Additional performances will be by the combined casts of the musical SIX, an All-Star group of performers to announce the 2026 Allstate show, and performance pieces by the nationally acclaimed and award winning group, the Q Brothers.

All State-The Prom 7:30pm - 10:00pm - 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.

Opening Ceremony 8:00pm - 9:10pm - KCPA Foellinger Great Hall

This year‘s opening ceremony is meant to celebrate the collaborative nature of Theatre. From the moment you walk into the great hall, you’ll be entertained by one of the premier high school performance groups in the state, the St Francis High School Music Ensemble. They will be joined on stage with Broadway star and former IHSTF All-State cast member, John Clay III. Additional performances will be by the combined casts of the musical SIX, an All-Star group of performers to announce the 2026 Allstate show, and performance pieces by the nationally acclaimed and award winning group, the Q Brothers.

Jan 10,2025

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!

jan 11,2025

39 Steps 9:30 AM 10:00 AM KCPA Studio Theatre Level 5

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre. This two-time Tony and Drama Desk Awardwinning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, 22 zany characters (played by a cast of eight), an onstage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good oldfashioned romance!

A Night at Domani's 10:00 AM 11:15 AM KCPA Foellinger Great Hall

Domani's is a place you can find anywhere, in any town across the USA. Everyone has a Domani’s. That comfortable place where the smiles and greetings are friendly if it is your first visit or your 100th. Meals are familiar and each place has it’s own specialty, handed down from previous owners or from that family member with a special touch in the kitchen. These local restaurants are the lifeblood of their communities. They offer places to celebrate events, honor family and remember our pasts. In many communities, a Domani’s offers teenagers their first real job and taste of independence and give adults a steady career for their whole lives. This show is our love letter to these vital places we all know and love.

All State-The Prom 10:00 AM 12:00pm - 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.

Steel Magnolias 10:00 AM 11:45pm - Lincoln Hall Theater

"Steel Magnolias" is a heartwarming yet poignant drama-comedy written by Robert Harling. Set in a smalltown beauty salon in Louisiana, the play revolves around a close-knit group of women who share their lives, joys, and sorrows in a space that serves as both a sanctuary and a stage for their emotional exchanges. The title, Steel Magnolias, is a metaphor that describes the main characters: strong, resilient women (the "steel") who also possess a delicate, feminine side (the "magnolias"). Throughout the play, the characters demonstrate remarkable inner strength, facing life's challenges—ranging from health problems to personal losses—while also displaying warmth, humor, and deep bonds of friendship.

Deadline 10:30 AM 12:00pm - Foellinger Auditorium

When eight mystery writers arrive at a legendary writer's fog-shrouded island mansion in the North Atlantic, they think they're ready for the Deadline Challenge--twenty-four restful hours to write as much of their new novel as possible. But the Deadline Challenge is anything but restful. In reality, the writers are brought together to solve a murder--the victim yet to be determined, and the killer yet to strike. If a writer can design and execute a perfect murder and get away with it, they'll win a million dollar. Who will live? Who will die? Who will survive the Deadline?

39 Steps 11:00 AM 11:30 AM KCPA Studio Theatre Level 5

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre. This two-time Tony and Drama Desk Awardwinning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, 22 zany characters (played by a cast of eight), an onstage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good oldfashioned romance! Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 11:15 AM 1:15pm - KCPA Colwell Playhouse Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat embraces the dreamer in all of us as well as the challenges we all face to be ourselves. Joseph's ability to interpret dreams makes him the favorite son. Jealous of the attention paid upon him by his father, his brothers attempt to get rid of him by selling him. This sets Joseph on a path to fulfill his destiny while also offering forgiveness to his brothers

A Night at Domani's 12:00pm - 1:15pm - KCPA Foellinger Great Hall

Domani's is a place you can find anywhere, in any town across the USA. Everyone has a Domani’s. That comfortable place where the smiles and greetings are friendly if it is your first visit or your 100th. Meals are familiar and each place has it’s own specialty, handed down from previous owners or from that family member with a special touch in the kitchen. These local restaurants are the lifeblood of their communities. They offer places to celebrate events, honor family and remember our pasts. In many communities, a Domani’s offers teenagers their first real job and taste of independence and give adults a steady career for their whole lives. This show is our love letter to these vital places we all know and love.

Steel Magnolias 1:00pm - 2:45pm - Lincoln Hall Theater
 
"Steel Magnolias" is a heartwarming yet poignant drama-comedy written by Robert Harling. Set in a smalltown beauty salon in Louisiana, the play revolves around a close-knit group of women who share their lives, joys, and sorrows in a space that serves as both a sanctuary and a stage for their emotional exchanges. The title, Steel Magnolias, is a metaphor that describes the main characters: strong, resilient women (the "steel") who also possess a delicate, feminine side (the "magnolias"). Throughout the play, the characters demonstrate remarkable inner strength, facing life's challenges—ranging from health problems to personal losses—while also displaying warmth, humor, and deep bonds of friendship.

Deadline 1:00pm - 2:00pm - Foellinger Auditorium

When eight mystery writers arrive at a legendary writer's fog-shrouded island mansion in the North Atlantic, they think they're ready for the Deadline Challenge--twenty-four restful hours to write as much of their new novel as possible. But the Deadline Challenge is anything but restful. In reality, the writers are brought together to solve a murder--the victim yet to be determined, and the killer yet to strike. If a writer can design and execute a perfect murder and get away with it, they'll win a million dollar. Who will live? Who will die? Who will survive the Deadline?

Hotline and The Experiment 1:30pm - 2:30pm - KCPA Studio Theatre Level 5

HOTLINE: Operator 72 is training to be a counselor for the SILT (Socially Inappropriate Language Therapy) Hotline. Clients call to blow off steam by swearing. After extensive study, on-the-job training, and a verbal test, Operator 72 is ready to become a fully accredited SILT counselor by facing his final challenge—a monitored solo call. Hilarity ensues as he tries to help his first caller, who obviously has a problem. However, she just can’t bring herself to swear! THE EXPERIMENT: Five confused participants wake up with no memory of their past life with only one word, a personality descriptor, written on their shirts. Will the assigned attribute of each participant affect their behavior when under extreme duress? Once the experiment begins and they find out that to lose is to die, all five do what they must to survive.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 1:45pm - 5:25pm - KCPA Colwell Playhouse

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat embraces the dreamer in all of us as well as the challenges we all face to be ourselves. Joseph's ability to interpret dreams makes him the favorite son. Jealous of the attention paid upon him by his father, his brothers attempt to get rid of him by selling him. This sets Joseph on a path to fulfill his destiny while also offering forgiveness to his brothers.

All State-The Prom 2:30pm - 4:30pm - 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.

Hotline and The Experiment 3:00pm - 4:00pm - KCPA Studio Theatre Level 5

HOTLINE: Operator 72 is training to be a counselor for the SILT (Socially Inappropriate Language Therapy) Hotline. Clients call to blow off steam by swearing. After extensive study, on-the-job training, and a verbal test, Operator 72 is ready to become a fully accredited SILT counselor by facing his final challenge—a monitored solo call. Hilarity ensues as he tries to help his first caller, who obviously has a problem. However, she just can’t bring herself to swear! THE EXPERIMENT: Five confused participants wake up with no memory of their past life with only one word, a personality descriptor, written on their shirts. Will the assigned attribute of each participant affect their behavior when under extreme duress? Once the experiment begins and they find out that to lose is to die, all five do what they must to survive.

Date : Jan 9-11,2025

Location :Various Venues in Urbana, IL

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