DECATUR, Ill. – Millikin University is proud to announce a new partnership with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival (ISF), bringing professional audition opportunities directly to campus. Artistic Director Robert Quinlan will visit Millikin on Tuesday, December 16, offering Big Blue students, graduating seniors, and faculty the chance to be considered for acting and production roles with one of Illinois’ premier professional theatre organizations.
“This is just the beginning of what we hope will become a lasting partnership with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and offering an opportunity like this is a perfect example of Millikin’s commitment to Performance Learning,” said Rachel Barnett, Director of the School of Theatre & Dance. “Our students aren’t just studying Shakespeare in the classroom – they now have the opportunity to audition for a premier regional festival and gain the kind of hands-on, professional experience that prepares them for the industry.”
Robert Quinlan serves as Artistic Director of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and Head of the MFA Directing Program at Illinois State University. A professional stage director with an extensive body of national and international work, Quinlan has directed productions of “Twelfth Night,” “King Lear,” “Richard II,” “Macbeth,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and many others across major regional theatres and university programs.
Founded in 1978, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival is a professional repertory company that welcomes more than 10,000 patrons each season. The festival presents Shakespearean classics, contemporary adaptations, Theatre for Young Audiences performances, and free community events at the scenic Ewing Cultural Center in Bloomington, Ill.
This partnership represents an exciting new pathway for Millikin Theatre & Dance students to connect with a nationally recognized festival known for artistic excellence, community engagement, and launching early-career theatre professionals.
Auditions are open to the following:
- Current Millikin sophomores and juniors: Eligible for unpaid intern company positions, including free summer housing and a food stipend.
- Millikin seniors graduating in December 2025 or May 2026: Eligible for paid non-equity company roles with discounted housing.
- Millikin faculty: Eligible for paid equity company contracts.
Students must prepare two contrasting monologues – one of which must be Shakespeare – limited to 90 seconds each, and bring printed headshots and resumes.
Audition sign-ups are now open, with a deadline of Friday, December 12.
Students currently studying abroad in London may still participate. To audition remotely:
- Record a self-tape of the required audition materials.
- Submit the video via an unlisted YouTube link (or similar format) along with a headshot and resume.
- Email materials to ISFCasting@IllinoisState.edu with the subject line: Millikin Audition – YOUR NAME
Students interested in backstage or technical positions will soon receive additional information as Millikin expands its collaboration with ISF’s Production Manager, Allie Nicholson. Students may begin exploring openings now by visiting: illinoisshakes.com/employment/production-staff/.
