Illinois Theatre

05/27/2026

Congratulations to American Players Theatre (APT) on their 2026 Regional Theatre Tony Award! So many Illinois Theatre alumni, faculty, and students have had the pleasure to be a part of this amazing community of theatre artists!

This tiny town, population 1,573, is home to Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, dramatic scenery, and — as of 2026 — a Tony-winning outdoor theater.

05/26/2026

Welcome!!! Summer is just beginning but we are already EXCITED about next school year!

We have some great news to kick off the summer...

The College of Fine and Applied Arts is pleased to announce Andrew Friedman as the next head of the Department of Theatre! 🎭

His appointment will begin August 16, 2026, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.

An internationally recognized theatre artist, scholar, and educator, Friedman brings decades of experience in performance, research, and higher education leadership.

Please join us in welcoming Drew to the University of Illinois community!

More about Drew: https://theatre.illinois.edu/about-us/news/andrew-drew-friedman-named-head-of-the-department-of-theatre/
Illinois Theatre

05/22/2026

Illinois Theatre wishes you all an amazing summer break! Congratulations to all the grads and we can’t wait to see everyone else back in the fall!

05/22/2026

…Victoria Renguso…

Hi! I’m Vic, the student worker behind the socials! It has been such a joy to be able to post everyones accomplishments and share what is going on in the Illinois Theatre community! I am so grateful for this opportunity the past two years and I will miss posting but will always support from the audience! Thank you Illinois Theatre for everything 🎭

Hometown: Wauconda, IL

Fav memory: From late night rehearsals to long chats in the office there are too many to choose from!

Involvement:
Catherine, Fight Captain in A View From the Bridge
SPOT Theatre Project Ensemble
Titania in Bridge Project: A Mini Midsummer
Nina in Clouds Shaped Like Pianos
Narrator, Beth in Through the Elevated Line
Chorus, Euphrosyne in Orlando

What’s next: Audition, audition, audition! and Chicago!

05/21/2026

Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2026! You did it! Be so proud of all you have accomplished at your time at Illinois Theatre. Remember that we are always here for you and will continue to support you in all your future endeavors! Theatre is life! 🎭

05/18/2026

…Avery Luciano…

BFA Acting

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Fav Krannert Memory: It’s hard to pick one! I love thinking about all the dance parties we had in
The Realness rehearsals. The last day of Clown class was also fun, where we all went into the public in our clowns.

Krannert involvement: The Birds of North America, The Realness, Witch, Gangster Play: Circus,
Circus, Plumas Negras, and Everybody.
Armory involvement: 30 Plays in 60 Minutes, A Game with Death, and The Suppliants Project

What’s Next: I am moving back to Chicago and am going to audition and work as much as possible, have fun as much as possible, and play with my dog as much as possible!

05/17/2026

…Makeda Davies …

BFA Acting major, Interdisciplinary psychology

Hometown :Chicago

One of my favorite Krannert memories was sophomore year. I was in a production of Hurricane Diane for Armory Free Theater, directed by Sophia Urban. We’re very hard workers and of course hard workers need breaks so they can keep working hard. So, our whole team gathered in a circle on a break and watched the (newly released) video of One of Your Girls by Troy Sivan definitely more than once on the floor of the Orchestra Rehearsal Room. It was awesome and I think about it a lot.

I was in the production of The Gangster Play: Circus Circus(Hubba Bubba), The Winter’s
Tale (Perdita), Orlando (Chorus) and The Play that Goes Wrong (Annie). I have also been a part of Armory Free Theatre’s productions of Hurricane Diane (Renee) and Spot of Brasil (Alex). In addition, I’ve been in La Estacion Galery’s production of Fefu and her Friends (Paula).

After graduation I’ll be in Chicago and will keep making art. I’m currently lying in the
in-betweens of auditions and callbacks, so I’m just as excited as the next person is about finding out where I’ll go

05/17/2026

…Emmaleah, Stapp…

Stage Management

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

My favorite Krannert memory has been the final performance of A View From the Bridge, with a show so deep and introspective it felt like a goodbye to the best of my work and an amazing company. I felt immensely grateful calling those final cues.

Outside of Krannert I have served as the Social Media intern for the College of Fine and Applied Arts as well as an Illinois Transfer Ambassador for New Student & Family Experiences.

After Graduation I will be working as an Assistant Stage Manager for Montana Shakespeare
Company over the summer. In the fall I hope to begin working with a Children’s Theatre Company or Theatre For Young Audiences as a Stage Manager.

05/17/2026

…Gabriel McNabb…

BFA in Acting, Minor in Minoritarian Aesthetics

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Favorite Krannert memory: We were staging Cuddy’s dance in the last hour of Witch rehearsal in Studio 2 and Latrelle started playing this insane remix of “Summertime Sadness” by Lana Del Rey over the speaker while we practiced. It was ridiculous and divine.

KCPA credits:
The Birds of North America (Jay), Witch (Cuddy), The Gangster Play: Circus/Circus (Company), The Winter’s Tale (Second Lord/Third Courtier, U/S Florizel/Autolycus), The Play That Goes Wrong (Chris), Everybody (Somebody)

Armory Free Theatre:
The Book of Magdalene (Cicada), 30 PLAYS IN 60 MINUTES, Pit (Glasses), Third Rail Project

Other on-campus:
Fefu and Her Friends (Cecilia), York Corpus Christi Plays (Phillip/Roman Soldier)

What’s next for me: Moving back home to beautiful Chicago and making it happen!

05/17/2026

…Francesca Butera…

BFA Stage Management

Hometown: Bloomingdale, IL

Favorite Krannert memory: Going to Chicago with the SM department my sophomore year and getting to tour the equity office and the Goodman!

Involvement:
Radium Girls-SM
January Dance 2026- PSM
Fade (at the Station Theatre)- SM
Gallim Dance (marquee)- ASM
Plumas Negras- ASM
February Dance 2025- Calling SM
University Library 100th Anniversary Event- SM
Nutcracker (CU Ballet)- ASM
Under the Stars- ASM
Black Square- ASM

What’s next:
I will be a Stage Management intern at Peninsula Players in Door County this summer! After my internship, I plan to pursue freelance stage management in Chicago.