When university theatres or resident theatre companies (like the
Illinois Shakespeare Festival) hire actors, directors, choreographers or
designers who are members of professional unions, they can only afford to do
so because of a contract between those unions and an organization called the
University/Resident Theatre Association. In that way, theatre students are
able to perform with and learn from theatre professionals and the cost of
doing so doesn't "break the bank" of university or resident theatres.
Negotiations will begin in January to renew the contract between U/RTA and Actors' Equity Association, and Illinois State University's director of the School of Theatre, Don LaCasse, has been invited to serve on that five-member national negotiating team. The School of Theatre is a member of U/RTA, as is the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
LaCasse is in his fourth year back at Illinois State after having been a faculty member from 1973 to 1985. He was chair of theatre and dance at Ball State University for 18 years in-between. LaCasse was co-founder of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and currently is managing director of the festival, which celebrates its 30th year next summer.
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