The 2019 Illinois High School Theatre Festival All-State production of In the Heights illustrates how the dream of Lin-Manuel Miranda "Takes Flight" in a new and exciting way. This ethnically diverse story brings to light the power of hope in a single community.

In the Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York's Washington Heights neighborhood - a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It's a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind.

In the Heights is the winner of the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations.

The deadline to submit all acting and crew materials is FRIDAY MAY 25TH.

The deadline to submit all musician materials is FRIDAY JUNE 8TH.

There is no limit to the number of students a school can send to auditions and interviews; however, only seven students from each school may be selected for cast and crew.

A student may audition as an actor, technician, and/or orchestra member, but he/she must fill out both sets of materials and pay all fees.

All students interested in the 2019 All-State production MUST:

1. Assemble all supporting documentation: (each has supporting link)
Resume and Headshot. Click here for a resume building template.
2018-2019 Participation Required Signatures Form
2018-2019 All-State Medical/Liability Form
2018-2019 All-State Media Release Form

*All documentation must be scanned and submitted as .pdf files in the application submission process. Please save each document as “LastName_FirstName_NameofForm”
Example: Smith_John_Headshot.jpg; Smith_John_Resume.pdf; Smith_John_SignaturesForm.pdf; Smith_MedForm.pdf; Smith_MediaForm.pdf

2. Fill out and submit the appropriate application (including all documentation):
All-State Actor Application
All-State Technical Crew Application
All-State Pit Orchestra Application

3. Pay the Audition/Interview Fee:
Submit a $15 credit card payment to the ILLINOIS THEATRE ASSOCIATION. This should be done in the application. (Note: if you are applying for multiple positions, please submit separate $15 payments for each form.)

4. Follow-up with school director/instructor:
Upon receipt of your application, a Student Recommendation Form will be emailed from us to the director/instructor listed on your application. (The school email address MUST be a valid and verifiable email address.) The director/instructor will be asked to fill out the form and send directly to us. Please follow-up with your director/instructor and remind him/her to do so!

The All State Producers will send out an audition/interview schedule by FRIDAY JUNE 1ST . Any questions, email intheheightsproducers@ihstf.org

Again, the deadline for submission of all acting and crew materials is FRIDAY MAY 25TH. The deadline for submission of all musician materials is FRIDAY JUNE 8TH.

ALL-STATE AUDITIONS/TECH INTERVIEWS LOCATIONS*
Auditions and tech interviews on Saturday June 9th and Sunday June 10th will take place from 9am-6pm at:
Deerfield High School, 1959 N. Waukegan Rd, Deerfield, IL 60015

Auditions and tech interviews on Saturday June 16 will take place from 9am-6pm at:
Centennial High School 913 Crescent Dr, Champaign, IL 61821

Performance Callbacks will be held on Saturday June 23rd at:
Maine East High School 2601 W. Dempster Park Ridge, IL 60068

*Please Note: Audition applications are processed in the order in which they are received. While we will do our best to accommodate your audition location request, you may be assigned to another location if all slots are filled.

DO I REALLY NEED TO BE AT ALL OF THESE REHEARSALS?

*YES. There is NO excused absence from All-State weekends. Please make sure you are available on ALL of these dates. Specific call times will be given once casting/selection is complete. Make sure your calendar is clear. 

REHEARSAL WEEKENDS

August 10*-12

August 31*-September 3 (Labor Day weekend)
October 5*-8 (Columbus Day weekend)
November 23-25
December 27-29
*denotes evening

PRODUCTION WEEK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA CHAMPAIGN
January 7-9
January 10-12 (Festival Dates)

WHERE WILL REHEARSALS BE HELD?  
Information regarding exact details for each rehearsal weekend will be announced in July.

All January dates will be held at Krannert Center at the University of Illinois in Champaign, IL.

Students are responsible for their own transportation to the rehearsals and builds as well as to the Festival in January. Lodging will be provided to every student who requests it during regular rehearsal periods. The entire company will be provided lodging during the month of January.

WHAT IF I DON’T LIVE NEAR THE REHEARSAL LOCATION ?
We will arrange housing with fellow Company members (or local theatre students) to make sure that you have a place to stay for the rehearsal weekends.

INTERVIEW EXPECTATIONS FOR TECHNICIANS
- Be prepared to discuss what technical theatre work you have done.
- Bring a portfolio to show examples of projects you've worked on.
- Be able to explain your areas of greatest interest.
- You will be interviewed for approximately eight (8) minutes.

MATERIALS TO BRING TO THE INTERVIEW (PORTFOLIO)
We are looking for examples of your work. This can be in the form of paperwork, actual props/costumes (if available) and photos. More specific possibilities below include:
- PHOTOS OF YOUR WORK! Try to include process shots as well as the final product.
- Draftings, drawings, sketches (napkin sketches count!)
- Paint samples
- Build props (if available)
- Light plots and sections, channel hookups, instrument schedules
- Microphone plots, script notations, sound fx, selected recordings (if available)
- Show books including marked scripts, cue sheets, prop lists, etc.
- Examples of types of sewing stitches you are able to create

Include captions detailing your contributions to each project.

Please do not bring in medium to large scale items that are awkward to carry. Clear photos are sufficient.

Resume. This should include your name, contact information and a list of shows for which you have worked. For each show include the play title, production company (your high school in most cases), your job title, the year of the show, and the director or designer with whom you worked.

Students interested in a Stage Management position must provide a letter of recommendation from someone he or she has stage managed for and should bring a Prompt Book or Rehearsal Book to the interview.

These materials may be printed on paper and bound or placed in a binder. Alternately, you may bring actual objects or digitally formatted work. For digital portfolios we require that you bring your own laptop or other viewing source. Internet connectivity will be available, but having your portfolio on a flashdrive is much more reliable.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AT THE INTERVIEW?
The purpose of any interview is for your interviewer to get to know you. Who are you? What are you passionate about? What are your goals? You will be asked multiple types of questions:

Basic questions about yourself:
How would you describe your work style?
What are your strengths/weaknesses?

Behavioral questions:
Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond what was asked of you.
Once you have completed a task, what do you do?

Open-ended questions:
Why should you be considered for a crew position for ​In The Heights?
Why do you want to be a part of the All-State crew?

Throughout the interview your resume and portfolio will be assessed by the interviewer(s). Be prepared to answer specific questions about each show, the process, the people with whom you worked and the final product.

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?
Remember, the purpose of the interview is to introduce yourself in the best possible way. Since all students are being interviewed for general technicians, your resume should describe your technical experience in any and all areas. Your area strengths will become evident in your portfolio and in the way you talk about your work. Be confident that you are the best candidate for the position of technician, and let your experience back you up. We suggest practice interviewing with a partner. Typically this works best with someone you don’t know very well rather than your best friend, as they probably already know the answers to the questions!

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
For any interview you should always dress your best. Keep in mind that the clothes you wear say something about you, but be sure they do not take center stage. The interview is to showcase YOU and your abilities. Your attire is the supporting role.

In The Heights has an amazing score with hot Latin beats, infused with R&B and hip-hop influences. The musicians selected to be in the orchestra should have significant ensemble experience (jazz band, concert band, pit orchestra, etc.), strong sight-reading skills, be comfortable reading music in all keys and mixed meters, and great musicianship.

If you are interested in auditioning to be in the pit, you need to do the following:

1) As a part of the application you will be submitting a video recording of your audition via YouTube or Vimeo.

2) Audition Requirements:

Saxes, Trumpets, Trombones: 2-3 minutes of a few different jazz styles, preferably latin. These can be selections from jazz band pieces you’ve played or separate jazz etudes. Brass audition selections should demonstrate range as well as technical facility and musicianship. (Trumpet 1 should be confident on high E.)

Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet: 2-3 minutes of a prepared solo or etude (a concerto, sonata, etude, or a piece you are working on in a private lesson). This selection(s) should demonstrate technical facility as well as lyrical musicianship.

Pianos, Drums, Percussion, Guitar & Bass: All rhythm section instruments are asked to submit a solo as well as an excerpt from the show. Show excerpts will be made available in late April. Solos should demonstrate technical facility and musicianship. Demonstration of multiple styles is appreciated. Percussionists should focus on multi-percussion and hand drumming. Bassists need only audition on electric.

Woodwind Doublers: Auditions for multiple woodwind instruments will be considered for doubling on a book, but is not required by any potential woodwind pit member.

3) The deadline for all pit audition materials is Friday, June 8, 2018.

Application for Actors

Application for Crew

Application for Pit

2018-2019 Participation Required Signatures Form

2018-2019 All-State Medical/Liability Release Form

2018-2019 All-State Media Release Form
Sample Acting Resume

Sample Orchestra Resume

Link to Resume Building Template