School of Theatre, Dance and Film Funds
Total funds: 27
Illinois Shakespeare Society Endowment
The Illinois Shakespeare Society Endowment provides financial assistance for operating expenses associated with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. The Illinois Shakespeare Society Endowment was established in 2000 and funded through gifts from individuals interested in supporting the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and program.
Pete Guither Theatrical Experimentation Fund
The Pete Guither Theatrical Experimentation Fund was established in 2018 by Pete Guither. The scholarship provides support for research opportunities where students can participate in, or explore, student-led theatrical risk taking, which may involve any of a number of performance-based forms.
School of Theatre General Fund
The School of Theatre General Fund supports the activities, programs and operations associated with the department.
School of Theatre and Dance General Fund
The School of Theatre and Dance General Fund supports the activities, programs and operations associated with the department.
Theatre Scholarship Fund
The Theatre Scholarship Fund was opened in 2000 as a general scholarship fund for students majoring in Theatre.
Crossroads Program Fund
The Crossroads Fund was established in 2001 with an initial gift from Illinois Power Company and provides financial support for the Crossroads project. The Crossroads project encourages and explores performances and symposia that address the issues and experiences of underrepresented ethnic peoples in the United States and experiences of international cultures.
John Stevens Memorial Fund
The John Stevens Memorial Fund was established by Nancy Stevens in 2003 in memory of John Stevens. John served on the Illinois Shakespeare Society Board of Directors from 1984 until his untimely death in 2000. John's commitment and passion to the Festival was unwavering. The John Stevens Memorial Fund was created to honor John and ensure future funding was available to help support future equity actors. The fund may also be used to cover costs related to the John Stevens Golf Outing, proceeds of which benefit the John Stevens Memorial Fund. The John Stevens Golf Outing began in 2001, with proceeds providing the seed money to fund an Equity actor beginning in the 2006 Festival season.
Blackfriar Scholarship
The origin of the name "Blackfriars" dates back to the 13th Century. They were bands of hooded monks who presented shows from portable stages. The name "Blackfriars" was adopted by the ISNU Chapter, Kappa Lambda, when it was founded in 1934. The purpose of this fraternity was to present annual, humorous stage productions of the highest possible type on campus. The members wrote, produced, performed in, and built scenery for these productions. The Blackfriar organization provided a social atmosphere before the fraternity system was established on campus until it disbanded circa 1964. The Blackfriar scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student with a major or minor in theatre that has completed at least two semesters of coursework.
Calvin MacLean Endowment Fund
The Calvin MacLean Endowment Fund was established in 2006 by the Illinois Shakespeare Festival Society to honor Calvin A. MacLean, who served as the artistic director of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival from 1995-2006, and as head of directing at ISU for fifteen years. The expendable earnings support the Illinois Shakespeare Festival to fund or purchase items related to the enhancement of the Festival and its productions.
Illinois Shakespeare Society Fund
Illinois Shakespeare Society Fund provides financial assistance for operating expenses associated with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
Sutter Family Shakespeare Scholarship
The Sutter Family Shakespeare Scholarship was started by Craig Sutter in memory his mother, G. Jean Sutter and his father, H. Everett Sutter. Their passion for the arts and civic engagement resonated with Craig from a young age. He has been an avid supporter and patron of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival since its inception in 1978. Craig's involvement in the Festival has ranged from ice cream socials for the cast to walk on roles with the company. The Sutter Family Shakespeare Scholarship provides support for a student majoring in theatre. The "Sutter Scholars" will study theatre at Illinois State University and take part in an internship with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
Swanson Endowment
This endowment was established in 1991 by Mary Swanson B.S.E. '82 to support an Illinois State Theatre intern with the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. In 2020, the criteria was modified to expand support for student interns who are participating in any professional theatres or production companies as approved by the Director of the School of Theatre and Dance.
Norman Funk Jr. Scholarship
Norman J. Funk, Jr. was born on September 30, 1951, the son of Norm and Ester Funk of Roanoke. Norm was killed in a car accident at the age of 21 on July 23, 1973. Norm found his dream on the stage at ISU. Established in Norm's memory, this scholarship is offered to an especially gifted theater major who shows a great love and passion for the stage. Each candidate for the Norman J. Funk, Jr. Scholarship must be or have enrolled in good standing at ISU, demonstrated exceptional talent and ability in acting, and shown a true joy and passion for the theater craft.
Caroline Gordon Theatre Scholarship
The Caroline Gordon Theatre Scholarship was established through a bequest of Caroline Gordon in 2004. The scholarship provides scholarship support for students majoring in theatre at Illinois State University. Ms. Gordon was a retired Illinois State staff member who passed away January 2004.
Jean Scharfenberg Scholarship
This endowment was established in 1993 by family, friends, and colleagues of Jean Scharfenberg. The scholarship is awarded to a graduating student majoring in acting. Candidates must demonstrate talent, discipline, and good work habits, attitude, performance work, and scholarship. Funds are to be used to defray costs involved in beginning a professional acting career.
Denny Mays Scholarship
The Denny Mays Scholarship was established with gifts from family and friends made in memory of Mr. Mays following his passing in 2011. Mr. Mays started his career at Illinois State University in 1969 and retired in 2009 from as the School of Theatre and Dance Scene Shop Foreman. The Denny Mays scholarship will be given annually to a deserving Theatre student with demonstrated financial need who is significantly involved in building scenery or props for School of Theatre Productions. The student recipient must exhibit Denny's values of hard work, respect, and a passion for a job well done. Selection will be made by the School of Theatre and Dance.
Helen Diane Hoblit Scholarship
This scholarship was created by Susan R. Hoblit '86, M.S.'96 in memory of her sister Diane '65, M.A.'67. Diane received degrees in English and speech communication and was a vital part of the theatre program at Illinois State University. After graduation she worked as a professional actress and teacher for more than 30 years. One of her greatest accomplishments was collaborating in the creating of the Love Creek Production Company in New York City. Diane was known by her theatre teachers and colleagues as a determined and committed actress. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to student(s) who are enrolled in the School of Theatre and are majoring in the acting sequence.
Colleen Tovar Memorial Stage Management Scholarship
One word to describe Colleen Tovar was "fierce." In a professional career that spanned over 35 years, she served as a technician, stagehand, actor, designer, Managing Director, and Producer. However, it was in Stage Management and Production Management where she found her passion. In 2015, Colleen shifted her focus to higher education, becoming the Production Manager and Stage Management instructor in the Department of Theater and Dance at Ball State University. In the fall of 2020, Colleen accepted a position at Illinois State University as the Production Manager and Stage Management instructor in the School of Theatre and Dance, along with being the Production Manager of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. In July of 2021, Colleen was diagnosed with cancer and was taken from us too soon on November 7, 2022. The plan for this scholarship is to assist a graduating senior with these funds can be used to help start their professional career as a Stage Manager.
Gregory W. Slawko Memorial Scholarship
The Gregory W. Slawko Memorial Scholarship was established by his sister Kyle Scanlon to honor Greg's passion for the theatre. Greg loved all aspects of the theatre from acting, singing, dancing, and writing plays to costume design. He was fortunate in that he was able to have a career that he truly loved design. Throughout his career and the country, Greg brought color to the stage and to life with his detailed and extraordinary designs. During his tenure teaching, he enjoyed aiding students to further develop their talent. The purpose of this scholarship is to honor Greg's memory by awarding the scholarship to an individual who shares Greg's love of the theatre and design.
Kari Beth Rust Costume Design and Technology Scholarship
The Kari Beth Rust Costume Design and Technology Scholarship was established to honor her extensive influence on the costume program in the School of Theatre and Dance, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and the Chicago creative community. Kari Beth learned how to sew from her mother, Betty, but her passion for costuming was ignited by Mike and Gayle Dobbins. An ISU alum, she came to ISU professionally in 1995 where she met her future husband, Rob Fulton, who is also a graduate of the program. A strong advocate for students, incredibly organized, diligent and an expert in her craft, Kari Beth taught thousands of students how to sew. Her motto was "Every sleeve is a hat, but not every hat is a sleeve." Her humor and insight propelled students to always do their best under very stressful circumstances.
Ginger Scott-Erlinder Endowed Scholarship
The Ginger Scott-Erlinder Scholarship Fund was established to provide financial assistance to upperclassmen who are studying in specific areas in the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts.
Dr. Alvin (Al) Goldfarb Student Theatre Fund
The Dr. Alvin (Al) Goldfarb Student Theatre Fund was established in 2017 by Dr. Goldfarb to help pay for/offset the cost of theatre tickets and travel expenses for students in the School of Theatre and Dance to attend high qualify live theatre performances and productions regionally, nationally, and internationally. Funds are exclusively for students who are theatre majors.
Sue Edmondson Fund in Support of Wonsook Kim CFA Shakespeare Society
The purpose of this fund is to support the Illinois Shakespeare Festival managed by the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University, to support the recruitment and hiring of guest artists, to enhance and expand the festival's influence, and to provide ongoing annual support. This fund was established by Jay and Sue Edmondson, who both grew up in southern California and graduated from the University of California-Berkeley. They have made their home in the Bloomington-Normal community for over 40 years, however, and have been friends of Illinois State for many of those years. Jay retired from State Farm as vice president of underwriting and service. They have both served on boards for many local nonprofit organizations, including ISU Friends of the Arts, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and United Way. Jay is an emeritus advisor to the Katie Insurance School.
Paul and Sandra Harmon Shakespeare Endowment
The Paul and Sandra Harmon Shakespeare Endowment was established in 2017 by Paul and Sandra Harmon to provide resources for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University.
Keith and Becky Habersberger Scholarship
The Keith and Becky Habersberger Scholarship was established in 2020 to support and promote a Theatre student with a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The scholarship will provide financial assistance for a theatre major in good academic standing with demonstrated financial need. Student must be an active member of the Crossroads Project Committee or one of the following Registered Student Organizations: FreeStage, Improve Mafia, Theatre of Ted, Black Actors League, or the Latin American Theatre Association.