The Illinois High School Theatre Festival is the largest & oldest non-competitive high school theatre festival in the nation. The IHSTF is the largest and oldest non-competitive high school theatre festival in the nation. The Illinois Theatre Association is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advocate for the important values that theatre at all levels in the state of Illinois bring to individuals as we work to expand hearts and minds through work both on stage and off. Our work includes the important mission to inspire, engage, challenge, nurture, educate and empower artists and audiences in order to enhance the cultural landscape of Illinois making our state a more conscious and compassionate community.Ultimately, we look to celebrate the essential power of the theatre to illuminate our common humanity.