The cast, orchestra and staff of our historical musical FLOYD COLLINS – 2018 (Photo by Enrico Spada.)
Who we are.
Heartland Theatre Company, a professional-quality, non-profit organization since 1986, has a loyal following of about 1,700 discerning theatre-goers in Central Illinois. Our theatre is located on the old Soldiers & Sailors campus where Lincoln and Beech Streets intersect in Normal. Besides presenting a season of five plays each year, Heartland hosts an annual 10-Minute Play Festival and a one-act competition and workshop for Midwest playwrights. Heartland occasionally partners with local universities and organizations to offer historical or musical theatre to the community.
Gwen de Veer in SIRENS by Deborah Zoe Laufer, November 2011
Provocative theatre, exploring the human condition. At Heartland, you will experience theatre in an intimate setting with just under 100 seats around a thrust stage.
This small theatre attracts experienced, multi-talented actors from the region and sticks to its rules of “age-appropriate” casting.
The primary mission of Heartland is “to explore the human condition through the art of theatre – to shed light on both the ideal and less-than-ideal which exist in the world about us.”
Heartland’s fine actors and directors aim to challenge, provoke, and entertain their audiences, calling attention to the one experience we all have in common – the experience of being human.
“Chicago’s not the only place where great theater is happening in the Midwest. I’ve been lucky enough to see several productions from Normal’s Heartland Theatre and have always been impressed — with their selections, their execution, and some remarkable performances.” –Kathy O’Malley, longtime host of WGN’s Kathy & Judy Morning Show Connnie Blick and Len Childers in A DOLL’S HOUSE – 2018
OUR MISSION
To provide the citizens of Central Illinois with quality theatre utilizing first-rate talent, and to provide a lasting and meaningful theatre experience for our patrons.
We will accomplish our mission by meeting the following goals:
To explore the human condition through the art of theatre – to shed light on both the ideal and the less-than-ideal situations which exist in the world around us.
To challenge, provoke, and entertain our audiences, calling attention to the one experience we all have in common – the experience of being human – and the shared pain, joy, sorrow and celebration that it entails.
To maintain the highest artistic standards in order to provide the theatre artists involved in our productions a worthwhile and fulfilling experience as they practice their craft.
