The Illinois Shakespeare Festival (ISF) announced the 2021 Actor Honor Roll inductee at the Bard Bash celebration on Saturday, August 7 at Ewing Theatre in Bloomington. The 2021 inductee is actor Chauncy Thomas.
This was Thomas’ second season at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. This year, he performed as Camillo, Acolyte of Apollo, and The Gossips in The Winter’s Tale and as Angelo in Measure for Measure. Audiences will also remember Thomas from his roles in the 2019 season, where he played Orlando in As You Like It, Mr. Bingley in Pride and Prejudice, and Octavius in Caesar.
Originally from Peoria, Thomas currently resides in New York City and is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with B.A.s in drama and psychology. His credits include Romeo and Juliet at Lincoln Center Education, Hamlet at RIPT Theater Company, A Raisin in the Sun at Bay Street Theater, Our Town at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Clybourne Park at the St. Louis Rep, The Winter’s Tale at St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Topdog/Underdog at St. Louis Actors’ Studio (STL Circle Award Lead Actor in a Drama Nominee) and the television show Madam Secretary.
“Chauncy Thomas is a wonderful addition to our Illinois Shakespeare Festival Actor Honor Roll,” ISF Artistic Director John C. Stark said. “He creates rich, nuanced characters that are accessible yet complex. Chauncy is a skilled professional who also is the consummate company member: supportive, positive, and kind. It is a pleasure to welcome him to the honor roll.”
In celebration of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival’s 40th Anniversary in 2017, festival leadership unveiled “40 Years/40 Actors,” a media display recognizing the passion, skill, and talent of select festival performers from the past four decades. ISF is happy to continue the yearly recognition as the “Actor Honor Roll.”
The 2021 company features three other ISF Actor Honor Roll inductees: Lisa Gaye Dixon (also in ISF’s 1999, 2003, and 2019 seasons), Nathan Stark (1998, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2019) and Kathy Logelin (1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2010).
