Two District 214 high schools selected for Illinois State Theatre Festival

Posted December 29, 2025 4:59 pm

Submitted by District 214

Wheeling High School students perform the musical “Ride The Cyclone,” which has been selected for the Illinois High School Theatre Festival, along with Prospect High School's original production, “Romeo and Juliet; Fast, Then Furious.” Courtesy of District 214

District 214 will be well represented at this year’s Illinois High School Theatre Festival, with both Wheeling High School and Prospect High School selected to perform at the state level.

“This Song is Awesome” is performed during Wheeling High School's production of “Ride The Cyclone,” which will have two special community performances, on Jan. 2-3. “Romeo and Juliet; Fast, Then Furious” will have a performance on Jan. 7. Courtesy of District 214

Wheeling High School is preparing to take its State Selected Musical, “Ride The Cyclone,” to the festival Jan. 8-10. Ahead of the event, the school will remount the production for two special community performances at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 2-3, at Wheeling High School, 900 S. Elmhurst Road, Wheeling. The performances give students additional rehearsal opportunities over winter break while inviting the community to support the cast and crew as they fine-tune the show before heading to state. For tickets or more information, visit rebrand.ly/WHS-Ride-The-Cyclone.

Prospect High School was also selected to perform at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival with its original production, “Romeo and Juliet; Fast, Then Furious.” The show will be performed twice at the festival on Friday, Jan. 9, with both performances already sold out.

The one-hour production offers two completely different takes on Shakespeare’s classic tale. Act One is a fast-paced, comedic retelling featuring classic costumes, clever twists, and nonstop laughs. Act Two puts the power in the audience’s hands, as the show is broken into short, wacky scenes performed in an order chosen live by the audience, ensuring that no two performances are ever the same.

Wheeling High School students perform “The Ballad of Jane Doe” from “Ride The Cyclone.” Courtesy of District 214

Community members will have one final opportunity to see “Romeo and Juliet; Fast, Then Furious” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Prospect High School, 801 W. Kensington Road, Mount Prospect. No tickets are required, though donations will be accepted to help cover student travel expenses for the state festival.