Nathaniel Haywood, an English and Theatre teacher at Downers Grove South High School, has been selected to direct the 2024 All-State production.
Nathaniel Haywood, South High School English and Theater teacher, has been chosen to direct the 2024 All-State Production. The production is part of the Illinois High School Theatre Festival, which takes place each year to educate students and celebrate theatre programs statewide.
“Nathaniel Haywood is as talented an educator as they come. More importantly, he is an incredibly thoughtful and present human being. I'm honored to serve as his colleague and ecstatic that his excellence and commitment to his craft are being recognized with this great honor,” said Jerry Lowrey South High School Fine Arts Department Chair.
Haywood has spent the last ten years at South High School in Downers Grove and has participated in Theatre Fest in various roles since he was a college student at Illinois State University.
“It’s exciting, and I know how much the All-State production means to students; they grow and the connections they make with other students. It’s such a positive experience for them, and I’m excited to help provide that for them,” said Haywood when talking about making his All-State directorial debut.
The Illinois High School Theatre Festival was established in 1976; it was created to enrich the education of high school students and to serve teachers, directors, and theatre sponsors in their mission to better educate students about theatre arts. Read more at http://illinoistheatrefest.org/.