Illinois State University senior Devin Creighton is spending her summer immersed in the world of Shakespeare as an acting intern with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.

A theatre education and acting major, Creighton performs in four productions, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet, while also understudying several lead roles. She earned the opportunity through the festival’s Sutter Scholarship, which provides professional training for emerging theatre artists.

Creighton said working with seasoned actors and directors deepened her understanding of both performance and teaching, especially through the festival’s Theatre for Young Audiences program, which introduces Shakespeare to children.

“If it’s your passion, go for it, even in small ways,” Creighton said.

Watch a glimpse of Creighton’s Shakespearean summer.

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival runs through August 2, at Ewing Theatre, featuring William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet, and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.