CHICAGO TALENT DIRECTORY®
Theatre Reporting/News Periodicals
Buzz Center Stage
Chicago theatre, dance, reviews, interviews, and performance coverage.
Theatre In Chicago
Chicago theatre listings, reviews, news, half-price tickets, opening-night calendar, restaurant guide, and theatre-market activity.
Film Offices & Production Support
Central Illinois Film Commission
Chicago Film Office
Official city resource for filming in Chicago, permits, and production support.
Official statewide film office and central point of contact for film, television, commercial, and media production in Illinois, including production support, location guidance, tax credit information, and connections to regional film offices.
CHICAGO TALENT DIRECTORY® is developing resources to help producers, casting professionals, filmmakers, and content creators discover Illinois talent, industry organizations, and production support resources.
Illinois offers more than locations and incentives. It offers a deep and diverse talent, film, theatre,
and media production community for those looking to cast, create, and produce projects.
A starting point for producers, casting professionals, filmmakers, and content creators
exploring Illinois as a production destination.
Looking for a neighborhood, suburb, city, or studio location?
Visit the Chicago Talent Directory® Reference Maps.
Future Resources
This page will continue to expand as Chicago Talent Directory® rebuilds its role as a starting point for discovering Illinois talent, casting, and production resources.
Community-Maintained Theatre Reference Links
Chicago Theater Wiki — Theaters in Chicago (Reddit)
Community-maintained reference list of Chicago-area theatres, theatre companies and performance venues.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ChicagoTheater/wiki/theaters/
Chicago Theater Wiki — Theatre-Related Websites (Reddit)
Community-maintained collection of Chicago theatre websites and industry resources.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ChicagoTheater/wiki/links/
Studios & Soundstages
See where these studios are located here.
Chicago
Austin
Independent Chicago soundstage facility for film, television, commercial, and media production.
CineCity Studios
Douglass Park / North Lawndale (Entrance at 2429 W. 14th Street)
Chicago production studio and event venue; host venue for FilmScape Chicago.
Cinespace Studios Chicago
North Lawndale
Major Chicago studio campus for film, television, and commercial production.
SMASH Virtual
South Loop / Bronzeville
Dedicated LED virtual-production studio for film, television, commercials, and other screen production.
The Fields Studios
Avondale / Logan Square area
Purpose-built Chicago production campus with soundstages and production support.
The Hangar
Mayfair / Old Irving Park
7,200-square-foot flexible production space for film, video, photography, and events, with production offices, dressing rooms, set-building space, equipment rental, power, security, kitchen, and parking.
Illinois
Forge Virtual Studios
Hanover Park
Virtual production studio with LED volume stages and production support for film, commercial, agency, and branded content work..
Flyover Film Studios
Rantoul, Illinois
Central Illinois film and television production facility located at the former Chanute Air Force Base. Two 50,000-square-foot stages with 41-foot height, along with production offices, standing sets, wardrobe, set decoration and props, on-site production support and extensive parking.
Actors' Unions
Actors’ Equity Association – Central Regional Office
West Loop / Near West Side
Equity’s Central Regional Office is located in Chicago.
River North
Theatre Audition / Audition Boards
League of Chicago Theatres — Chicago Theatre Auditions
Official Chicago theatre audition board brought to you by the League of Chicago Theatres. Searchable audition listings for theatre work across Chicago, including Equity and Non-Equity categories.
Theatre In Chicago — Auditions
Chicago audition notice board from Theatre In Chicago. Includes All Auditions, Equity, Non-Equity, and Film audition categories. Theatre companies and casting agencies may submit audition notices at no cost.
CHICAGO TALENT DIRECTORY® is your 'FRONT DOOR' to
PRODUCING IN ILLINOIS
Be Cast! Be Seen! Be Hired!
Producing
in Illinois
Arts Alliance Illinois
Statewide advocacy and resource organization supporting Illinois artists, creative workers, arts organizations, and the broader creative sector.
Edgewater
Chicago media arts organization supporting independent filmmakers through screenings, classes, workshops, community programs, and filmmaker resources.
Illinois Production Alliance
Nonprofit advocacy organization supporting the Illinois film production community, including film, television, commercial, and media production.
Statewide nonprofit theatre organization advocating for theatre at all levels across Illinois.
Independent Film Alliance Chicago
Nonprofit organization providing community and resources for independent content creators in Chicago.
Service and advocacy organization for Chicago-area theatres and the broader theatre community.
Organization advancing the careers, visibility, and influence of women in film, television, advertising, and media.
© 2026 Chicago Talent Directory®. All rights reserved.
Chicago Talent Directory® is a publication of Chicago Talent Enterprises Inc.
Chicago Talent Directory® is a federally registered trademark owned by Nanci T. Ponne'
Published by Nanci T. Ponné, Founder / Publisher.
Updated: September 2026
Film & Production News
ReelChicago
Talent • Production Resources • Industry Organizations • Official Support Services.
Production Guides & Resource Directories
Chicago Creative Directory
Chicago-area creative-production resource directory covering advertising, design, photography, film/video production, audio, post-production, equipment, talent/model agencies, creative staffing, marketing/public relations, and related production vendors.
Chicago Film Events
Chicago film-community platform for discovering local screenings, festivals, workshops, networking opportunities, and industry activity.
Additional DCASE resource guide for Chicago film organizations, filmmaker resources, archives, festivals, and related local film activity.
Chicago Talent Directory® (this site) ⭐
Chicago Talent Directory® is an independent, location-driven, curated online platform exclusively focused on Chicago and Illinois professional talent, being built to feature free talent profiles for casting and hiring, career resources for talent, and curated industry resources supporting Chicago and Illinois film, television, theatre, and media. Established in print in 1985, Chicago Talent Directory® was “Officially Recognized by the Illinois Film Office” in 1991.
Official Illinois Film Office / DCEO directory of Illinois-based production resources, including crew, production companies, production services, equipment vendors, post-production facilities, locations support, and related film, television, commercial, and digital-content vendors.
Casting Resources
Casting Directors
Extras Casting
Illinois Crew & Production Services
Search the Illinois Production Guide for Illinois-based crew, production services, equipment vendors, post-production facilities, and production support resources throughout Illinois.
IATSE Studio Mechanics Local 476 (Union)
Chicago
Union representing studio mechanics, technicians, artisans, and related film and television production crafts.
Noisefloor Sound Solutions
River North
Full-service audio post-production studio providing sound design, mixing, Foley, ADR and voice recording, original music, restoration, and theatrical audio services for film, television, commercials, and other media.
See a broken, outdated, or incorrect link? Help keep Chicago Talent Directory® current by notifying us through our Contact page.
Arts/Theatre/Performing Arts Resources
Illinois Arts Council
State agency supporting the arts across Illinois. Their Local Arts Network maintains a statewide directory of local and regional arts councils.
Illinois Performing Artist Index
Statewide resource for finding Illinois performing artists, ensembles, musicians, dance companies, cultural programs, storytellers, variety performers, and presenter-ready live entertainment. A collaboration of the Illinois Arts Council and the Illinois Presenters Network.
Lawyers for the Creative Arts
Legal resources for artists and arts organizations.
League Service Organization Directory
Support organizations for the Chicago performing arts community.
Illinois Film Production Incentives
Illinois Film Incentives — Start Here
Official Illinois Film Office overview of the current tax credit program and eligibility.
Application Requirements & Process
Official application instructions, deadlines, and required documentation.
Rules/Requirements
Official rules and requirements for the Illinois Film Production Tax Credit, including minimum Illinois production spending thresholds and links to the complete rules and statute.
Film Tax Credit FAQs
Answers to common questions about eligibility, timelines, documentation, CPA requirements, and claiming the credit.