ICA is committed to providing high-level arts programming while engaging students in a comprehensive academic education. We believe that creativity and the quest for innovation fosters individuality–allowing the holistic development of each student.
At Illinois Conservatory for the Arts, our students will engage in a practicum of pre-professional arts training balanced with rigorous academics.
Applications will open Early Spring 2025 for a limited number of spots. Selected applicants will audition for ICA with placement for those accepted in Late Spring 2025.
There are four eight-week sessions that take place throughout the year.
IMPACT brings top professional artists–from Broadway, TV & Film, the Dance Community, and beyond–to work with students on growing their skills. The week includes a trip to see a show in Chicago and wraps up with a showcase and reception for family and friends.
Illinois Conservatory for the Arts is committed to community engagement, outreach, and fundraising. Events include concerts, workshops, and community outings.
With their combined decades in arts education, our founders recognize that young artists often learn differently because they are multifaceted. ICA believes that fostering creativity in all areas of their school experience benefits a creatively-driven child, whether they aim for a profession in the arts or land in a fulfilling career outside of the arts.
These organizations are significant supporters of Illinois Conservatory for the Arts and the work we do.We appreciate your commitment to our students and furthering arts education for our community.
Illinois Conservatory for Arts employs staff and admits students of any race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, gender, religion, and sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It doesn’t discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin, gender, religion, and sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.
JUSTICE MOORE is a New York based performer and choreographer. Growing up in Dallas, Texas, she trained in all styles at Next Step Dance Performing Arts Center. Upon graduating from Allen High School, she had the amazing opportunity to open Hamilton in Chicago as ‘The Bullet.’ She then went on to open the second national tour of the show and join the Broadway production. Moore had the honor to work on projects by Keone and Mari Madrid such as Once Upon a One More Time on Broadway and The Karate Kid: The Musical in St. Louis. She worked on seasons four and five of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” with choreographer Marguerite Derricks. She made her movie debut in Disney+’ Better Nate Than Ever, directed by Tim Federle and choreographed by Zach Woodlee, and her television choreographic debut in CBS’ “East New York.” She was the associate choreographer for London’s Fangirls (under Ebony Williams) and New York City Center’s production of Jelly’s Last Jam (under Edgar Godineaux). Never limiting herself to one side of the dance industry, she continues to keep expanding her community, training, and possibilities. She performed with Doja Cat for MTV’s VMAs, Tyla for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and Stray Kids for the 2024 Youtube Brandcast. She is currently in Broadway’s Sunset Boulevard starring Nicole Scherzinger. Moore has captivated audiences online and off through her story telling, choreography, and comedy. She hopes to continue exploring the many ways dance and storytelling can connect with humans of all avenues. Instagram: @justicemoore_.
Samantha Pauly is a Grammy nominated and Drama Desk Award winning actress best known for originating the role of Katherine Howard in SIX the Musical on Broadway. She was most recently seen starring as Jordan Baker in the premiere of The Great Gatsby at Papermill Playhouse. In the summer of 2019, Samantha was hand picked by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jamie Lloyd to play Eva Peron in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s critically acclaimed revival of Evita on the West End. The production went on to receive nominations and wins at The Evening Standard Theatre Awards, the WhatsOnStage Awards, and the Oliviers. After returning to the U.S., Samantha went on to tour with SIX the Musical and made stops at The Citadel Theatre, The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts before landing on Broadway in the early spring of 2020. She has starred in many regional productions including Mimi inRENT, Betsy in Honeymoon in Vegas, Eva Peron in Evita, Jovie in Elf the Musical, and Amber von Tussle in Hairspray, to name a few. In 2018, Samantha joined the first national tour of Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell as Valkyrie, before an abrupt cancellation. Soon after, she was cast as Katherine Howard in the US premiere of SIX the Musical at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre for which she received a Joseph Jefferson Award. She also tours and performs her solo cabaret An Evening with Samantha Pauly, and has performed in NYC, LA, Chicago, and more. Samantha’s TV credits include: Chicago PD (NBC), and ads for Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Purina, and T-Mobile. Since her journey with SIX began, Samantha has also been seen and reviewed in The New York Times, Vogue Magazine, The New York Post, The Associated Press, andthe Washington Post.
KARA LINDSAY Broadway: Wicked (Glinda), Beautiful (Cynthia Weil), Newsies (Katherine Plumber) Original Cast/ Fathom Events Film, Once Upon a Mattress (Winnifred Standby for Sutton Foster). National Tour: Wicked (Glinda), Little House on the Prairie (originated role of Laura). Paper Mill Playhouse: Newsies, Jolly Holiday, Little House…Prairie. Sacramento Music Circus: Singin in the Rain (Kathy Selden). NCT: Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins). Kansas City Starlight: Cinderella (Cinderella). Kansas City Rep: Cabaret (Sally Bowles). 5th Avenue: Lone Star Love (Miss Ann Page). Geva: A Christmas Carol(Belle). Film: Wicked Movie Part One ensemble vocals. TV: “Murphy Brown”, ABC’s “Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong”, ABC’s “The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II”, Tony Awards, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. BFA Carnegie Mellon University. Huge thanks and LOVE to my family and to Stewart Talent/ Amplified. @karalindsay1
MAGGIE SPANUELLO (she/her/hers) works at Gray Talent Group as an Associate Agent on the Chicago On-Camera and Voiceover team after working as a director and music theatre educator for ten years in Chicago, Off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally. Selected credits include work at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Windy City Playhouse, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Brightside Theatre, and Hope Summer Repertory. She was the Associate Director on the award-winning Off-Broadway Production of THE WOMAN IN BLACK (“Best Play Revival”-Off-Broadway Alliance Awards, “Critic’s Pick”-NY Times) and the US Tour (Royal George Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Pasadena Playhouse, Seattle Rep, American Conservatory Theatre) directed by Robin Herford.