To Thine Own Self Be True

So I realized that I never introduced myself to you! My name is Eliza Stoughton and I am an actor at Illinois Shakespeare Festival this summer. I am originally from Indianapolis, Indiana and now reside in Chicago, Illinois! Some of my favorite things: the theatre, knitting, mermaids, cooking, food, music, yoga, hats, summer dresses, swimming, sewing and animals. Fun fact: my fiancee (Christopher Peltier) is also an actor in the company this year and we are playing twins in Twelfth Night! (weird, right?)

I am so happy to be here - I have wanted to work with this company for several years and it is such a gift to be here with Chris, especially with our wedding on the horizon this fall.

I have lived in Chicago since 2003 when I moved there to go to Loyola University of Chicago. I was really fortunate to get to spend my middle and high school years at Indiana Public Schools with Arts programs, so I was able to study theatre at an early age (YAY Arts in the Schools!)

After I graduated from Loyola in 2007, I spent the better part of four years in Montana doing Montana Shakespeare in the Parks and in the Schools - consequently, I fell in love with Chris, William Shakespeare, and the state of Montana while out there.

I am excited to tell you about my experience here at ISF and to use this blog to tell you about the process of putting up these three amazing productions. While I will be spending most of my time in the rehearsal room, I will find time to explore the costume shop, scene shop and hopefully some other areas so I can tell you what they are up to as we work toward Opening Night.