Dr. Dale J. Young has made a dynamic entrance as the new theater instructor and director at Illinois Valley Community College. Known for performing everywhere from classical stages to street corners, Young just concluded his debut IVCC production, “Bottom’s on First 2.0,” which he wrote and directed. Coming up next is David Auburn’s acclaimed play “Proof,” running November 20th through 23rd. Young’s journey spans acting, directing, playwriting, and teaching, all fueled by a lifelong passion for creativity and growth. Tickets for “Proof” can be reserved at www.ivcc.edu/theatre, with special pricing for students. Young’s vision promises to invigorate IVCC’s theater scene.
Dr. Dale Young says he is excited by all the theater options available locally or within a short drive. “You can never have enough theater! We can spend a lot of time talking about theater, or seeing student theater, but it is also important to see professional environments off campus.”
Theater has been the heartbeat of Young’s life since his teenage years, shaping a career that spans from community productions to professional stages, both as an actor and director. His first starring role as The Elephant Man drove him to embrace physical and emotional challenges, a journey he revisited later with deeper insight. Young discovered a passion for teaching while serving as an artist-in-residence, a call that echoed through his family’s lineage of educators. Alongside acting, he crafts plays, sculpts, and cycles. Looking ahead, Young hopes to enrich student theater and believes community colleges are the perfect platform to nurture new talent.
Young intends to build on IVCC’s theatrical legacy and expose students and audiences to a variety of performing arts. “I hope students are curious about what it means to do these things, and I want to expose them to as many genres as possible. I will throw in some farce and Shakespeare, so that our student transfer program is well rounded,” he promised.
Dr. Young said, “People have a dream to be performers but do not know where to start, and two-year colleges are a great place for that. What I love about theater is that the theater will accept everyone who is looking for a community and has a warm heart. People deserve a place to feel safe and to be part of a community.”
With degrees in acting and theater from DePaul University and Ohio, plus training in expressive therapies, he briefly worked as a counselor. This experience, he says, deepened his understanding of healing and communication, yet underscored a yearning for the world of theater. Beyond writing and producing plays, he finds creative fulfillment in carving and outdoor adventures. His passion now fuels efforts to expand student-driven theater at community colleges, which he describes as the perfect setting for innovation and growth in the arts.
