Dr. Ilko performed with the Utah Shakespeare Festival, the Portland Conservatory Theatre and with theatre companies in New England and New York. In the Chicago area he appeared and directed at the Court Theatre, Talisman Theatre, Stage Left Theatre, Bailiwick Repertory, the Illinois Theatre Center, the Writer's Theatre, and Noble Fool Theatre. Theatre School directing credits include Dinner At Eight, The Secret Garden, Years Ago, Some Americans Abroad, Sympathetic Magic, The Boys in the Band and numerous workshops, studio productions, and Introduction to Performance pieces. He also appeared in The Theatre School productions of The Grapes of Wrath, Noises Off, and Life’s a Dream.  In addition to teaching in the BFA Acting Program, Dr. Ilko served as the first Head of the Theatre Studies Program (which today includes BFA programs in Dramaturgy, Playwriting, Theatre Arts, Theatre Management, and the MFA Arts Leadership program).