Review by Ed Vincent

Greg Kolack has chosen an edgy selection to produce.  Mr. Kolack
has associated himself with some wonderful productions, and
“When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?” is no exception.  Directed
by  Jay Fontanetta, “When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?”is
fast paced and will draw you into its plot like a large boa constrictor
grabbing at your legs.

There are sexy moments, episodes of humiliation, bravery, defeat,
disgust, reconciliation, and existential justice.  There isn't a quiet
pensive moment in the performance, no lulls of action.  You won’t
be trying to stay awake during this performance.  This past weekend
I saw four performances in Chicago and this is one of the better ones.
The set design is wonderful and the casting is right on for each part.
This should get a Jeff Nomination for its pathos and gusto.  Keep up
the good work Circle.
 
 

Cast

Stephen         Andrew Kottler

Angel             Kelly Schumann

Lyle               Tom Buttel

Clark             Bob Cercone

Clarisse         Kate Berry

Richard         David Besky

Teddy            Tim Gittings

Cheryl Shana   Orlowsky

Production Staff

Director                 Jay Fontanetta

Stage Manager       Aubrey Tokarz

Scenic/Lighting
Design                    Stephen Arnold

Lighting Design     A.Cameron Zetty

Costume Design     Catherine Ferraro

Set Construction

Joe Tokarz, Steve Arnold,
Kevin Arnold, A. Cameron Zetty,
Robert Hilliard, Kate Berry
Jay Fontanetta

Fight Choreography    Jen Albert
Graphic Design           Tony Patryn

Producer                    Greg Kolack

Time: The end of the 1960's

Place: Foster's Diner in Southern New Mexico

There will be a 10 minute intermission.

*Gunshots will be used in this performance*

Produced by special Arrangement with
Dramatists Play Service

The rust consumes the buds and fruits of
the earth:
The herds are sick; children die unborn,
And labor is in vain. The god of plague and pyre,
Raids like detestable lighting....
          Sophocles
 

Cast

Kate Berry (Clarisse) is ferociously happy to be making
her circle Theatre Debut. She was last seen in THE TAMING
OF THE SHREW with the Oak Park Festival Theatre. She has
also appeared in and around such shows as A SPOON RIVER
ANTHOLOGY, NEO, A MATRIX MUSICAL, and HIPPOLYTUS.
Most recently, Kate worked on the crew of Big Love at the Goodman
Theatre in Chicago, where she got to perform her parody
of the show FOR THE LOVE OF CAKE, in the Owens Theatre. That
counts, right? Kate would like to thank her friends and
family for their love and support in these times of personal
and national need.

David Besky (Richard) is so excited to be making his circle
Theatre Debut. He earned his B.A. at Moorhead State University,
MN, and then proceeded to migrate south to Minneapolis and
then Chicago. You may have seen him in productions of VAMPIRE
LESBIANS OF SODOM, TONY AND TINA'S WEDDING, and
SELF HELP OR THE TOWER OF PSYCHOBABBLE. Other
Productions include FOLLIES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, HAIR,
and JOSEPH AND THE TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT.
David would like to thank his friends and family
for their support.

Tom Buttel (Lyle) is a newcomer to circle Theatre, but has
appeared with a number of other companies, including Grove
Players, Village Players, TinFish Productions, and Wheaton
Drama. In addition to the stage, Tom also does commercial,
film, and print work.  Tom and his wife Paula, live in Western
Springs with their golden retriever, Rufus.

Bob Cercone (Clark) is absolutely thrilled with being cast
in this production. It is Bob's first production with Circle
Theatre, although he has been associated with Chicago theatre
for a number of years. He has appeared in many plays throughout
Chicago, most notably as Jonathan Brewster in ARSENIC AND OLD
LACE, and as the constable in FIDDLER ON THE RC)OF. Bob has
also been involved in various fundraisers and musical shows,
both with choir as well as a soloist.

Tim Gittings (Teddy) is very excited to be performing at Circle
Theatre. He currently split's his time between acting and playing
with his band Feverdog. Past roles include Sir Andrew Aguecheek
in TWELFTH NIGHT (Door Shakespeare,) Bottom in A
MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTS DREAM (Made.In Theatre,) and
the sweet but homely old lady in his Cub Scout pack's play.

Andrew Kottler (Stephen) has been a busy contributor to the
Chicago Theatre scene since leaving his social work live in
New York 3 years ago. Favorite roles include Peachy in THE
LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO at the Attic Playhouse, Rolly in
CRIMINAL GENIUS at the Steppenwolf School, Ralphie in
THE BOOM BOOM ROOM at the Artistic Home and Lawrence
in HOME FREE at: the Conservatory. He is incredible excited
to take on the role of Stephen, and would like to thank the
dynamic and talented cast and crew. Special thanks to
Jay Fontanetta for his trust and guidance.

Shana Orlowsky (Cheryl) is thrilled to be working with Circle
Theatre for the first time. She is a member of the Mammals
Theatre Company, where she has performed in AMHURST
UNDEAD, FATE THEFT, AND HORROR CHAMBER OF
AFFECTION. She has also worked with St. Sebastian Players
on ELVICULA, The Baum House on THIEVES, and
The Hypocrites on MARAT/SADE. She is a graduate of Columbia
College Chicago where she and Jay met in Stage Make-up. Thanks
to her family and friends for their undying love and support.

Kelly Schumann (Angle) is proud to be in her second underground
show this season at Circle Theatre. She has been seen in other
Circle Theatre productions as Ann/Gail in SHOW AND TELL and
Beebe in SubUrbia. She is also very active with the Circle
Theatre Emerging Young Artist Program, having just co directed
BYE, BYE BIRDIE. Thank you to Mom, Dad, and Jeremy for supporting
me always.

Staff

Jay Fontanetta (Director) has been living at Circle for the
past couple of months. You may have seen him last month as
Anthony in THE HOUSE OF YES', or designing the lightning and
playing the drums for the Emerging Young Artist's BYE,BYE BIRDIE.
Last year, he directed SubUrbia for Circle's underground and was
seen as Bobby in the Jeff Recommended AMERICAN BUFFALO. He would
like to thank his family, friends and KK for carrying on without
him. He would also like to thank the cast, the Circle Company
members, and all those too numerous to mention people for all
their help and support with this production - you know who you are.

Aburey Tokarz (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working at
Circle Theatre for this production. she ahs previously stage
managed NUNESENSE, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, and JOSEPH AND THE
AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, among others, She would like to
thank Jay for the opportunity and her husband Joe for everything.

Stephen Arnold (Scenic/Lighting Design) is a graduate of
Columbia College, and is happy to be making his fourth design
appearance at Circle Theatre. Previous work includes GREASE,
LIL' ABNER, SubUrbia at Circle Theatre; BLUES IN THE NIGHT at
Arkansas Repertory; BODY ELECTRIC, and QUA EAR for Kinetic Dance
Theatre; and THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES at the Apollo Theatre. Recently
he has been designing for dance, including The Chicago Moving
Company's fall works 2001; Same Planet Different World Dance Co.;
Lucky Plush Prod.; and Dance Chicago 2000 & 2001. For the last
year Stephen has been Stage Mgr and Lighting Designer for River
North Dance Co. He would like to express his deep appreciation
to his family and everyone who has encouraged and helped him
reach higher then he thought he could, walk farther then he
thought his strength would carry him and keep him humble and
living peacefully in the present.

Catherine Ferraro (Costume Design) although an Associate Company
member for a short time, has been involved with Circle Theatre
since childhood. This is the fourth show she has dressed, and
looks forward to more.

Greg Kolack (Producer) is one of Circle Theatre's three
Co-Artistic Directors. His numerous directing and acting credits
at Circle have earned him two Jeff Citations and three After Dark
Awards, and he has also worked at theatres all over the Chicago
area for the past two decades. He thanks you for supporting Circle's
underground series, a very important development pro. gram. As
always, his work is dedicated to the memory of his late father.

Special Thanks to: Robert Hilliard, A. Cameron Zesty, Stephen Kolack
and the Goodman Theatre, River Grove Grill, Jeanne Wall, Kevin Arnold,
Tony Patron, Dan Shae, The River Forest Grill, and the fine folk
at Horan's Snug.
 

CIRCLE THEATRE
Co-Artistic Directors
Alena Murguia, Greg Kolack, Todd Cornils

Board of Directors
Kevin Bellie, Lynn Ann Bernatowicz, Todd Cornils,
Lynn Kirsch, Greg Kolack, Alena Murguia, Jeffrey Strauss,
Jack Vanisi, Jeanne Wall

Company Members
Sheldon Baren, Kevin Bellie, Lynn Ann Bernatowicz,
Jennifer Fisk, Jay Fontanetta, Erika Goodman, Annie Kasak,
Brett Kashanitz, Laura Keeling, Ben Keeling, Bob Knuth,
Ty Perry, Beth Scheible, Stephanie Samuel, John Simmons,
Peter Storms, Jeanne Wall, Jim Wall

Associate Company Members
Kelly Schumann, Anne Marie Beaulieu

Our Mission Statement
Circle Theatre is an artist-based company whose
mission is to produce exciting, and innovative, theatre
accessible to our widely diversified suburban and city
audience. Through variety-filled seasons including
drama, comedy, musicals, and new works, Circle Theatre
challenges, entertains, and educates audiences and
artists of all ages.
 

1985/1986
Fiddler on the Roof; Come Back to the Five and
Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean;
The Royale Hollyfeste;
The Diary of Anne Frank

1986/1987
Pippin; Agnes of God; The Last of the Red Hot
Lovers; Three by Tennessee; Born Yesterday;
Rigoletto; Birthday Girls

1987/1988
Miracle Worker; Psycho: The Musical; Crimes of
the Heart; Godapell; On Golden Pond;
Night Mother; Chicago

1988/1989
The Odd Couple (Female Version); Ghouls; Annie;
Yentl; One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest;
Rose Tattoo; Grease

1989/1990
Plaza Suite; Back to Berlin; Unfinished Business;
Nuts, Harold and Maude; And Miss Reardon
Drinks a Little; Whatever Happened to B.B. Jane?

1990/1991
Greater Tuna; Oliver; A Shayna Maidel; La Boheme;
Sexual Perversity in Chicago and Sister Mary Ignatius
Explains it All for You; Evita

1991/1992
Little Shop of Horrors; Pass the Love; The Glass
Menagerie; Jesus Christ Superstar; Nighthawks;
Vendetta

1992/1993
Orphans; Ten Little Indians; Shrubtown; Christmas
in Mughy Junction; Crossing Delancy; Hair;
He's Having Her Baby

1993/1994
Voices; Crazy Little Thing; Sweeney Todd; Mill
Fire; A Rosen by Any Other Name; Godspell;
People Like Us; Marriage and Children;
Seascapes with Sharks and Dancer

1994/1995
No Exit; Cabaret; Myron; After The Fall; Pirates of
Penzance; The Seven Year Itch; What If;
Merrily We Roll Along

1995/1996
A Piece of My Heart; Unidentified Human Remains
and the True Nature of Love; The Medium;
Shindig! Les Liaisons Dangereuses; Inferno Beach;
As You Like It; Mijo and T-Cells and Sympathy;
Texanna Rearranges the Planets and Saves Her
Family From the Gates of Hell; Just a Little Lipstick
Dear; Whatever Happened to B.B. Jane

1996/1997
Jeffrey; The Glory of Living; Five Women Wearing
the Same Dress; Rags; My Sister in This House;
Journeys; Shindig!; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

1997/1998
Principia Scriptoria; Satan's School for Girls Old
Times; Grand Hotel; My Song; Auschwitz Lullaby;
Garage Sale; Shindig!; Murder in Green Meadows

1998/1999
Cyrano; Lips Together, Teeth Apart; Salome;
Inspecting Carol; Eating Ranul; A Moon for the
Misbegotten

1999/2000
Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune; Earth &
Sky; The Crime of the Century; A Shindig
Christmas; Eleemosynary; Shindig X-Mas A-Go-
Go!; Candida; The Cover of Life; The Life;
American Buffalo

2000/2001
the dreamer examines his pillow; Cosi; Hedda
Gabler; Shindig's I Know What You Did Last XMas!;
subUrbia; Raised in Captivity, Triumph Of
Love, The Moon's the Madonna, Sanctuary

2001/2002
Show and Tell, Nine
 

The House of Yes
A Contemporary Dark Comedy

Circle Theatre
7300 W. Madison Street
Forest Park, IL 60130

November 7-December 16
Fridays and Saturdays ~ 8 PM;
Sundays @ 3 PM

$18 on Thursdays,Fridays,& Sundays
$19 on Saturdays (cash or check price)

$19 on Thursdays,Fridays,& Sundays
$20 on Saturdays (credit card price)

Reservations 708-771-0700