Diane Fisher Post  (Miss Maudie Atkinson)
stands behind Alexandria Frisch (Jean Louise (Scout) Finch)
Oak Park Journal photo
 

Highly Recommended  OPJ

To Kill A Mockingbird, playing at Village Players in Oak Park
is treat for the whole family.  It has some wonderful ensemble
actors and some great performances by some of Oak Park’s
young and talented children.  This is the book that the city of
Chicago had chosen last year to be a book that promoted for
the entire city to read and discuss.

The black and white film version is an excellent film and this
staged version is equally as meaningful.  The same issues are
brought forward for thought and discussion.  This is also
African American History month and I am quite sure that a
real “Atticus” or two live in this region.

The young Alexandria Frisch, who is 9 years old and attends
Lincoln School in Oak Park, plays Jean Louise (aka Scout) Finch.
Alexandria Frisch worked for some three weeks, along with the
rest of the cast, in preparing for her role in this play.  She has
been interested in acting since the age of 4.  It was at that early
age that Alexandria Frisch took her first acting class at the Village
Players.  Many children have taken classes at the Village Players
and many of them have continued with their studies in the Oak
Park schools and with additional classes at Village Players.
Mr. Cunningham, played by  Fred Schutz is reminded of his 
humanity or at the least his conscious by the young Scout.  Scout
speaks to Mr. Cunningham and removes his obscured identity from
the crowd and brings it front and center (a girl of her age displays 
wisdom beyond her years).

This is a well written story and a fine job all around.  Inventive
settings and a timeless tale of ignorance, violence, and compassion.
 
 

Carl Occhipinti as Atticus Finch heads towards
the jail to ward off a lynch mob
Oak Park Journal photo

Time:1935 

Place: Maycomb, Alabama

There will be one 10 Minute Intermission

Please note: There will be a blank shot fired in this production
 

Alexandria Frisch ...as Jean Louise (Scout) Finch
Alex Haney...as Jeremy (Jem) Finch
Carl Occhlpinti...as Atticus Finch
Alice C. Brown...as Calpurnia
Diane Fisher Post ...as Miss Maudie Atkinson
Keta Roth ...as Miss Stephanie Crawford
Betty Scott Smith ...as Mrs. Dubose
Billy Simmons ...as Mr. Gilmer / Boo Radley
Josh Uchitelle-Pierce ...as Charles Baker Harris (Dill)
Mike Smith ...as Heck Tate
Fred Schutz ...as Mr. Cunningham/Judge Taylor
Parrish Morgan ...as Reverend Syke
Elizabeth Macik ...as Mayella Ewell
Bruce Bradford ..as Bob Ewell
Shadow T. Carr ...as Tom Robinson
 

Bruce Bradford - (Mr. Ewell)

Bruce has appeared in To Kill a Mockingbird, Laramie Project,
Spinning Into Butter, Our Town, The World of'Walter Mitty, among
other productions with Open Door Repertory Company. This is
Bruce's first appearance in a Village Players Theatre production.

Alice C. Brown - (Calpurnia)

This is Alice's debut appearance with the Village Players Theatre
Company. She has worked with Black Theatre Ensemble (The Thomas
Dorsey Story), Triton College (Elaine in Miss Firecracker Contest),
Fantasy Orchard Children's Theatre (Jack and the Beanstalk) and
others. She's delighted to be a part of this production.

Shadow T. Carr - (Tom Robinson)

This is Shadow's debut with Village Players Theatre. A Chicago native
with a BA in Theatre Arts. A few other productions that Shadow
appeared in are Wine in the Wilderness. Lawndale Urban Theatre; CB
- "Early Edition," HBO's "Miss Evers Boys" and various Independent
films. - Peace and Luv to all. 

Diane Fisher Post - (Miss Maudie Atkinson)

Diane has been working as a diverse artist Acting, Directing, Writing
and Sound Designing throughout Indiana and Illinois for the last 8 years
and she has been the Artistic Director of Village Players Theatre for the
last year and a half. She was last seen on stage here as Meg in Crimes
of the Heart this past fall. Some favorite previous roles include: Andy
in Stepping Out, touring The Bacchae in Greece, Elsa in The Sound of
Music, Amanda in The Glass Menagerie and Beatrice in The Servant of
Two Masters. Diane holds a BA in Theatre from Indiana University
and is an intensive graduate of the New Actor's Workshop in NYC and
of the National Theatre Conservatory - Denver Center for the
Performing Arts. Diane sends thanks to Nat for casting her in such an
important and beautiful story and special thanks to Jesus Christ, for
being all you are and giving me so much.

Alexandria Frisch - (Scout)

At nine years old, Alex has spent more than half of her life
acting. She is thrilled to be returning to the Village Players stage,
having previously appeared in their productions of Annie (Molly),
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Children's Chorus),
and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Baby Angel). She has also
appeared in many other productions locally, including: The Sound of
Music (Brigitta) at Dominican University, Hello Dolly and Guys and
Dolls (Ensemble) at Circle Theatre's Young Performers Workshop, and
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Children's Chorus)
and Pots and Pans (Beatrix) at Chicago Center for the Performing Arts.
She is extremely proud of her recent role in a Columbia College
student film, A Gift for Allie (Allie) directed by Danielle Corches. She
looks forward to a life filled with acting and animals.

Alex Haney - (Jem)

Alex is happy to return to Village Players after appearing this fall in the
production of Believing on Christmas as Jesse. He was also seen in
Village Players' productions of Guys and Dolls, Jr. as Nathan Detroit,
Schoolhouse Rock, Jr., Once on This Island, Jr. as Daniel's Son, and'
Last Boy on Planet Earth. He has enjoyed several workshops at
Village Players including Improv I & II. He likes doing tech work and
making people laugh through the characters he has performed. He
would like to thank his family, the cast, crew, and director.

Elizabeth Macik - (Mayella Ewell)

Elizabeth is excited to share the stage with such a wonderful group of
people. She would like to thank everyone at the Village Players
Theatre for proving we are "the little theatre that could." She would
also like to thank Mike for being so patient and understanding about
this whole "acting thing."

Parrish Morgan - (Reverend Sykes)

An alumnus of the Theatre Department at Bradley University, Parrish is
soon to receive his MFA in Directing from the University of Memphis.
He has stage managed two musicals in Memphis, The All Night Strut
and A Brief History of White Music. He directed Flyin' West,
Dutchman, and The Meeting. Parrish is excited about being a part
Village Players Theatre and hopes to continue to support Oak Park and
Chicago theatre for years to come.

Carl Occhipinti - (Atticus Finch)

Carl has worked in Chicago theatre with Steppenwolf (Everyman, The
Marriage of Bette and Boo), Theo Ubique (The Lottery), Great Beast
(Ambrosia). Shining Through (Twilight of the Golds, Breeze from the
Gulf, The Shadow Box, Harvey, Never the Sinner), Centerlight (The
Fantasticks), Village Players (Arsenic & Old Lace), Merlin Productions
(Holy Ghosts), Up and Coming (Damn Yankees), Thirsty Theatre
(Ancestral Voices) and many others.

Keta Roth - (Miss Stephanie Crawford)

Keta is returning to the Village Players stage after 2 years. She was last
scene here as Mrs. Van Daan in The Diary ofAnne Frank. Most
recently she was in the ensemble of A Few Good Men at The Theatre at
the Center in Munster, IN. This March, she will play Feste in Twelfth
Night at Saint Sebastian Players this March. She is thrilled to be a part
of telling this moving and important story with such a dedicated and
talented cast and crew. Thanks to God for all of the many blessings!
Enjoy Life!!!

Fred Schutz - (Judge Taylor / Mr. Cunningham)

Fred is happy to be with the Village Players again. Some stage credits
include Arsenic & Old Lace (Lt. Rooney), Inherit the Wind
(Drummond), The Crucible (Corey), and The Bears (Laka). Film work
includes "Natural Born Killers," "Primal Film," and "Oceans 11." TV
includes "The Untouchables," "What About Joan," and "Early Edition."
Fred is a former Mr. Chicago, Mr. America finalist, and National
Weightlifting Champion.
 

Billy Simmons - (Mr. Gilmer / Boo Radley)

Billy recently moved to Chicago after receiving his BFA from the
Carnegie Mellon School of Drama for Acting in Pittsburgh, PA.
Memorable performances at CMU: Count Almavia in Marriage of
Figaro, Jimmy Fan-ell in Playboy of the Western World, and Hamm in
Endgame. He performed for the Pittsburgh Public Theatre's Young
Company production of The Crucible and Macbeth. He also performed
in A Few Good Men, Frankenstein, and The Sum of Us back in the state
of Georgia.

Betty Scott Smith - (Mrs. Dubose)

Betty has had a dream for years of being an actress. Since June, 2001,
she's been soaring into that dream: Without Subtitles; Arsenic and Old
Lace (with Village Players - she's excited to be back!); The Shadow
Box; Harvey; Ancestral Voices; just completed 6 months understudying
Sister Clarissa for Over The Tavern at Mercury Theatre. She also
performed in Rogers Park Christmas Holiday Cabaret (another secret
dream). She is thoroughly enjoying all the wonderful people she is
meeting on this new path. A special thank you to her
agent - Carl.

Mike Smith - (Heck Tate)

Mike is a graduate of Ohio State University where he received degrees
in Psychology and English with a focus on fiction writing. He begins
an MFA program at Columbia this spring for play writing and fiction.
Mike spent this past summer in Steamboat Springs, CO, as a play
writing teacher at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School. He's
excited to be making his Chicago debut with the Village Players and to
be a part of such a remarkable and socially important play. He sends
thanks to his family, friends, and especially Ashley, who has provided
constant love, support, and inspiration.

Josh Uchitelle-Pierce - Charles Baker Harris (Dill)

Josh is excited to be back on stage once again at Village Players
Theatre. His prior acting experiences at Village Players range from Sky
Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Jr., to Card Person #2 in Alice in
Wonderland. Josh is a seventh grader at Percy Julian Middle School in
Oak Park. In addition to acting, Josh enjoys other arts such as playing
music, martial arts, drawing, and writing. He thanks his parents and his
brother Ben for being so supportive and for all the rides!

Director                                      NathanielSwift
Stage Manager                          Nicole Geissal
Assistant Stage Manager           Elizabeth Macik
Set Designer                              Susie Mcllwain
Technical Director                      Susie Mcllwain
Costume Designer                     Heather Crosby
Lighting Designer                       Chris Corwin
Sound Designer                         Mike Moody
Props Master / Designer            Nicole Giessal
Board Operator                          Susie Mcllwain
Board Operator                          Nicole Geissal
Props Gathering Assistance       Sandy Richko
Master Carpenter                       Susie Mcllwain
Scene Painter & Builder             Susie Mcllwain
Carpenters/Builders                   Nicole Geissal, Heidi &
                                                   Mike Drennan, Larry CaranI,
                                                   Brent Bridgman, John Bell

Nathaniel Swift - (Director)

Nathaniel graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor's
Degree in Theatre; studying acting, designing, and directing. He has
worked with many theatre companies in Chicago, and has been a
ensemble member of Eclipse Theatre Company since 1999. Last fall,
Nathaniel directed 2 by Romulus Linney, for which he was awarded the
Joseph Jefferson Citation for Outstanding Achievement in Direction.
To Kill a Mockingbird is his first production with the Village Players.
Special thanks to Cassandra, Kismet, and to Carne.

Nicole Geissal - (Stage Manager, Props, Builder, Board Operator)

Nicole is very excited to be working with the Village Players Theatre.
A transplant from El Paso, Texas, she has been working in various
capacities of theatre for 14 years. Nicole is our Resident Stage Manager
and a Resident Alternate Actor. This is her second show with VPT and
she looks forward to more shows here, on and off stage. Elsewhere she
has Stage Managed and Acted in over 25 shows and has directed two.
Nicole is a happy newlywed and she looks forward to spending more
time with the love of her life once "Mockingbird" closes. Many thanks
to Diane and Nat for giving her a home and to the wonderful cast for
treating her like the master she is. Special thanks to Michael for being
my light, my support and my life.

Susie Mcllwain - (Set Designer, Tech Director & Board Operator)

Susie has spent the last several years as a Scenic Artist and Set
Designer at both Theatre for Young America and Ozark Actor's
Theatre in her hometown of Rolla, Missouri. Susie also gets her hands
dirty with set construction, run crews, stage managing, free lancing at
scenic shops, graphic design and photography. Susie is Village Players
Resident Set Designer and most recently designed The Cherry Orchard
prior this production. She thanks everyone for their constant gratitude
and encouragement. Here's to a great season!

Mike Moody - (Sound Designer)

Mike is working on his fourth show with the Village Players. He
graduated from the University of Chicago in 1997 and has worked from
Wall Street to Capital Hill, and is now working on adding Broadway to
that list. To Kill a Mockingbird is his first sound design credit, and he
would like to thank everyone who has helped him with this and Nat
Swift for giving him the opportunity.

Elizabeth Macik - (Assistant Stage Manager)

Elizabeth is a 2002-2003 Resident Actor and has helped out a great deal
offstage as well. Most recently she stage managed "Believing on
Christmas" and assistant stage managed "Crimes of the Heart."

Resident Crew and Design Team:

Brian Archer - Technical Director & Lighting Designer
John Bell - Assistant Technical Director & Master Carpenter
Brent Bridgman - Crew Member
Diane Fisher Post - Sound Designer & Managing / Artistic Director
Nicole Geissal - Stage Manager
Susie Mcllwain - Scenic Designer & Builder
Suzanne Mann - Costume Designer
Parrish Morgan - Assistant Director
Sandy Richko - Crew Member

Resident Acting Team:

Naomi Buck
Larry Carani
Heidi Drennan
Diane Fisher Post
Carrie Hunter
Greg Lacey
Elizabeth Macik
Joseph McCauley
Phillip McFarlane
Carl Occhipinti
Lisa Pearson
Jackie Sidle
Alternate Actors:
Nicole Dumond
CeCe Klinger
Keta Roth
Vivian Tedford

Resident Workshop Leaders:
Jim Jarvis
Diane Fisher Post
 

Oak Park Journal photo
 

The minister and children listen to the testimony
and cross examinations.
Oak Park Journal photo

The Trial is a lesson for one and all and what is learned is 
something else.
Oak Park Journal photo

 

The End of a wonderful production.
Oak Park Journal photo

Special Group discounts are available. 

Call 1-708-222-0369 for ticket reservations 
and 708-524-1892 for group and/or more information.

Village Players Theatre is a non-equity professional 
theater located in Oak Park, IL at 1010 W. Madison St – 
North of 290 and East of Harlem Ave.

This is the Village Players 41st Season of quality 
entertainment.

www.village-players.org