PARADE, the Tony-Award winning musical now playing at the Mercury Theater in Chicago. June 6 through July 18, 2004
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Oak Park Festival Theater 30th season presentation of Shakespeare's
Set
in a more modern
time, and in a region of Texas, this production has with it the talent
and wit
of the well known bard's pen, but with a feel here and there of
southern
speak.  © Oak Park Journal photo  © Oak Park Journal photo
Above
us all, as the
play grows in intensity to a reduced shrill
The
portrayals of the parts are so well done that this Cast Royalty and
Staff Capulets Montegues Religious Setting:
The
rural South during the Depression. There of professional actors and stage managers. OAK
PARK
FESTIVAL THEATRE JACK
HICKEY* ROXANNE
FAY
Artistic Director Production stage manager Presents Directed by VIRGINIA SMITH* Set Design by PETER
W1NDINGSTAD Light Design by DOUG SMITH Costume design by HOLLY
WNDINGSTAD
Festival
Theatre Is a not-for-profit organization.
This program Is supported, in part, by the Illinois Arts Council, the
Oak Park
Area Arts Council, and the Park District of Oak Park and is operated in
agreement with Actors’ Equity Association Artistic
Director’s Notes It
comes as a great delight
and surprise to me to be at the helm of this wonderful company, here in
celebration of our 30th season. Surprise, because when I took the stage
as
Bottom” in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DEAM in 2002, I had no idea that I would
become
Artistic Director that following fall. Delight, because there was a
time when
it looked like there might not be a 29th season and here we are
marking this wonderful achievement of 30 years to professional theatre.
An
amazing benchmark for any theatre. I
am also delighted to introduce our audience to Virginia
Smith. Oak Park residents may remember that she directed CRIME OF THE
HEART for
Village Players a couple of years ago. Virginia and I have collaborated
on many
shows and we are proud of the wonderful team of artists we have been
able to
bring together for this show. Since
I
am acting in this year’s production, I can’t think of anyone I would
rather
have directing this company’s 30th anniversary production. We
have taken great strides in the last two years. We have reduced our
outstanding
debt to about 30%, we are offering additional entertainment this summer
with
Megan Wells’ one-woman storytelling of HELEN’S TROY, and we are looking
to
present two shows next summer. Please stay tuned for that one. We have
begun
the task of purchasing our own light system after 29 years of
renting—even with
the generous support of patrons like yourselves, this will take a few
years to
fully accomplish. We are planning this fall to tour a one-hour version
of ROMEO
AND JULIET in area schools and community centers. We have expanded our
Board of
Directors and they have worked tirelessly, especially our president,
Joyce
Porter, to make sure this year will be even better than last year. We
have
increased our membership over the past two years—thank you to all our
members.
We produced a touring show this spring—a cut version of OTHELLO—adapted
and directed
by Roxanne Fay. Roxanne has been a part of Festival Theatre for the
last five
years, and when ROMEO AND JULIET closes, she will be leaving for
Hawaii. She
has been a valuable member of our company. We will miss her and we wish
her
good luck. We
have
accomplished much, but we still have a long way to go. With the help
and
support of you, our audience, we will continue to grow and prosper and
bring
you some of the best theatre in the Chicago area. Jack Hickey Artistic
Director
I
am always amazed at how timely this play is. What a
privilege to work on it this summer as youth all over the world
continue
to fight the
wars of their elders. In Iraq, our American forces are attempting,
like Prince Escalus,
to dampen the violence, only causing it to flare more out of control.
But through these two teenagers,
like our own sons and daughters, we are reminded of our capacity to
love. As
their hope is crushed, by the inevitability of the old ways they show
us again
that cycles of hatred can be broken through acceptance of guilt, shame
and
forgiveness. If we could all stand in the dawn together, as do the
Montagues
and Capulets, weeping for the pain, torture, and death taking place
this
summer, and vowing to bring it to an end, as they do, perhaps we could
again
begin to hope that we are more than just the cruelest of animals. It’s
wonderful to be a part this 30th anniversary
production for Oak Park Festival Theatre and join the tradition of so
many fine
Chicago artists! It’s a great heritage, that has had it’s ups and down
over the
years, but in my opinion certainly deserves to have another 30 years at
least.
After tonight’s performance, if you feel, as I do, that this theatre
deserves
to thrive as one of the jewels in Oak Park’s rich treasures please:
write a check to help sponsor this or future productions
ask to be put on the mailing list as a patron or volunteer • come
back to see the show again and bring your friends! •
use the most
powerful tool of all... .word of mouth to
spread the word about this timely story being told all summer in Austin Gardens! Virginia Smith
Family Day matinees at 4: July 4 & Aug 8, childrenwww.oakparkfestival.com |
