Announcing Our Starting Lineup!
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Don Gingold
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Announcing Our Starting Lineup!

It's the Cub's Home Opener! A great day to announce our directors!

In the spirit of our opening show, Bleacher Bums, we're announcing this year's directors  like the Cub's would announce their starting lineup. Happy Home Opener! Yes, it's a day late but worth it so we don't have to play in snow!

So here is the starting lineup of the Summer Place, YOUR Community Theatre!

Batting first, playing Bleacher Bums director, a big cubs fan, Craig Fisher!

Directing Bleacher Bums is Craig Fisher, a Cubs fan (just look at the tattoo!), new to Summer Place but not to performing and performance organizations. Craig has a long history with Theatre of the Highlands in LaGrange and North Riverside Players, and has directed big productions like Wizard of Oz and Bye Bye Birdie. He also understands theatre organizations as well, as Chairman of the Board of the Tower Chorale, and 80-voice choir in Western Springs.

This first show of the season opens June 8 and runs 2 weekends. Bleacher Bums is a comedy conceived by Chicagoan and TV star Joe Mantegna and developed by members of the Organic Theatre Company in the late 1970s. It’s a nostalgic look back at a group of fans of the World Champion Chicago Cubs when they were best known as the “lovable losers.” As the beer starts to flow and the summer heat takes its toll, the fans begin to grumble, argue, and make bets on the game in progress.

Auditions for Bleacher Bums are held on two dates: Thursday, April 19 from 7pm to 10pm and Saturday, April 21, from 2pm to 4pm.  Arrive no later than a half-hour before close to be seen and bring a list of past performance experience as well as a list of any other activities that might conflict with weekday evening or Sunday afternoon rehearsals over the next eight weeks. No prior experience is required to audition.

 

Batting Second, as director for Sugar, the Some Like it Hot musical, from Bensenville, Vicki Jablonski

Vicki Jablonski is no stranger to the Summer Place stage, having performed in shows like Camelot, Oklahoma, and 9 to 5. She graduated from University of Dayton and has worked in the costume department at the American Shakespeare Center in Virginia.

The great Billy Wilder comedy of 1959, "Some Like It Hot" - the #1 comedy of the American Film Institutes 100 Laughs list - is transformed into a 1973 Tony-winning musical with book by Peter Stone, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Bob Merrill.  Two men witness the St Valentine’s day massacre and run from the mobsters disguised as members of an all-girl orchestra, with hilarious consequences.

 

Batting third, as Vocal Director for Sugar, long time board member Ted Waltmire

Ted Waltmire is a playwright, comedian, and musician known for his vast knowledge of musical theater trivia and his autobiographical musical The Mighty Ted. Ted sits on the Board of Directors for Summer Place Theatre.

Auditions for “Sugar” will be held Monday, May 14 and Tuesday, May 15 from 7-9:30. Prepare 16 bars of a song in the spirit of the show and plan to read excerpts from the script. Bring with you a theatre resume and a list of conflicts.

 

Batting 4th, a director for Footloose, Madison Smith

Madison Smith is a playwright and director from Nebraska who moved to Chicago and founded the theatre company Death & Pretzels. She has worked with many theatre companies, including Starkid where she directed Women in 2016.

“Every cuts footloose” starting July 27th for two weekends. The musical dramedy dance show is based on the 1984 film of the same name. The music is by Tom Snow, the lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie.

 

Batting 5th, as choreographer, Sam Sieghart

Florida native Samantha Sieghart will choreograph. “Sam” most recently choreographed Disney’s Hunchback of Noter Dame, and we were very impressed with her work. As luck would have it, “Footloose” is on this professional dance teacher’s bucket list of shows, so we’re glad to have her working with us. She is looking forward to incorporating acrobatics and stunts in this dance heavy show.

So many great ’80’s songs came from the show like "Holding out for a hero", "Let's Here it for the Boy", "Almost Paradise" and of course the Kenny Loggins smash "Footloose”, and you get to hear them all as SummerPlace brings Footloose to the Naperville Central HS Auditorium stage.

 

And batting 6th, as both vocal and musical director of footloose and VP of the team, Emma Gingold

Naperville native, now educator and composer Emma Gingold got started in musical theatre with Summer Place, has performed in many shows over the years as well as directed several choirs and a number of previous shows  including The Drowsy Chaperone (Lyons Township high school), Seussical (Morton west high school), and Anything Goes (summer place theater), and is Vice President of our organization.

Auditions for Footloose are Monday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 22 from 7 to 9:30 at the Rubin Center. Prepare 16 bars of a song in the spirit of the show and plan to read excerpts from the script. Bring with you a theatre resume and a list of conflicts. Dress comfortably for a dance audition.

 

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