Summer Place Announces Directors for 2023 Season!
Our Seasoned, Talented Staff is Growing!
Summer Place Theatre, Naperville’s Community Theatre since 1966 is excited to announce Directors for the 2023 Season! Our 2023 Season will include The Pajama Game (opening June 16th) directed by Barry R. Norton as well as “Newsies: The Broadway Musical” (opening July 21st) Directed by Mike Frale.
Barry R. Norton, Directing “The Pajama Game” for Summer Place
Barry is a teacher who recently retired from CPS after 34 years of service. Barry is excited to be joining the artistic team for Summer Place Theatre and to be directing this classic musical The Pajama Game!! Barry holds a B.A. from Columbia College and an M.A. from Concordia University. At Columbia, he studied under the late Sheldon Patinkin and the Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble.
With over 35 years of experience, he has held positions as Artistic Director at The Woodstock Opera House. He has earned a Heart Award for his work on "Always Patsy Cline" and the WMTC Encore Award for 2014/15 for "Oliver," plus was nominated for the Broadway World Award for best direction. His directing credits include both professional and Community Theatre work.
Some of his work includes "Mamma Mia", "Nunsense", "Joseph...Dreamcoat", "Oliver"," Annie", "Crazy for You", and Always Patsy Cline" for WMTC. "Hairspray" and "Fame" for BrightSide in Naperville. "Seussical", "he King and I", for Footlighters Theatre in Des Plaines. "Hello, Dolly!" for RCLCP in Crystal Lake. Other directing jobs include "Bye Bye Birdie", "The Wiz", "The Music Man", and "Annie Get Your Gun". When not around the stage directing, set designing, painting, or performing he can be found spending time with friends, family, and his dog Mia.
Welcoming aboard, Barry!
Mike Frale, Directing "Newsies" for Summer Place
Mike is thrilled to be making his Summer Place Theatre debut directing "Newsies" and we're very pleased to be working with him.
Mike is a graduate of Lewis University with a B.A. in Theatre and is currently working towards his Master's in Organizational Leadership. Select directing credits include the Lou Award Recommended, 12-time BroadwayWorld Award-nominated production of "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" (Theatre 121), "The Guys", "A Night in the Theatre" and "Constellations" (all with Heritage Theatre Company) and "Deathtrap" (Theatre 121).
He has also served as the Production Manager for Schaumburg Summer Theatre, where he has assistant directed multiple shows including this summer's "The SpongeBob Musical". Some acting credits include Ted in "Peter and the Starcatcher" and Peter in "Company" (both with Wheaton Drama), Bobby Strong in "Urinetown" (Philip Lynch Theatre), and Paul/General Howell in "Kiss Me, Kate" (ECC).
Mike is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and also serves as the Board Secretary for the Lou Awards.
He can't wait to get started carrying the banner on this incredible production!
Neither can we, Mike!
Season and individual tickets are currently on sale!
https://summerplacetheatre.org/Tickets
For more information, contact us at 630-355-7969 or email info@summerplacetheatre.org
To learn more about each of the shows, read this article.
THE PAJAMA GAME and NEWSIES are presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com