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Matt Whalen / Friday, July 24, 1992 / Categories: Past Shows

Big River

Event date: 7/24/1992 8:00 PM - 8/2/1992 4:30 PM Export event

The Cast
Mark Twain...Larry Lipskie
Huckleberry Finn...Eric Friedman
Widow Douglas...Teri Irzyk
Miss Watson...Betty North
Jim...Carl Penson
Judge Thatcher...Al Hevey
Pap Finn...Richard Hawks
Tom Sawyer...Daniel Forsythe
Ben Rodgers...Matt Jensen
Jo Harper...Mary Claire Morr
Simon...Dann Morr
Dick....Matthew Vesic
Strange Woman...Lynne Nadel
"Crossing" Soloist...Ruthia Massie
Skiff Man #1....Larry Lipskie
Skiff Man #2....Dann Morr
The King...Al Hevey
The Duke...Jim Barnes
Hank...Larry Lipskie
Lafe...George Marino
Andy...Mark Fay
A Young Fool...Mark Steinbacher
Mary Jane Wilkes...Susan Place
Susan WIlkes...Kelli Harrington
Joanna Wilkes...Heather Stith
Counselor Robinson...George Marino
ALice..Ruthia Massie
ALice's Daugther Betsy...Bertila Clark
Sheriff Bell...George Marino
Harvey Wilkes...Mark Fay
Sally Phelps...Shannon Juzwiak
Silas Phelps....Mark Steinbacher
Doctor...Larry Lipskie

Production Staff
Director...Roger Place
Director...Kim C. Beck
Assistant Director...Jennifer Place
Vocal Director...Carmen Orland
Orchestra Conductor...Rob ORland
Choreographer..Barbara Yokum
Choreographer...Lori Roberts
Scenic Designer....Ken Frykholm
Properties...Jennifer Place
Properties...Susan Patton
Costume Designer...Julane Sullivan
Lighting Design..Cindi Manning
Sound Design...Ken Frykholm

 

Biographies

Jim Barnes (The Duke) You should remember Jim from the Summer Place's production of "My Fair Lady" last year as he played Col. Pickering. He has also performed in the Summer Place's production of "Fiddler On The Roof" and also played Morocha. He must like "My Fair Lady" very much because he played Alfie Doolittle with St. Charles' NCA Theatre Co. Jim also directed "The Apple Tree" with the Geneva Park District Infinity. Previously, Jim toured the U.S. with the Robin Hood Players, a professional Children's theatre troop.

Daniel Forsythe (Tom Sawyer) Dan is happy to perform with the Summer Place for the first time and hopes to work with this company again. Recently he has played Eugene in "Brighton Beach Memoirs", Tevye in "Fiddler On The Roof" and the Prince in "Cinderella". Dan would like to thank his good friend Rich Kostner for his support and his family, especially his mother, for all the dinners she cooked with no one to eat them.

Erik Friedman (Huckleberry Finn) Erik is a junior at Oswego High School and is thrilled to be playing this part at the Summer Place. His other theatrical experience includes Prince Chululongkhorn in "The King And I", Rev. David Marshall Lee in "The Foreigner" and most recently Captain Hook in "Peter Pan". Erik plays the violin, trumpet, piano and enjoys singing. He would like to thank his family for their love and support.

Kelli Harrington (Susan Wilkes) Kelli will be a senior at Benet Academy in Lisle this fall. She has taken voice lessons for 2 years and has been with the Actor's Center of DuPage Youth Ensemble during her sophomore year. Kelli has also performed in "Hallelujah Hopscotch" and "Queen Margaret" with the Actor's Center. She was also in a production of "The Sound of Music" last Christmas. After graduating, Kelli wants to attend Northwestern University and study music.

Richard Hawks (Pap Finn) Dick is spending his whole summer with us this year, having just finished our production of "Rumors" as Lenny. He met Roger Place and "Doc" Shanower 30 years ago at Summer Stock with The Boulder Hill Playhouse. A very talented actor, Dick has had roles supporting such talent as Paulette Goddard, Ceasar Romero, Martha Raye, Forrest Tucker, Hugh O'Brien and others. Some of his roles at the Summer Place have been in "Inherit The Wind", "Boeing, Boeing" and "Same Time Next Year". Dick has been married to Director Arlene and has a 17 year old son, Vic. He has worked for Hamilton Investment for 20 years. Dick is happy to be playing another nice, witty yuppie.

Al Hevey (The King & Judge Thatcher) Al was last seen on the Summer Place stage in "Born Yesterday" and has since appeared in the Naperville Park District's productions of "Our Town" and "The Fantasticks" as well as First Night's production of "How To Succeed In Business, Without Really Trying". A retiree, Al's interests (in addition to community theatre) include golf, traveling and just plain enjoying himself.

Teri Irzyk (Widow Douglas) This is Teri's first show with the Summer Place and we're glad to have her. Her last performance was in "Tom Sawyer" with Dallas Children's Theatre. She has spent many years with St. Norbert's Summer Theatre in DePere, Wisconsin. Teri has also played Rose in "Gypsy" and is the mother of Bryan and Abby.

Ruthia Massie (Alice & The "Crossing Soloist") While Ruthia was attending Southern Illinois University-Carbondale she performed in "Treemonisha". She has performed at the Arie Crown Theatre in Chicago with such Gospel Greats as Tremaine Hawkin, Alberta Walker and Johnnie Brown (Bookman from the TV series "Good Times"). Most recently Ruthia has appeared in Aurora Theatre Ensemble production of "Spell #7". Other stage credits include "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf", "A Raisin In The Sun", "God's Trombone", "Escape From Bondage", "In White America", "Am I Dreaming", "The Amen Corner" and "To Be Young Gifted and Black". Ruthia works for the Department of Correction at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles, in the Academic Department where she has been employed for 18 years. Ruthia is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and thanks God for the talents he has given her.

Betty North (Miss Watson) Betty works in many phases of entertainment. She is currently featured in training films for Sears and audio training tapes for Equitable Life. At the Museum of Broadcasting Communication, she is on tape as Molly in their recreation of "Fibber McGee and Molly", and on television, she appears in the series "Health Care Organization" on WTTW, Channel 20. Betty works in mock trials and trial advocacy classes as a "witness" and is a participant in murder mystery dinners. Since moving to the western suburbs, she has appeared as Mae in "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" with Riverfront Playhouse in Aurora.

Carl Blake Penson (Jim) Carl began singing at the age of six when he joined the children's choir at Greater Mount Olive Church of God in Christ. As a child, he participated in many choral organizations and ensembles at churches and schools. As an adult Carl was a member of the Greater Mount Olive C.O.G.I.C. Gospel Radio Choir, in this choir he frequently sang lead vocals. In addition, he sang in the statewide gospel choir of the C.O.G.I.C., First Jurisdiction of Central Illinois and the Northwestern District Choir. Carl was a singer in the Living Waters, a group which performed in various places including the Paramount Arts Center in Aurora, the Hemmings Auditorium in Elgin, and the Congress Hotel in Chicago. The Living Waters was a well-known gospel group throughout Illinois and its neighboring states. Carl has performed at many wedding and receptions. He is currently the opening act at The Laugh Factory in Aurora, Illinois.

Susan Place (Mary Jane Wilkes) Susan is happy to be involved with the Summer Place again. Her involvement has ranged from managing concessions to hosing out the dressing rooms, to performing on stage. Susan's acting credits include roles in "Inherit The Wind", "Raggedy Ann & Andy", "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "Pirates of Penzance". She will begin her 3rd year at Northern Illinois University this fall where she is majoring in communication education. During Susan's free time, she enjoys playing the mascot, Victor E. Husky, for the football and basketball games.

Mark Steinbacher (Silas Phelps & Young Fool) Mark was seen most recently as The Man Who Dies in the Naperville Park District's production of "The Fantasticks". He appeared on the Summer Place stage in "Pirates of Penzance". Mark appeared in numerous productions in the St. Louis area including "Damn Yankees", "Da", "Fiddler On The Roof" and "The Man Who Came To Dinner". Mark has lived in Naperville for four years with his wife and two children and, aside from theatre, he spends his spare time playing soccer and generally carousing.

Heather Stith (Joanna Wilkes) Heather is happy about performing in her first Summer Place production. Her acting credits include roles such as Kim in "Bye, Bye Birdie", Rennette in "Little Shop Of Horrors", Tansy in "The Nerd" and Mame in "Mame". Heather will be entering her sophomore year at Indiana University, majoring in flute and voice. She looks forward to working with the Summer Place in the future.

Roger Place (Co-Director) "Big River" is the 10th production Roger has directed at the Summer Place. A regular here since 1973, he has also been on stage in "Last of The Red Hot Lovers", "Thieves' Carnival", "The Odd Couple", "Mary, Mary", "The King And I" and "Kismet". The Place Family (wife Sharon is currently playing Eulalie Shinn in "The Music Man" at Pheasant Run) managed the Summer Place in 1987 and 1988. Roger thanks God, Don Jamison, Doc Shanower and Sharon, Susan and Jennifer for many happy summers in the tent and this pavilion.

Kim C. Beck (Co-Director) Kim is the cultural and fine arts program manager for the Naperville Park District. He received a B.A. in philosophy from St. John's University in Minnesota, and a M.A. in humanities from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During the past eleven years, Kim has been involved in over fifty productions. His directing credits include "Company", "Agnes of God", "Gypsy", "Annie", "South Pacific", "Snoopy", "West Side Story", "A Christmas Carol", "Quilters", "Our Town" and "The Fantasticks". Kim is a member of The Summer Place Theatre Board of Directors.

Jennifer L. Place (Assistant Director) Jennifer is a 1991 graduate of Northern Illinois University and is pleased to be assistant director with her dad. The Summer Place is and has always been a family operation for the Places. Jennifer was the box office manager for the 1987 and 1988 seasons. On stage you may have seen her in the Ad Hoc productions of "Oliver" and "Antigone" or on the Summer Place stage in "Inherit The Wind", "Kismet" and "Brighton Beach Memoirs" as Nora. Jennifer would also like to thank her fiance, Mark, for being so understanding.

Carmen Orland (Vocal Director) This is Carmen's directorial debut at Summer Place. She has also had the pleasure of directing the music for Ad Hoc's review of "A Christmas Medley". Carmen's acting experience starts back in high school where she performed her first role as Rosie in "Bye, Bye, Birdie", Liat in "South Pacific" and Antonia in "Man of LaMancha". Carmen is presently working with a nine piece wedding band and having blast. She would like to

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