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Matt Whalen / Tuesday, July 9, 1985 / Categories: Past Shows

The Fantasticks

Event date: 7/5/1985 7:00 PM - 7/14/1985 10:00 PM Export event

The Cast

The Narrator (El Gallo)...Michael Kontos
The Girl (Luisa)...Shari Martin
The Boy (Matt)....Joe Garbe
The Boy's Father (Hucklebee)....Glen Graber
The Girl's Father (Bellomy)....Frank Church
The Actor (Henry)...David Skvarla
The Man Who Dies (Mortimer)...Pete Graziano
The Mute...Miki Whittles

Production Staff
Director...Jack Phend
Music Director...Ted Waltmire
Choreographer..Meg Griffith
Production Manager...Larry Dick
Costume Designer...Sue Hotz
Lighting Designer....Ralph T. Lorenz
Scenic Designer...Frank Church

 About the Directors

JACK PHEND has been actively involved in directing and designing college and community theatre productions in Illinois and Virginia for the last twelve years. For the past seven years he has been a member of the Speech Communications/Theatre Department at North Central College and is currently serving as Chairman. He and his wife Julie are both active members of The Summer Place Board of Directors, and they live in Naperville with their two children.

Audiences at The Summer Place will probably never forget TED WALTMIRE of Woodridge for his memorable portrayals of Harry the Horse in *Guys and Dolls* or his roles in *God’s Favorite* and *The Good Doctor*. Recently his original choral odes for *Antigone* were performed in the Ad Hoc theatre production. Currently Ted is waiting for his song “Waiting for You Made Me Sleep in the Kitchen Last Night So Now I Want Breakfast in Bed” to hit the charts.

*The Fantasticks* represents the first Summer Place production choreographed by MEG GRIFFITH. Naperville audiences, though, are not unfamiliar with her talents. She choreographed the 1985 North Central College production of *Camelot* and the Riverwalk Players’ 1982 production of *Godspell*. Meg is a dance instructor at the Rosemary Beyer School of Dance. Meg’s mother Marjorie was a member of the cast of the first play presented at The Summer Place.

LARRY DICK may not be a totally familiar face to Summer Place audiences, but many of the productions in the past few years could not have been accomplished without his organizational talents. Larry has assisted directors for Summer Place productions as well as those of the Theatre of Western Springs and Waubonsee Community College. Larry lives in Aurora and is employed by BRK Electronics.

About the Performers

MICHAEL H. KONTOS, JR., a recent North Central graduate, is appearing in his first Summer Place production. At North Central he appeared as Tevye in *Fiddler on the Roof*, Mercutio in *Romeo and Juliet* and Buffalo Bill in *Annie Get Your Gun* among many others. For the past four years he has directed productions at Marmion Military Academy in Aurora. In September Mike will be leaving for Boston where he will be studying to become a Greek Orthodox priest.

SHARI MARTIN is an active community theatre actor. Since 1983 she has performed the roles of Gypsy in *Gypsy* at the Performing Arts Theatre Co., Grace Farrel in *Annie* with Ad Hoc theatre, and Maisie in The Summer Place production of *The Boyfriend*. In direct contrast to the collection of floozies and ingénues portrayed by this versatile performer is her appearance with Wheaton Drama Club as a kangaroo in *Winnie-the-Pooh*. Shari lives in Downers Grove and works at the Sears Tower in Chicago to support her theatre habit.

JOE GARBE has recently returned to Lisle from the Decatur area where he performed with Theatre 7 and Millikin University. For his efforts as a first grade teacher from 1981-1985 he was recently named “Outstanding Young Educator-1985.” For two seasons Joe was a featured soloist and dancer at Marriott’s Great America. Naperville audiences will also be able to hear the Decatur Park Singers at the Naperville Band Shell this summer. For two years Joe was the featured soloist with this group.

GLEN GRABER of St. Charles is an avid musical aficionado. He has performed in thirty Chicagoland musicals with seventeen community theatre groups. He has been Henry Higgins and Don Quixote as well as performing in *A Little Night Music*, *Cole*, and *Cabaret*. Glen was Jimmie McCandless in “Adventures in Dairyland” on the Mickey Mouse Club on ABC TV. In 1949 Glen was in a national tour of *High Button Shoes* in fifteen cities.

FRANK CHURCH (Batavia) has the unique opportunity this summer of performing on the set of a show he designed for The Summer Place. His designs were also used for Ad Hoc’s production of *Annie* in December. In Summer Place productions Frank has been seen in *Guys and Dolls*, *Kiss Me Kate*, *Showboat*, and *Fashion*. Recently retired from teaching at Geneva High School, Frank continues to serve as technical director and set designer for the high school productions.

DAVID SKVARLA has appeared in Naperville North High School’s productions of *Oliver* as Fagin and *Fiddler on the Roof* as Perchick. With Riverwalk Players David was a member of the casts of *You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown*. David will be seen later this season as Prince Dauntless in *Once Upon a Mattress*.

PETE GRAZIANO has come a long way since his role as Bomber in The Summer Place production of *Picnic*. He is a student at Iowa State University majoring in Computer Engineering and minoring in Piano. When he was at Naperville North High School he was President of the Concert Choir and appeared in North’s productions of *Oliver*, *Fiddler on the Roof* and *Guys and Dolls*.

MIKI WHITTLES will be a senior at Naperville Central High School in the fall. She has been a chorus member and dancer in many of the shows presented at Naperville Central. In addition to performing at her high school she performed in Ad Hoc Theatre productions of *Godspell* and *Many Moons*.

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