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Oak Park Festival Theatre

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Oak Park Festival Theatre is a professional theatre company in Oak Park, Illinois, under contract with Actors' Equity Association. The company was founded in 1975 by Marion Kaczmar, an Oak Park resident and arts patron, and performed Renaissance works, almost exclusively by William Shakespeare, until 2004, when it broadened its scope to classics of other eras. Its outdoor venue has been Austin Gardens, a wooded park near downtown Oak Park within walking distance from restaurants, Frank Lloyd Wright landmarks, and Metra and CTA trains. To attract a greater following, Renaissance, classical, and modern American works were added to the offerings, some being produced indoors in historic Farson-Mills Home and, in the 2010-11 season, in the studio space in the Madison Street Theatre.

Audience members in Austin Gardens often picnic before performances. Occasionally, special performances by the Oak Park Recorder Society or other pre-show events are presented. Special Family Day performances and child-centered special crafts, games, and activities are held at least twice a summer to encourage families to introduce their children to Shakespeare.

History

Oak Park Festival Theatre was begun in 1975 by Marion Kaczmar, an Oak Park resident.[1] Its first production was A Midsummer Night's Dream with a cast that included David Mamet and William H. Macy. Its artistic directors have included Patrick O'Gara, Tom Mula, David Darlow, Dale Calandra, and Jack Hickey.

The 1980's were heady years for the theater. With numerous Actors' Equity contracts attracting Chicago professional actors and the presence of talented non-Equity actors, audiences numbering in the 300's and 400's came to see Shakespeare under the stars.

Oak Park had a Shakespeare theatre previous to OPFT. In the 1960's producers Josephine Forsberg, Ed Udovic, and actor-director Lee Henry created Village Classics Theatre and produced Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard III, and other productions outdoors on the hill of Field Playground under the auspices of the Recreation Department of the Village of Oak Park. Actors who performed included national Equity performers Val Bettin, Robert Kidd, Tom Elrod (1924-2002), and Angel Casey as well as Oak Park residents Clifford Osborne, Les Golden, and Nick Cotsonas. The hill was, at that time, crowned on all sides with numerous large bushes and small trees, providing a natural set for battle scenes and forest liaisons. The professionality of the productions brought, among others, esteemed Chicago Tribune drama critic Richard Christiansen, a native Oak Parker, to the theatre.

Financial Solvency

The 1990s were difficult years for OPFT because of unprofessional management both artistic and managerial. During this time the number of Chicago area theaters quadrupled and other theaters, inspired by Festival Theatre's success, also began to produce Shakespeare on a regular basis. The resulting decrease in attendance compounded by the elimination of arts funding from the Village of Oak Park[2] necessitated a decrease in the number of Actors' Equity contracts that could be offered.

In 2002 Joyce Porter,[3] an actress, director, Professor of Theatre at Moraine Valley Community College, and member of the Board of Directors since 1989, averted a vote by the board to cease production and was, shortly after, elected President of the Board. The change of leadership was greeted enthusiastically, with suggestions in the local press for additional strategies.[4]

Porter envisioned broadening the focus of the theater to performing classics of all eras year-round indoors as well as outdoors. The new artistic director, Jack Hickey, who had been appointed by the previous board president, worked with Porter to effect this expansion in phases. They attracted new board members and began financial reforms that led to solvency within a few years. Additional innovations under Porter’s leadership included educational programs, including a college intern program, the creation of a touring show, later revised and directed by Kevin Theis, and a summer workshop for teens. The theater, in a very real sense, owes its continued existence to the dedication of Porter and Hickey.

In 2010, Kevin Theis and Belinda Bremner were elected co-presidents of the board and began the expanded four-production season with stable theatre finances.

Productions

For most of its history, OPFT produced almost exclusively works by William Shakespeare. These included multiple productions of Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer's Night Dream, The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, and Romeo and Juliet, as well as Julius Caesar, A Comedy of Errors, Hamlet, Macbeth, Loves Labour Lost, and others. It also presented notable original adaptations of classics, including Falstaff by Tom Mula, and Don Quixote by Dale Calandra. In 2011 it presented the History of King Henry IV (Henry IV pts. 1 and 2) by Stanton Davis. Featured Actors' Equity actors have included Chicago actors David Mamet, David Darlow,[5] Kristine Thatcher, Kevin Theis, Don Brearley, William J. Norris, Greg Vinkler,[6] Aaron Christiansen, Ned Mochel, Ray Andrecheck, Lanny Lutz, George Wilson, Kevin Gudahl, Mary Michell, Barbara Zahora, Henry Godinez, Steve Pickering, Kathey Logelin, Linda Kimborough, and others, as well as professional non-Equity actors such as Dennis Grimes, David Skvarla, Mark Richard, Michael W. Halberstam, Robert Petkoff, Les Golden, Maggie Kettering, Anne Gottlieb, and Krista Lally.

Its expanded production schedule has included Faith Healer, Picnic, Tartuffe, All My Sons, Cyrano and other plays considered to be classics of many eras.[7]

Historical Productions

Year Play Author Director Equity Actors
1975 A Midsummer’s Night Dream Wm. Shakespeare Patrick O’Gara William H. Macy, David Mamet
1976 Twelfth Night Wm. Shakespeare Patrick O’Gara --
1977 Romeo and Juliet Wm. Shakespeare Patrick O’Gara --
1978 Othello Wm. Shakespeare Patrick O’Gara --
1979 Taming of the Shrew Wm. Shakespeare Patrick O’Gara --
1980 As You Like It Wm. Shakespeare Patrick O’Gara --
1981 A Midsummer’s Night Dream Wm. Shakespeare Patrick O’Gara --
1981 Faustus Patrick O’Gara --
1981 The Twins Wm. Shakespeare Patrick O’Gara --
1982 Hamlet Wm. Shakespeare -- --
1983 Twelfth Night Wm. Shakespeare -- --
1984 The Tempest Wm. Shakespeare -- --
1985 Julius Caesar Wm. Shakespeare -- --
1986 A Comedy of Errors Wm. Shakespeare -- --
1987 Taming of the Shrew Wm. Shakespeare David Darlow David Darlow
Kristin Thatcher
George Wilson
Greg Vinkler
Don Brearley
Ray Andrecheck
William J. Norris
1988 The Merchant of Venice Wm. Shakespeare David Darlow David Darlow
1989 As You Like It Wm. Shakespeare Tom Mula --
1990 Falstaff Wm. Shakespeare
Adapted by Tom Mula from Henry IV parts I & II
Tom Mula? --
1991 Richard III Wm. Shakespeare -- --
1992 Dr. Faustus Christopher Marlowebr/>Adapted by Tom Mula Tom Mula? --
1993 Romeo and Juliet Wm. Shakespeare -- --
1994 A Midsummer’s Night Dream Wm. Shakespeare Tom Mula? --
1995 The Tempest Wm. Shakespeare Tom Mula --
1996 Hamlet Wm. Shakespeare -- --
1997 Much Ado About Nothing Wm. Shakespeare Dale Calandra? --
1998 The Adventures of Don Quixote Miguel de Cervantes
Adapted by Dale Calandra
Dale Calandra --
1999 Macbeth Wm. Shakespeare Henry Godinez --
2000 Twelfth Night Wm. Shakespeare Dale Calandra --
2001 Taming of the Shrew Wm. Shakespeare Dale Calandra Ned Mochel
Susan Hart
Tony Dobrolowski
Wendy Weber
2002 A Midsummer’s Night Dream Wm. Shakespeare Dale Calandra --
2003 As You Like It Wm. Shakespeare Jack Hickey --
2004 Romeo and Juliet Wm. Shakespeare Virginia Smith --
2005 A Comedy of Errors Wm. Shakespeare Jack Hickey --
2005 All My Sons Arthur Miller David Mink --
2006 Tartuffe Moliere David Mink Lanny Lutz
2006 Julius Caesar Wm. Shakespeare David Mink --
2006 Picnic William Inge Kevin Theis Jack Hickey
2007 Murder by the Book Duncan Greenwood and Robert King Jack Hickey --
2007 Talley’s Folly Lanford Wilson Michael Weber --
2007 Robin Hood Scott Lynch-Giddings Kevin Theis --
2008 Blithe Spirit Noel Coward David Mink --
2008 Much Ado About Nothing Wm. Shakespeare Kevin Theis --
2008 Dancing at Lughnasa Brian Friel Belinda --
2009 Arms and the Man Bernard Shaw Kevin Fox --
2009 5th of July Lanford Wilson Michael Weber --
2009 Cyrano de Bergerac Edmond Rostand Kevin Theis --
2010 Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck Belinda Bremner --
2010 Love’s Labour’s Lost Wm. Shakespeare Jack Hickey --
2010 Betrayal Harold Pinter Kevin Fox --
2011 Faith Healer Brian Friel Belinda Bremner --
2011 The History of King Henry the Fourth Wm. Shakespeare
Adapted by Stanton Davis
Stanton Davis --
2011 Henry V Wm. Shakespeare Kevin Theis --
2012 Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams Kevin Theis
2012 Beyond the Fringe Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Jonathan Miller, Dudley Moore David Mink
2012 Inherit the Wind Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Steve Pickering
2012 Richard III Wm. Shakespeare Belinda Bremner
2012 Someone Who'll Watch Over Me Frank McGuinness Belinda Bremner
2013 Seascape Edward Albee Stephanie Shaw
2013 Amadeus Peter Shaffer Mark Richard
2013 Twelfth Night Wm. Shakespeare Lavina Jadhwani
2014 Hamlet Wm. Shakespeare Lavina Jadhwani
2014 The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde Kevin Theis
2015 To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee (adapted by Christoher Sergel) Vaun Monroe
2015 Two Gentlemen of Verona Wm. Shakespeare Lavina Jadhwani
2016 Pygmalion G.B. Shaw Jason Gerace
2016 The Taming of the Shrew Wm Shakespeare Adrianne Cury

References

  1. New Theatre in Town, Oak Park World, March 15, 1975
  2. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-111233DC4EBFD160.html
  3. http://www.imdb.me/joyceporter
  4. http://www.geocities.ws/goldenforstaterepresentative/theater/index.html
  5. www.flixster.com/actor/david-darlow
  6. www.peninsulaplayers.com/players/GregVinkler.html
  7. www.oakparkfestival.com/

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