Orangeville, Hanover, Stockton groups join forces
ORANGEVILLE - The newly formed Northern Illinois Theater Coalition will present a 2011 holiday show called "The True Meaning of Christmas" Friday, Nov. 25; Saturday, Nov. 26; Sunday, Nov. 27; Thursday, Dec. 1; Friday, Dec. 2; Saturday, Dec. 3; and Sunday, Dec. 4.
The new coalition consists of The Mighty Richland Dinner/Dessert Theater of Orangeville, Back Street Players of Hanover and The Plum River Playhouse of Stockton.
The show is comprised of two one-act Christmas plays, interspersed with well-known secular and sacred Christmas songs.
The first act is "A Stranger for Christmas," based on a short story by Carol Lynn Pearson. Having no family, the elderly Florence (Patsy Geiger) shares her secret wish with her friend and fellow rest home resident, Myrna (Kathy Fossett). Florence would like to enjoy an old-fashioned family Christmas. But who would take in an old lady for Christmas? Rising to the challenge, Myrna insists any of her five grown children would gladly host a stranger for Christmas. Making up a fictitious character, Myrna calls each of her children, hoping one of them will demonstrate the compassion she has tried to instill. But as one after another refuses Myrna's request with poor excuses, the two friends prepare themselves for a Christmas filled with sadness and disappointment. Will this be the worst Christmas ever for two lonely ladies?
The second act is "The True Meaning," by Peter Woodruff. What makes the perfect Christmas: The perfect gift? The quest of shoppers (Sandy Janicke and Melanie Frederick) and a youngster who only wants to go home (Kathryn Lincicum). The perfect meal? The question pondered by wife (Joan Sanford) and football loving husband (Carl Sanford) during pre-Christmas cooking. The perfect concert? There are pressures created by the choral director (Reynold Nolan) for not only his choir, but also his wife (Glenda Adams) and soloist daughter (Liz Garzie). Family gathering? The intent of one wife (Sandy Sweitzer) is to have more family time, while her husband (Peter Woodruff) and sister-in-law (Jane VanHamme) would rather watch a football game. Family members ponder their roles in creating a perfect Christmas. But one after another they fail, leaving the entire family discouraged. Are they missing something?
Additional chorus members include Chuck Hancock, Terrie Miller, and Rebecca Reifsteck. Accompanists Sherri Novak and Vivian Eaton are also featured.
The holiday show opens in Orangeville with the Mighty Richland Players hosting a dessert/dinner theater 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25 and Saturday, Nov. 26, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The matinee is 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, with doors opening at noon. A full-meal will be served, including appetizer, pork loin, roasted red potatoes, and green beans almandine, followed by a holiday dessert. Cost of dinner, dessert and the show is $40, with reservations required. To make reservations, call the Monroe Arts Center at (608) 325-5700.
The production will be presented next by the Stockton Plum River Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 and Friday, Dec. 2, at Christ Lutheran Church, 600 North Main St., Stockton, Ill. To purchase $10 tickets in advance, visit Galena State Bank or the Stockton Banking Center, 11655 US 20 East, Stockton. For more information, call (815) 947-2000.
The Hanover Back Street Players will host the last set of shows 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 at the Hanover Township Hall, 100 Monroe St. in Hanover. Dessert and show tickets are $12 and available at Apple River State Bank, 215 Jefferson, Hanover. For more information, call (815) 591-2201.
ORANGEVILLE - The newly formed Northern Illinois Theater Coalition will present a 2011 holiday show called "The True Meaning of Christmas" Friday, Nov. 25; Saturday, Nov. 26; Sunday, Nov. 27; Thursday, Dec. 1; Friday, Dec. 2; Saturday, Dec. 3; and Sunday, Dec. 4.
The new coalition consists of The Mighty Richland Dinner/Dessert Theater of Orangeville, Back Street Players of Hanover and The Plum River Playhouse of Stockton.
The show is comprised of two one-act Christmas plays, interspersed with well-known secular and sacred Christmas songs.
The first act is "A Stranger for Christmas," based on a short story by Carol Lynn Pearson. Having no family, the elderly Florence (Patsy Geiger) shares her secret wish with her friend and fellow rest home resident, Myrna (Kathy Fossett). Florence would like to enjoy an old-fashioned family Christmas. But who would take in an old lady for Christmas? Rising to the challenge, Myrna insists any of her five grown children would gladly host a stranger for Christmas. Making up a fictitious character, Myrna calls each of her children, hoping one of them will demonstrate the compassion she has tried to instill. But as one after another refuses Myrna's request with poor excuses, the two friends prepare themselves for a Christmas filled with sadness and disappointment. Will this be the worst Christmas ever for two lonely ladies?
The second act is "The True Meaning," by Peter Woodruff. What makes the perfect Christmas: The perfect gift? The quest of shoppers (Sandy Janicke and Melanie Frederick) and a youngster who only wants to go home (Kathryn Lincicum). The perfect meal? The question pondered by wife (Joan Sanford) and football loving husband (Carl Sanford) during pre-Christmas cooking. The perfect concert? There are pressures created by the choral director (Reynold Nolan) for not only his choir, but also his wife (Glenda Adams) and soloist daughter (Liz Garzie). Family gathering? The intent of one wife (Sandy Sweitzer) is to have more family time, while her husband (Peter Woodruff) and sister-in-law (Jane VanHamme) would rather watch a football game. Family members ponder their roles in creating a perfect Christmas. But one after another they fail, leaving the entire family discouraged. Are they missing something?
Additional chorus members include Chuck Hancock, Terrie Miller, and Rebecca Reifsteck. Accompanists Sherri Novak and Vivian Eaton are also featured.
The holiday show opens in Orangeville with the Mighty Richland Players hosting a dessert/dinner theater 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25 and Saturday, Nov. 26, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The matinee is 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, with doors opening at noon. A full-meal will be served, including appetizer, pork loin, roasted red potatoes, and green beans almandine, followed by a holiday dessert. Cost of dinner, dessert and the show is $40, with reservations required. To make reservations, call the Monroe Arts Center at (608) 325-5700.
The production will be presented next by the Stockton Plum River Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 and Friday, Dec. 2, at Christ Lutheran Church, 600 North Main St., Stockton, Ill. To purchase $10 tickets in advance, visit Galena State Bank or the Stockton Banking Center, 11655 US 20 East, Stockton. For more information, call (815) 947-2000.
The Hanover Back Street Players will host the last set of shows 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 at the Hanover Township Hall, 100 Monroe St. in Hanover. Dessert and show tickets are $12 and available at Apple River State Bank, 215 Jefferson, Hanover. For more information, call (815) 591-2201.