Village Theatre Guild balances growth, quality
"Growth is good, right?"
The question was posed to Dave Dolnics of Naperville, current president of the Village Theatre Guild, a 52-year-old community theater in Glen Ellyn.
"Sure," he said, "but you'd better define growth."
Dolnics pointed out that the former one-room schoolhouse that serves as the group's theater near the northwest corner of Butterfield Road and Park Boulevard in Glen Ellyn has audience seating for only 58 people - hence the tagline "Intimate Space, Infinite Possibilities."
It produces only four major productions a year, a season offering that has not changed in decades. And its annual membership averages about 100 volunteers, a figure that also has remained largely unchanged, though turnover brings newcomers into the group continuously.
"Where we look for growth is in the quality of our productions, especially in the casting and the acting, and in our willingness to undertake shows that larger, more mainstream theaters would shy away from," Dolnics said. "The result is a loyal audience base that in most cases enables us to sell out the 10 or 12 performances of every production."
Though actors, directors and crew members are unpaid, Village Theatre Guild does hire top directors, acting coaches and technicians from professional Chicago-area theaters to conduct workshops and consult with casts and crews.
"Our Visiting Artists Program may well be unique among community theaters, and we feel it has contributed greatly to our growing reputation for excellence," said founding member Sue Keenan of Glen Ellyn.
"It certainly attracts the best talent to our open auditions, and it rewards our active members with an opportunity for ongoing professional development."
The 2015-16 season is shaping up as a balanced mix of comedy and drama, leading off with a musical. The fall show, running Oct. 16 to Nov. 7, will be the musical "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" by Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts, and directed by Judy DiVita of Naperville.
The winter show, staged Jan. 15 to Feb. 6, likely will be the drama "Doubt: A Parable" by John Patrick Shanley, directed by Lisa Dolnics of Naperville.
The spring show, performed March 18 to April 9, will be the comedy "The Last Romance" by Joe DiPietro, directed by Cynthia Katz of Naperville.
The summer show, running May 20 to June 11, 2016, likely will be the comedy "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" by Christopher Durang, directed by Kevin Taylor of Orland Park.
The Village Theatre Guild has an unpaid board of directors, but no artistic director to define its season. Instead, a play-reading committee of members selects about 30 titles to be considered each year. And an executive search committee of past directors, producers and stage managers picks directors for the upcoming season.
The directors then make their selections from the play reading list. This unique process, conducted entirely by member volunteers, brings a kind of artistic democracy to the creation of a theater season.
Unlike most community theater groups, VTG is fortunate to own its own theater and has built up sufficient reserves to take care of contingencies. Between the sale of tickets at $18 or $20 each, program advertising, patron donations and modest membership dues, the nonprofit is self-supporting. No grant funding has been required.
Active membership in the Village Theatre Guild is open to anyone with an interest in having fun putting on good plays. Dues are $25 per member. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. the third Monday of each month and are open to prospective members beginning in July.
The format is a brief business meeting, followed by a short performance by members. Besides acting, members are encouraged to try any aspect of stagecraft that interests them: running lights and sound; handling costumes and props; designing, building and decorating sets; etc.
"There are starring roles for everyone," Dolnics says. "VTG's most significant measure of growth may well be your own."
To join or learn more, go to villagetheatreguild.org.