Couple returns to stage in 'Love Letters' benefit

Jonathan Meier first met Jill on stage, performing together with a Chicago theater company called Different Drummer Music Theater.

Having been married for 18 years, they have performed in several more shows and sung in different clubs over the years.

Then their lives changed, including banking careers and three children.

On Saturday, the couple will return to the stage at Mundelein High School, where Meier returned to theater four years ago to serve as the school's theater director.

Jonathan said it's a chance to show students he can practice what he preaches.

"It's time for me to put up or shut up," he said with a laugh.

They will put on "Love Letters," a play by A.R. Gurney, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the school auditorium, 1350 Hawley St. Mundelein.

The performance will be a benefit for the school's theater program, which was selected to perform their fall play, "Dancing at Lughnasa," at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival next month at Illinois State University in Normal.

Admission to "Love Letters" is a donation at the door to the school's theater program. All proceeds will help pay for festival-related expenses.

Each year at the theater festival, more than 4,000 students, teachers, university representatives, exhibitors and volunteers come together for three days to put on more than 25 different high school productions, and more than 150 workshops.

"It's a great opportunity for the kids to perform in front of thousands of their peers from across the state," he said.

In addition to raising money, "Love Letters" is a chance to celebrate the success of the high school's theater program, Jonathan said. All guests are invited to attend a reception at the school after the performance.

"We want to invite alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and community members to join us for a performance of a funny and moving play, followed by a chance to catch up with friends and swap some stories," he said.

"Love Letters" explores a lifelong relationship -- between Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, played by Jonathan, and Melissa Gardner, played by Jill -- carried on primarily through letters the couple writes to each other.

Meier said the first letter is a response to a first-grade birthday party when both are 7 years old. They carry on their loving friendship across 50 years of letters written to each other in holiday cards, at camp, boarding school, college, travel and career -- and through several relationships and their own short-lived affair.

"They take different paths but they still remain connected through the letters," he said.

"It's a sweet, moving story. Everyone will relate to it one way or another."

While Jonathan and Jill Meier have not appeared on the stage together in 20 years, they are no strangers to the Mundelein stage.

Jill appeared as a last-minute replacement as Rose Hoffman, the schoolteacher, in the high school's musical, "Working," in spring 2005.

Jonathan appeared as Robert in the inaugural production of Mundelein Summer Theatre's "Proof" in summer 2006.

With some excitement and a few nerves, Jonathan said they look forward to performing together on stage again, this time in front of their own children.

"We used to be so comfortable acting with each other," he said. "It's interesting to see how quick we pick up that chemistry."