Elgin shows off drama power with three plays this weekend
Whether theater is a passion or just an interesting way to while away one of winter's last weekends, Elgin is the place to be this Saturday and Sunday.
Elgin Academy's "Into the Woods," Elgin Theatre Company's "Run For Your Wife," and Elgin High School's "Crazy for You" should keep even the most ardent theater-goer busy.
'Crazy for You'
The cast of George Gershwin's "Crazy For You" has been preparing to perform since September, according to Rosalind Zager, vocal director and producer of the play.
"I had a lot of kids who wanted to dance," Zager said.
"So, I offered free tap dance lessons for anyone in the school.
"They just had to do three things. They had to make the commitment, buy their own tap shoes and agree to audition for the musical."
Zager hired Jaclyn Watt, who would choreograph the show in the spring, to come in on a weekly basis and teach tap to the 40 teenagers who signed up.
"It was fun to watch them get more and more competent, and really come out of their shells," Zager said.
The musical is an old-fashioned boy-meets-girl charmer directed by Jonathan Bogue.
It's short on plot and long on entertainment, according to Zager.
'Run for Your Wife'
At Theater 355, the Elgin Theatre Company is also working on a boy-meets-girl with a twist.
In "Run for Your Wife" written by Ray Cooney, the boy is a bigamist. The plot revolves around a London taxi driver, secretly married to two women. A series of mishaps results in the character's mad scramble to avoid detection, not only by his wives, but the police.
Director Larry Boller describes the play as a British farce.
"It's comedy that relies upon mistaken identities and lies, and as it builds it becomes more and more chaotic and pretty hilarious," he said.
"It requires something of an audience," Boller said.
"They have to be attentive and listen and remember who told what to whom."
Boller, who had previously performed in another production of "Run For Your Wife," has found audiences to be very entertained by the madcap twists and turns.
The cast has been gathered from Boller's experiences as an actor in many different theater companies throughout the suburbs.
"I've worked in two theater groups in Elgin, one in Naperville, one in Batavia, in Wheaton and Palatine.
"I was able to call a lot of people, so we built around a core of experienced actors -- and filled it in with some really pleasant surprises."
'Into the Woods'
The plot of Elgin Academy's "Into the Woods," directed by Mary Bayer, might sound as fluffy as that of its two counterparts, but this Stephen Sondheim work has a deeper, darker level that should appeal to adults as well as kids.
The first half follows a number of famous fairy tale characters, such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack (of "Jack and the Beanstalk") and Little Red Riding Hood as they follow the plots of their well-known stories. Those plots are filled in with details that make the characters more believable.
After intermission, the show follows the characters as they live their happily-ever-after stories, none of which turns out to be as rosy as promised.
"It follows the consequences of getting your wishes granted," said Bayer.
"It has really mature theme, like 'What are the consequences of your actions,' or 'What kind of lessons do we pass on to our children,' and 'What happens when you get what you want, is it always the best thing for you?'"
Although "Into the Woods" has its serious side, all ages can appreciate and enjoy the show.
"It's really fun to see your (fairy tales) mashed together. You can see Cinderella interacting with Little Red Riding Hood and Jack from 'Jack and the Bean Stalk,'" Bayer said.
If you go
Elgin High School's "Crazy for You"
When: 7 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and March 6 and 7
Where: Elgin High School auditorium, 1200 Maroon Drive
Tickets: $8 adults, $6 students
Info: (847) 888-5200
Elgin Academy's "Into the Woods"
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Elgin Academy Sears Gallery Theatre, 350 Park St., Elgin
Tickets: $8 adults, $6 students
Info: (847) 695-0301
Elgin Theatre Company's "Run for Your Wife"
When: 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and March 7, 8, 14 and 15
Where: Theatre 355, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin
Tickets: $15 adults; $12 students and seniors
Info: Call (847) 741-0532 or e-mail tickets@inil.com