A first for Vernon Hills' Arbortheater

When the Vernon Hills Summer Players take to the outdoor stage Sunday, the event will represent several firsts.

Not only is it the debut performance by the fledgling group of high school students, but it will be the first play staged at the Vernon Hills Memorial Arbortheater since it was dedicated 10 years ago.

Village sponsored events, such as summer concerts and movies, are familiar activities at the facility, nestled just north of the Vernon Hills Athletic Complex. The 6 p.m. performance is the first time the village has issued a permit for public use of the stage, a result of a policy enacted July 22.

That a policy exists represents a lesson in civics, as an enterprising trio of high school students pitched the idea to the village board.

"It's a great group of kids. I'm not surprised they would take on this kind of task on their own and get it accomplished," said village Trustee Thom Koch, a former theater teacher, who advised them on how to approach the board.

Aside from dealing with a local bureaucracy, organizers quickly learned another life lesson based on their play selection.

"The Laramie Project" is an emotionally charged account of the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, who was tied to a fence, beaten, robbed and left to die on a cold October night in 1998.

"I really think this is a message the community should hear," said Chris Thoren, a 17-year-old Vernon Hills High School student. He is co-founder and front man of the company, comprised of eight main members, four extras and a stage manager.

The production has caught the attention of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. It describes the play in a news release as propaganda with "zero redeeming social value" and says it will picket the Vernon Hills production from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m.

Its members also have protested at funerals of U.S. troops killed in Iraq, whose deaths they believe are God's punishment for the tolerance of homosexuality.

At the end of his sophomore year, Thoren said he learned "The Laramie Project" was scheduled as the spring play and wanted to audition. He was hooked on the message's artistry and power after reading the script.

"Most plays are fictional. Not a single thing in this entire play was made up," he said. "It brings such a level of humanity to the show."

When he returned to school last fall as a junior, Thoren said, he was told the play had been pulled. But he didn't forget the message.

So, as school ended, he formed the company and looked for somewhere to perform.

"I've never seen anyone using the Arbortheater. I thought it would be cool. How do we make that happen?"

The village never had fielded such a request, and Thoren was initially denied because there was no reservation policy.

"I wanted to make sure I could be there and perform without causing any trouble," he said. So he and two friends took their case to the decision makers.

After several discussions, the board agreed to simple stage use policy.

"It's a good lesson for them," Koch said. "This is how you get things done. You do your homework and do a good presentation."

Sunday will be the test, although the company isn't sure what to expect. Thoren and friends peppered local businesses with fliers, and made up 200 play bills. The play is free, but a $5 donation for the Matthew Shepard Foundation is requested.

"It's a beautiful piece of theater and it sends a strong message," Thoren said. "Leaving a mark on the community appealed to us."

Koch said he'll be there.

"Who knows? It could be the start of summer theater at the Arbortheater," he said.