Elgin Theatre Company hoping laughter is the best medicine

It's better to laugh than cry, and preferable to howl than to hurt.

With that mantra in mind, the Elgin Theatre Company is kicking off "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In " Friday night as its first production in the new Elgin Academy Theatre.

Richard Grieger, theater company board member, said "Rowan" was a television show in the late 1960s and early 1970s that poked fun at government and war in general, with the topics still relevant today.

The company, now in its 57th year, opted for a humorous production instead of something more serious, he said.

"We're excited about it," Grieger said. "This is a time when humor can go a long way in a lot of lives. We felt this was very timely."

Jeff Small, company president and play director, said the show is about two hours long, including a 15-minute intermission, and appropriate for audience members 12 and up. It does not contain profanity.

Small said the 12-member cast was very excited about the new venue, which offers better sightlines, acoustics and lighting than the old theater at Elgin High School.

"It's a much more modern theater," he said.

The new theater has a capacity of 197, compared to about 300 at the school, but many of those additional seats had obstructed views.

Small said the company hopes to become a standing theater company at the academy so the two can share equipment, costumes and mentor students.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, and may be purchased by calling (847) 741-0532.