Two District 214 plays selected for All State festival

Two fall plays, Buffalo Grove High School's "Antigone" and Rolling Meadows High School's "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," have been selected to be performed at the 35th annual Illinois High School Theatre Festival at Illinois State University Jan. 7-9.

More than 4,000 students and their sponsors will attend this event, the largest theater festival of its kind in the nation. Only 12 shows from across Illinois were chosen to be performed.

"This is a prestigious award and we are very excited that our school was selected," said Mark Schaetzlein, assistant principal, student activities.

"We are so proud of our cast and crew," added "Antigone" director Beth Wells. "Our students studied stage combat and Greek theater in order to successfully perform this creative adaptation of Sophocles' humanitarian play."

Ed Moon is "Antigone": technical director, Deb Andres is costumer, and Scott Fenstermaker, the fight choreographer.

The student cast of "Antigone" includes Kristin Molloy, Joe Lah, Jessica Urban, Rachel Rahimzadah, Nebu Kolenchery, Steve Stachowiak, Anna Leon Morales, Danielle Goodman, Ellyn Kirsch, Cari Thoenen, Mandy Thoenen, Tom Kirsh, Molly Bernaey, Brad Panzarella, Adam McCallister, Becky Krause, Cassie Johnstone, Lexie Polk, Laura Newman, Joe Reyes, Brandon Sokol, Matt Perek, Mack Rivkin, Trevor Harris, Christina Melgar, Ambria Bernardi, Samantha DeMarco, Elise Hackl, Natalie Kozelka, Sophia Kravets, Jillian Lynch, Peter Noon, Brian Pawlak, Claire Rutkawski, Lindsey Smith, David Sye, Elaine Zielinski, and Daniel Esquivel.

Equally proud of her cast, crew and production team is Rolling Meadows High School's Mary Luckritz, director of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)."

Luckritz said they will do a special public performance of the play at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 6, in the Rolling Meadows Theatre, "to send off the cast and crew to the theater festival."

Luckritz's production team is Technical Director Eric Garneau, Costume and Makeup Coordinators Kate McNally and Lela Barnes, House Manager Sheila Henaughan and Fine Arts Assistant Lori Bayerle.

The student cast includes Jacob Beller, Kelcie Brush, Benson Busse, Claire Chipchak, Sarah Cole, Alex Connor, Cynthia Dada, Kayla Davis, Dan Divane, Devin Edhlund, Dalton Elkins, Amanda Faust, Hanna Fry, Krystal Garver, Kevin Geraghty, Spencer Gibson, Dakota Gonzalez, Connor Gooding, Amy Heller, Andrew Heck, Devin Kamperschorer, A. J. Klaproth, Jennifer Klutts, Patrycia Kudlacz, Melissa Lawson, Katie Loveless, Jeremy Luebke, Rachel Manno, Bethany McCormick, Matt McDonald, Dan McMahon, Ryan Myers, Erik Nilsen, G.G. Palmer, Shannon Parnitudom, Jessica Parrish, Ivana Paternina, John Puttrich, Christopher Quezada, Marty Quinn, Alex Rhyan, Jonathan Rodriguez, Hannah Sabal, Emilie Schelip, Matthew Sears, Madison Seibert, Brian Stumph, Brian Suchocki, Jane Trunk, Amy Vitale, Maggie Volkman, Marissa Walentshik, Dawn Walter, Korrine Yonan, Nick Zawada, MaryClare Zimmerman, and Veronica Wiley.

This year's festival theme, "Master Class," will offer students an in-depth exposure to all facets of theater. Guest artists from around Illinois and the nation will teach a series of Master Classes, in addition to the traditional workshops and productions offered each year.

Jeremy Morton, fine arts coordinator at Prospect High School and board member of the Illinois High School Theatre Festival, said he is very proud of the two District 214 entries.

"This year's festival should prove to be an amazing experience and a Master Class for both students and teachers alike," he said

During the festival, high school students and teachers see over 20 productions selected from high schools across the state.

This year's opening ceremonies will feature Broadway comedian Seth Rudetsky who will perform his one-man show.

The festival also features performances of "Urinetown," performed by an All-State cast, crew and orchestra selected by audition from students across the state.

This year's All State production is directed by Judy Klingner of Fremd High School.