New Barrington theater group debuts its first performance

The newly formed Barrington Community Theatre is putting on its inaugural production this weekend.

The troupe is producing three one-act plays that explore creativity and all its associated facets.

"Short Takes in the Gallery: Three Express(ive) One-Acts" will be performed 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 19, in the Barrington Cultural Arts Center Gallery in the Ice House Mall, 200 Applebee St., Barrington.

The plays include Glenn Alterman's "The Pain in the Poetry, " which depicts the loneliness of a married couple; Jack Neary's "The Grand Scheme," a tragicomedy about two aging actresses; and "What's the Meta?" by Andrew Biss, that metaphorically explores drama and the theater.

The theater troupe is part of the Barrington Area Cultural Center, whose mission is to celebrate all forms of art and encourage the active participation of the Barrington community, according to Nita Hunter, co-founder of the theater.

Hunter has been writing, producing, and directing audio theater for the past five years. She formed her own theater group, RG Productions, with the goal of bringing authentic Old Time Radio classics to venues in Kenosha and Lake County. Two of her original radio plays have won statewide and national awards: "And on the Eighth Day," (a retelling of the Scopes Monkey Trial), and "Rebecca Diamond: Private Eye."

She is a sixth grade teacher with the gifted program in Barrington School District 220 and she and her family have resided in Barrington for more than 20 years. Tickets to the play are being sold for $10 at the door. The group is collaborating with 111 Grille in the Ice House Mall to offer theater goers a special theater package. A coupon good for $10 off any food and/or beverage purchase of $35 will be given to people when they purchase tickets. For more information, call (947) 710-2027 or e-mail nhunter271@yahoo.com.