Steel Beam Theatre and The St. Charles Arts Council Present Love Letters
St. Charles, Illinois, January 23, 2011 – Steel Beam Theatre and the St. Charles Arts Council are presenting Love Letters on Saturday, February 12th, at Steel Beam Theatre, 111 West Main Street, St. Charles, Illinois. A wine and cheese reception begins at 7 p.m. and the curtain goes up at 8 p.m. The reception and a ticket to the show are available for a donation of $40, by calling or e-mailing the SCAC at 630.443.3794 or StCharlesArtsCouncil@gmail.com.
Love Letters is a Pulitzer Prize for Drama nominated play by A. R. Gurney. The play centers on just two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. Using the epistolary form sometimes found in novels, they sit side by side at tables and read the notes, letters and cards - in which over nearly 50 years, they discuss their hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats - that have passed between them throughout their separated lives.
The roles of Melissa and Andrew will be played by Donna Steele and John Gawlik, Artistic Directors of Steel Beam Theatre and Fox Valley Repertory, respectively. It was Steele's idea to mount the production as a fundraiser for the Arts Council, with an enthusiastic agreement to participate from Gawlik. Steele presented the idea to Sue McDowell, Treasurer of the Arts Council Board, who said “We are so excited about this production on so many levels. It's a wonderful vehicle for donations to the Council, it demonstrates that St. Charles' arts businesses support the Council and our Mission [to create an organization that serves and promotes the arts and cultural activities in St. Charles, to the mutual benefit of the arts and the community] – and because we are so pleased to have quality live theater in St. Charles.”
Treat your Valentine…or just your pal who's a theater fan...to this very special performance.
About the St. Charles Arts Council:
The SCAC will serve all those individuals (professionals, amateurs, and students) who produce tangible, consumable works of the imagination and all organizations, businesses, and groups that include and represent those people. This would be arts and cultural activities in their broadest sense, including graphic, plastic, and decorative arts, architecture, crafts, literature and poetry, music, theater, and dance. The primary long-range goal is the transformation of St. Charles into an arts community/an arts magnet/a nationally-known arts market. Ultimately we foresee a municipal arts center, more working artists and opportunities in arts education, many privately-owned galleries, performance venues, and related arts businesses, and a downtown architecture and streetscape conducive to both the aesthetics and business of art.
About the Steel Beam Theater:
Steel Beam Theatre is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing high quality theatrical entertainment, training and arts awareness to the Fox Valley community at an affordable price.
About the City of St. Charles:
St. Charles, Illinois, located in both DuPage and Kane County, is 35 miles west of downtown Chicago. Over 2,100 businesses employ over 34,200 people, consisting of a balanced mix of retailers, restaurants, and manufacturing facilities. The City of St. Charles was recently named one of the “150 Great Places in Illinois” for the combined architectural work of the City Municipal Center, the Main Street Bridge, and the historic Hotel Baker.
The City's recently completed 2014 Strategic Plan includes the following Action Plan: Market and promote St. Charles as a friendly, appealing destination, characterized by activities, events, arts, and culture. Capitalize on artistic and cultural resources by supporting local talent and lively venues and activities. Encourage collective civic endeavors to broaden the variety of attractions and events.