Name change, shows reflect Fox Valley Rep's mission
Forget what Shakespeare said about roses smelling as sweet no matter what we call them: Names are important. Just ask Wheaton native John Gawlik.
For five of the past six years, he has been artistic director of Noble Fool Theatricals at Pheasant Run. And then, starting Jan. 1, he became artistic director of the Fox Valley Repertory.
Did he change theaters? No. His theater changed its name. Or rather, he and the other powers that be at the theater changed the company's name.
“The change was tied in to who we are, as a professional theater in the area,” Gawlik explains. “Under the Noble Fool, our mission was very specific, but over the last few years we found we were expanding out to entertain, educate and enlighten.”
And that includes shows like the current production, an adaptation of Jules Verne's “Around the World in 80 Days.” But their mission also reflects a connection with the communities in the area through its youth ensemble and its performing arts academy.
“We changed the name in part because we wanted to reflect the area we are in,” Gawlik says. “For example, we are hooking up playwrights with scientists at Fermilab to create plays in collaboration. And we will have readings this summer.
“The community has been very supportive of us,” he adds. “When I started as artistic director, we had around 300 subscribers. Now we are at about 1,500. And we are collaborating with the Fox Valley in so many ways.”
On Memorial Day, for instance, the Fox Valley Repertory performed in a Memorial Day Concert, “Letters Home: A Memorial Day Remembrance,” in which company members read war letters from veterans of the Civil War to the present. Music was provided by the Fox Valley Concert Band.
Of course, not everything changed with the name. The theater is still producing major shows like its latest, “Around the World in 80 Days,” opening Friday, June 17, and directed by Gawlik.
“The adaptation we are using by Mark Brown uses five actors to play 30 roles,” Gawlik says. “We spoke with Brown and he let us add the frame of a small boy who is reading the novel in his room. And we are using everything in his bedroom as part of the story, to show the power of his imagination. For example, in one scene the bed transforms into a steamship using the curtains in the room.”
Gawlik admits he was attracted to doing a stage version of the book because he loved it as a young boy. He was also glad to do a show with a lot of “heightened storytelling” and humor.
“I remembered it being wonderful, very exotic,” Gawlik says, adding. “I wanted a play that had all these different places Phileas Fogg takes us in this race around the world.”
“Around the World in 80 Days”
<b>Location: </b>Fox Valley Repertory, Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 584-6342 or ticketmaster.com
<b>Showtimes: </b>8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. Thursday, June 23 and 30. Note: July 16 show is at 4 p.m.; July 15 and 29 shows are at 7:30 p.m. No performances on July 8 and 22. Runs through July 31.
<b>Tickets: </b>$29-$39; dinner show packages available from $49