Good News Sunday: Wood Dale actress/puppeteer finds her niche

This is Good News Sunday, a compilation of some of the more upbeat and inspiring stories published recently by the Daily Herald:

Leah Casey wasn’t hired as a puppeteer for Drury Lane Theatre’s recent “Cinderella” revival. She was hired to sing and dance. But when director/choreographer Amber Mak informed the cast she needed ensemble members to puppet the woodland animals that transform into Cinderella’s coachman and footmen, Casey volunteered.

With good reason. For five years, the Wood Dale native has balanced acting and puppetry, honing her skills with the celebrated, multidisciplinary ensemble Manual Cinema. She’s currently performing in the company’s “Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster” featured in the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, which runs through Jan. 28. Casey plays Kerry, “the second most scaredy-cat kid in the world,” in the family-friendly play about a fearful boy and a not-so-scary monster.

Casey, whose credits include traditional plays and musicals as well as puppet-centered productions, speculates her knack for puppetry stems from extensive dance training.

“Those ballet skills are actually helping my career,” said the actor/puppeteer, who trained from a young age at her father’s ballet studio.

For the full story, click here.

Readers respond generously to 2023’s Neighbors in Need campaign

Five charities each will receive a $11,625 grant from the Daily Herald/Robert R. McCormick Foundation’s 2023 Neighbors in Need fundraising campaign.

Now in its third year, the partnership raises money from Daily Herald readers to benefit organizations that assist suburban residents dealing with hunger, homelessness and insufficient healthcare.

According to a McCormick Foundation representative, the $11,625 is double the amount charities received the previous year.

Recipients include: the Chicago Dental Society Foundation, which provides no-cost dental care to low-income patients at its Wheaton clinic; District 214 Cares, which provides food, housing, transportation and academic assistance to needy students attending Northwest Suburban High School District 214; Lazarus House, which assists homeless veterans and domestic abuse survivors find safe housing and food; Northern Illinois Food Bank, which partners with more than 900 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other distribution centers to help feed Illinois' hungry; and WINGS, which assists domestic violence survivors.

For the full story, click here.

Campaign to save Ingleside school hits $400,000 goal

A fundraising drive launched by a former St. Bede School student to save the Ingleside parochial school has reached its $400,000 goal.

Now the question is whether the successful campaign led by Susan Lutzke, a senior at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, will persuade the Archdiocese of Chicago not to close the school June 4.

Last month, the archdiocese gave the school a Jan. 26 deadline to come up with $400,000 if it hoped to remain open. It also said the school must show progress in increasing student enrollment, which is at 182 but needs to reach 240.

Susan and her family learned they had reached their goal Sunday during a Fund The Falcons Fiesta fundraiser in the school cafeteria.

Susan, whose family lives in Ingleside, said the experience has been “surreal.”

“I don't think I ever really expected it to get as far as it did. But obviously we're super thankful,” she said.

For the full story, click here.

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