GreenMan Theatre Storytellers adds second performance marking Route 66’s 100th anniversary
As the yearlong celebration of the fabled Route 66 rolls on nationwide, GreenMan Theatre Storytellers will mark the event with performances at two local libraries.
Stories, songs and imagery from Route 66’s history will be performed in “Road Trip Stories” on Tuesday, July 21, at Elmhurst Public Library and in “Summer Stories: 100 Years of Route 66” at Wood Dale Public Library on Thursday, July 23.
“Route 66 has been such an important part of America’s history,” said Director Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff. “It has been exciting to do research and find images for this program which will be presented by a fabulous group of performers.”
Performers for GreenMan Theatre Storytellers’ storytelling events will be Cassy Beach, Marilyn Connolly, Tom Kaiser, Steven Soria and Carolyn Thomas-Davidoff.
Soria, the troupe’s secretary, and Becca Easley, president, are researching popular songs for the event, including “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Tony Lopez will arrange the accompanying slide show.
The 2,400-mile-long Route 66 began gaining popularity in 1926, when nearly 200 athletes participated in the Bunion Derby footrace. The race was run from Los Angeles along Route 66 and then on to New York City.
More motorists headed out on Route 66 after Henry Ford’s introduction of the assembly line made automobiles more affordable. “It was also the Roaring ‘20s and America’s post-World War I years and people wanted to go places and try new things,” Thomas-Davidoff said.
In the late 1920s, Route 66’s celebrated and colorful neon signs also began advertising motels and restaurants along the route. After the economic crash of 1929 and the Dust Bowl years of 1930-1939, families began to use Route 66 for different purposes. Many headed west on Route 66 to the “promised land” with their belongings stacked on top of their cars.
After World War II, many U.S. soldiers and their families traveled Route 66. “Soldiers who had received their training out west wanted to see the country they’d fought for,” Thomas-Davidoff said.
One of the stories at the Storytellers performances will tell how Bobby and Cynthia Troup came up with the tune “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” about their 10-day road trip from Pennsylvania to California. Another story will relate the memories of local storyteller Marie Ringenberg about the fun she and her family had at a Route 66 drive-in movie theater in St. Louis.
Elmhurst Public Library’s “Road Trip Stories” will be held at 7 p.m. in the library’s large meeting room, 125 S. Prospect Ave. This will be a hybrid presentation, both live and online (by registration through the library).
Those seeing the online version must register in advance. Registration for the in-person showing is strongly encouraged, as registration helps determine the size of the room being used. There are 66 in-person seats and 197 online seats available. Sign up via elmhurstpubliclibrary.org.
Wood Dale Public Library’s “Summer Stories: 100 Years of Route 66” will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. in the library’s Barbara E. Dunn meeting room, 520 N. Wood Dale Road. Sign up at wooddalelibrary.org.
In its 22nd season, GreenMan Theatre Troupe is a nonprofit 501[c]3 organization whose mission is to provide a source of cultural enrichment and pride for the community by presenting diverse, quality productions and providing opportunities for personal growth in the theatrical arts. GreenMan has been presenting plays in Elmhurst since being founded in 2003. Past productions include “Dracula,” “Pride and Prejudice” and “Doubtful Abbey.” GreenMan also offers classes and workshops for members and the community and welcomes new members and participants in all aspects of theater production. GreenMan programs are partially supported by Explore Elmhurst, as well as other individual and corporate donations.