Batavia theater group to stage ‘Legally Blonde’
Submitted by Rising Star Theatreworks
Join Rising Star Theatreworks for the new, award-winning Broadway sensation “Legally Blonde: The Musical” Friday, June 29, to Sunday, July 1, at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia.
The director and vocal director for “Legally Blonde: The Musical” is Dawn Harkins, choreographers are Kyle Donahue and Jocelyn Adamski, and music director is Tom Jesse. The musical features cast members of high school and college age, and also features some Rising Star alumni.
“Legally Blonde: The Musical” will be performed at the new Batavia Fine Arts Centre at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 29 and 30, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 1. Tickets start at $14; group discounts are available.
For tickets, visit www.rstix.com. For group ticket sales, call (630) 537-STAR or email tickets@rstix.com.
Rising Star Theatreworks is a nonprofit community theater group known for inspiring young people to become involved in theater and for providing the community with quality theater at affordable prices. “Legally Blonde: The Musical” is presented through special arrangements with MTI Shows.
For details about Rising Star Theatreworks, visit www.risingstartheatre.org or call (630) 537-STAR. Find RST on Facebook at Rising Star Theatreworks (Illinois).
The cast includes: Nick Ondria, Suzi Roteki, Anne Spoden, and Ian Swanson, all of Aurora; Nick Petrelli, Jason Vences, both of Bartlett; Kelly Barabasz, Katie Bertness, Connor Frederick, Stuart Kofron, and Maddie Mueller, all of Batavia; Molly Carberry, Marissa Clifford, Haleigh Hutchinson, Annie Rapach-Lagowski, and Michelle Rodriguez, all of Geneva; Maggie Gallagher of Roselle; Harold Solomon of South Elgin; Nicoletta Calabrese, Kevin Chlapecka, Molly Knight, Mallory Mroz, Michael Sherry, Taylor Sherry, Travis Volmer, and Katelyn Jassoy, all of St. Charles; Tony Pellegrino of Streamwood; and Carly Vadnais of Trout Valley.
Special Night for Special Friends: Rising Star Theatreworks has been inviting individuals with special needs and their families to be the guests at the final dress rehearsal of each show since 2008.
The final dress rehearsal will be Thursday, June 28, at Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia. Doors open at 7 p.m. Rehearsal begins at 7:30 p.m. and ends around 9:30 p.m.
The final dress rehearsal will be open to individuals with special needs and their families at no cost.
“It has always been a dream of mine to involve more people with special needs in theater,” says Jeanne O’Donnell, co-founder of Rising Star. “I understand that some people are reluctant to attend events where the audience is supposed to stay quiet and only applaud at appropriate times.”
Through this special invitation, Rising Star is striving to create an environment where it is OK if an audience member shouts out during the show or even sings along.
There is no charge to attend. To reserve tickets for “Special Night for Special Friends,” contact Nancy E. Hansen at (630) 845-9165 or HansConsulting@aol.com. There are a limited number of wheelchair spaces available, so please indicate in your message if anyone in your party requires a wheelchair space.
Tickets will be distributed at the door the evening of the performance.