Wood Street presenting 'All Aboard for Broadway'

Wood Street Theater Company in Palatine has always had a family-type feel about it and that family has drawn even closer since they recently lost their beloved founder, Susannah Kist, to cancer.

The tight-knit troupe is carrying on, albeit a bit sadly, with its next production - "All Aboard for Broadway," a patriotic musical featuring tunes by George M. Cohan such as "Over There," "Grand Old Flag" and "Give My Regards to Broadway." The show opens Friday, Jan. 22.

As in past productions, this show offers families a chance to perform together and that has certainly been true for Rick Browne of West Dundee, who shares the stage with his wife, Linda Heninger, his stepdaughter, Marcy Angsurat, and Marcy's husband, Dan Angsurat, of Mount Prospect, as well as with his daughter Erin Browne of Geneva.

Rick takes on the role of Flo Zweibach, a big-time producer of musicals in New York. He said he has had a blast working on the show.

"Our family has had a great time participating together in this play. This is the first time this many family members have worked together on a show," Rick said, adding that rehearsals tend to continue at home. "Practices carry on throughout the week as we work on our lines together."

In fact, they've enjoyed it so much that when they got together with extended family for the holidays, they pulled out the script and talked their family into putting on a little show.

"At our Christmas family reunion, we recruited other family members and performed all of Act 1 of this play for the rest of the family just for fun," he said, chuckling.

His wife, Linda, has enjoyed returning to some of her theater roots.

"I did theater about 30 years ago with Best off Broadway, Music on Stage and Village Theatre here in Palatine. So, it's fun being back at Cutting Hall 30 years later," she said.

Linda's daughter, Marcy, is credited with getting her mom and stepdad involved, as well as her husband, Dan, who first stepped in with "Cinderella" last year when Wood Street needed more men for a dance scene.

"The last two shows I did with two of my sisters, but they weren't available for this one, so I roped in the rest of the family," Marcy said.

Marcy and her mom have also taken on the task of costuming everyone for the show, which takes place in 1917.

"I've always wanted to do costumes for a show. That's another great thing about Wood Street. They allow everyone to get involved in everything," she said. "The time period threw us for a loop; it's between the Victorian era and the '20s. It's been a challenge, but I love to shop and I think it's turning out well. I'm happy with it."

Marcy's husband, Dan, who admits to being a relative newcomer, marvels at how everything comes together.

"Music, scenery, costume - there's so much to a play. I'm dumbfounded and amazed to see it come together in the final product," he said.

He's also a little astonished at his own growth on stage

"Now, I'm singing and I have more lines than I ever could have imagined," he said. "I'm having a great time. It's always a pleasure to work with this company. It's hard when it ends, and we don't get to see each other as much."

For Erin Browne, 17, a junior at Geneva High School, it's a chance to create two different characters and work with adults on stage for the first time.

"I've always just worked with kids before, not adults. And, I've never done a show with any of my family members before," she said. "I get to play a Southern role and a ditsy role."

Erin predicts the audience will love the show because of the familiar, upbeat music. "And I think they'll love my dad. He's great in his role," she added.

If you go

Who: Wood Street Theater Company

What: "All Aboard for Broadway," an old-fashioned, patriotic musical featuring the tunes of George M. Cohan

Where: Cutting Hall, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine. When: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22, 23, 29 and 30; 3 p.m. Jan. 31.

Cost: Adult $12 in advance, $14 at the door; child, student, senior and groups of 20 or more $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

Reservations: Cutting Hall Box Office, (847) 202-5222, or palatineparks.org.

For soldiers: Bring items listed at yellowribbonsg.org to donate in boxes in the lobby; servicemen and women in uniform can attend free of charge