Libertyville High winter play takes on family drama
The Fine and Performing Arts Department of Libertyville High School will present its winter play, “Look Homeward, Angel,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 11-12, in the LHS Auditorium, 708 W. Park Ave., Libertyville.
“Look Homeward, Angel” is an enlightening drama that takes a look at a real family and their struggles. Written by Ketti Frings and adapted from the novel by Thomas Wolfe, it was the 1958 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award as best play of the season.
An authentic American classic set in the small town of Altamont, N.C., in 1916, this powerful play captures the humor and grief, both private and universal, of Wolfe’s largely autobiographical novel about a youth coming of age.
Concentrating on the last third of Wolfe’s story, the play portrays Eugene Gant; his mother, who is obsessed by material holdings and who maintains barriers against the love of her family by making the Dixieland Boarding House the center of her life; his father, W.O. Gant, who is imprisoned by his failures, engages in displays of public drunkenness and takes solace in a tender friendship with the local Madame; the brother who never breaks away; and a host of eccentric residents of the family-run boardinghouse.
When two of their sons, Eugene and Ben, confront life and love simultaneously, the entire family is forced to face the truth of their lives in one of the most explosive finales in American theater.
The play is directed by Kevin Holly. Technical director is Ruth McCormick, stage manager is Sydney Hamilton and assistant stage manager is Claire Bryant.
The cast includes Drew Mills, Kelsey Hamilton, Brian Bleck, Brian Strohmayer, Lizzie Pagura, Alan Brant, Becky Goldberg, Katie Lample, Mark Rhind, Naveen Rajadhyaksha, Kalyn Constable, Emma Dreher, Chris McKenna, Anne Lowell, Mark Cooper, Camille Michelotti, CJ Spear, Morgan Epperson and Jonathon Hutchens.
The set construction crew and lighting crew consists of Alan Brant, Susana Colinga, Lydia Dubaniewicz, Sarah Fahey, Elizabeth Fennewald, Meredith Gowlik, Megan Henderson, Jennie Herchenbach, Hannah Hughes, Christian Klepac, Candice Krinniger, Audrey Maddock, Adam Pfluger, Caroline Pak, Danny Pozen, Beth Remler, Violet Smith, Sam Sorkin, Paisley Spence, Eric Villanueva, Travis Wegren and Arden Weiner.
Tickets to “Look Homeward, Angel” are $5 for adults and $4 for students. For ticket information, call (847) 327-7058 or visit LHSarts.org.