College theater puts on 'All My Sons' March 4-20

“I don't know why it is, but every time I reach out for something I want, I have to pull back because other people will suffer.”

– Chris Keller, “All My Sons,” Act I

College Theatre at College of DuPage presents Arthur Miller's drama “All My Sons” on Thursday, March 4 to Sunday, March 20 in the Studio Theatre of the McAninch Arts Center as the Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd.

Performances are 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. A preview performance will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3.

Directed by part-time faculty member Michael Ryczek, the 1947 Tony-winning play centers on Joe Keller, a manufacturer made rich by selling substandard airplane parts to the military during World War II.

Exploring themes of loyalty, integrity and morality, Keller makes the sales to save the company for his son, yet must come to grips with his choices and the impact they have on the lives of soldiers fighting overseas – particularly his oldest son, who is listed as MIA.

“The story really tells us that we can't, as spiritual beings, sacrifice the responsibilities we have for one another for the responsibilities we have to ourselves,” Ryczek said. “Miller was one of the last American playwrights who thought he could change the world and that thinking is evident in this play.”

“All My Sons” draws greatly from Greek tragedy, crafting relatable human characters dealing with grief, guilt and family, he said.

To remain true to the original script and drawing on the lingering emotional power of World War II, Ryczek's production is set in 1947.

“When ‘All My Sons' originally premiered, it was a pretty powerful time as the country was still coming out of the war,” he said. “It's a very challenging piece for us because several of the characters are elderly. This might mean that a 30-year-old is playing a much older character. However, the emotions are there and the performances translate the material well.”

A pre-show discussion is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Thursday, March 6. A post-show discussion with cast, crew and designers is scheduled for Friday, March 11.

Tickets to “All My Sons” are $10 for adults or $9 for seniors, College of DuPage students and youth. Tickets to the March 3 preview are $8.

For information, call the MAC ticket office at (630) 942-4000, or visit www.atthemac.org.