Woman does it all backstage at Prairie Lakes Theatre

Backstage at the Prairie Lakes Theatre in Des Plaines, actors and producers alike all look to Millie Schmalz of Des Plaines as their gal Friday, so to speak.

She sews up the hem of a costume, or fastens a button in a pinch. She moves set changes - that she helped design - climbs ladders to hang them, and even helped administrate auditions, a few months back.

All this, and she is 83. At an age when many of her contemporaries are slowing down, Schmalz finds she herself busier than ever, and with energy to burn.

"She's become a real force in our theater company," says Nancy Flaster, artistic director for the Big Noise Theatre, currently running the Elvis Presley-themed musical, "All Shook Up" at the Prairie Lakes Theatre.

It was two years ago that Schmalz faced a moment of reckoning: after 63 years of marriage, she found herself widowed. Yet, instead of sitting home feeling sorry for herself, she says, she resolved to find something to keep her busy.

"I thought about what I liked, and I thought about the theater," Schmalz says. "I knew they had performances here (at Prairie Lakes Community Center) so I went to the front desk and asked them about who I should see."

At the time, Big Noise officials, one of several companies to rent the stage, were rehearsing for the 1960s musical, "Beehive," and Schmalz approached them about helping out.

"I have a background in fashion and clothing," says Schmalz, who at one time used to run her own store on Chicago's south side, "so I thought I could help with costumes."

One thing led to another, and Schmalz found herself taking on more and more roles.

"I know how to use a hammer and a wrench, so I'm not afraid to build things," she says. "And I'm not afraid of heights, so climbing a ladder doesn't bother me."

She worked with producer and stage manager, Helga Kennedy, to create the 22-feet tall panels that serve as movable backdrops for the show.

After attempting to paint them first, they resorted to having the scenes printed on paper, but then had to roll on glue, before tacking the paper down onto the boards, and then smoothing out the air pockets - on all 16 boards.

"We worked together for hours on them," Kennedy says. "She's one of the most active crew members we've every had."

Schmalz enjoys her role backstage, and says she never aspired to be in front of the curtains as an actress.

"We have too much fun backstage," she says. "The tricks these guys play on one another keep me laughing."

Todd Bulmash of Palatine is an actor in the show, and says the entire cast and crew knows her simply as "Millie."

"We couldn't do half the things we do, without her," Bulmash says. "Truly."

Another ensemble actor in the show, Peter Rasey of Chicago, agrees, adding that as a former producer, he knows how hard it is to find people eager to work backstage.

"You can always find actors," Rasey says, "but it's not always that easy to find people who want to work backstage - and are reliable. Millie's always reliable."

For her part, Schmalz says she doesn't want to stop. From auditions, through rehearsals, through four weekends of performances, she is a vital member of the production.

"It keeps me young," she says. "Being around all these young people, with so much energy, it's contagious."

<p class="factboxheadblack">"All Shook Up"</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 16</p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Prairie Lakes Theater, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines</p>

<p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students, $12 for children under 13</p>

<p class="News"><b>Info:</b> <a href="http://bignoise.org" target="new">bignoise.org</a> or (847) 604-0275</p>