Hoffman Estates and Grayslake Middle-Schoolers Star in Tellin' Tales Theatre Production about Climate Change Sept. 28-Oct. 7 in Chicago
Hoffman Estates' Mary Pfaff and Grayslake's Tiernan Tajali stars in Telllin' Tales Theatre's Six Stories Up in Climate Change that runs weekends beginning Friday, September 28 through Sunday, October 7 at Filament Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee in Chicago. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students; the show is suitable for ages 9 and up. For information and tickets visit www.tellintales.org.
The September 29 show is sign language interpreted and audio described. For group rates, call 1-312-540-1330.
Elmhurst native Tekki Lomnicki is co-founder and artistic director of Tellin' Tales Theatre, now in its 22nd year.
The story:
Students at an Alaskan summer camp discover a magical totem pole that holds the secrets to slowing down climate change. When a greedy developer levels the sacred relic, they must find a way to reconstruct it and save the earth. This often hilarious and moving musical, written by the cast, is peppered with personal stories about overcoming differences while they tackle different aspects of climate change.
Mary Pfaff of Hoffman Estates:
Mary Pfaff is in 8th grade at Frost Jr. High School in Hoffman Estates. She has acted before with Hott Productions and Palatine Park District. She is also in track, cross-country, choir and Special Olympics. Her mentor for Six Stories Up in Climate Change is Robert Teverbaugh of Chicago. Pfaff plays the characters of Kate and Wampus the Cat.
Tiernan Tajali of Grayslake:
Tajali is in 5th grade at Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake. This is his second Six Stories Up production - last year he appeared in Six Stories Up in Haunted Chicago. He said: "I enjoy everything about the whole experience of being in Six Stories Up!" His mentor is Stephen Donart of Chicago. Tajali plays the characters of Taco and Professor Pine Tree.
The Mentoring Program:
Six Stories Up is an annual mentoring program developed by Tellin' Tales Theatre where middle school children and their mentors write and star in a full-length play with the theme changing every year. In June, storytellers were paired with middle school students with and without disabilities. Each team took on a different aspect of climate change and was given the mission to bring it to life while weaving in personal stories and insights about overcoming differences in their lives. In late July, Tellin' Tales artistic Director Tekki Lomnicki and Stephen Donart drafted a final script linking the six vignettes together into a cohesive final script; music and lyrics were added.
The Cast and Crew:
The cast and production team of Six Stories Up in Climate Change is an exciting mix of ethnicity and ability. They come from throughout the Chicagoland area. Mentors include Stephen Donart, Shannon Fox, Jack Gehringer, Tekki Lomnicki, Tamara Rozofsky and Robert Teverbaugh. Nancy Sosnowski has a cameo role. Apprentices include Mickie Allegretti, Tim Bannon, Mary Pfaff, Saleem Ross, Tiernan Tajalli and Dominika Tamley. Carl Ulaszek spearheads set design and composer Mike Przygoda created the original score. Tekki Lomnicki directed the production assisted by Sue Nunamaker and apprentice assistant Lee Buell.
About Tellin' Tales Theatre:
The mission of Tellin' Tales Theatre is to shatter barriers between the disabled and non-disabled worlds through the transformative power of personal story. Children and adults from both communities are brought together to share their stories in theatrically innovative productions and programs to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance.
Six Stories Up in Climate Change is the final production of Tellin' Tales Theatre's 22nd season.