Musicals, comedies, suspense take center stage at high schools
Slip into your seat.
Let the lights dim around you and the murmur of the crowd slowly melt away.
Prepare to be transported to a different time, a different place.
Perhaps it's a floating craps game in New York City. Maybe it's the laboratory of Dr. Jekyll or the home of a 6-foot rabbit.
Listen as the music builds. Is that Elvis? The Lady of the Lake, perchance?
Wait ... wait ... wait for it.
Soak up the applause. Bask in the smiles as the darkness of the auditorium surrenders to the light of the stage.
Another season of theater is in full swing at high schools across DuPage County.
The curtain has gone up.
Glenbard West
"Guys and Dolls" takes center stage Nov. 1-3 in the auditorium at 670 Crescent Blvd. in Glen Ellyn.
The show will be presented at 7:30 p.m. each day. Tickets are $10 and available at www.glenbardwesths.org/glenbard-west-theatre/.
The musical comedy about a couple of big city gamblers and the women who love them tells the overlapping stories of high-roller Sky Masterson, who falls in love with mission worker Sarah Brown, and lovable gangster Nathan Detroit, engaged for 14 years to Miss Adelaide, a headliner at the Hot Box Club.
Nathan runs a famous floating craps game and an ongoing plot line involves his quest for a safe place for the game as Adelaide continues her quest to convince him to marry her. Meanwhile, Sarah, mistakenly believing that Sky set up an illegal game at the mission, tries to fight her affection for the charismatic craps shooter.
The cast features Brennan Cairns, Kira Campagna, MB Carnejo, Ethan Coronelli, Elizabeth Demeris, Brennan Dougherty, Jaclyn Dougherty, Kyle Drexler, Jessica Fernandez, Alex Frazer, Cooper Garland, Luis Gaytan, Roxy Geballe, Taylor Gottsman, Anna Huibregtse, Devon Kelleher, Emma King, Henry King, Katie Laird, Will Lanciloti, Julia Lane, Kelly Maganini, Robbie Matthew, Grady McDonnell, Kelly Messenbrink, Grace Metcalf, Lizzie Mowry, Charlie Musser, Julia Norvid, Blanca Pajma, Maggie Pasterz, Claudia Pyka, Emma Raczka, Josh Reifel, Will Rozak, Brye Sebring, Jack Slevin, Sean Swikle, and Juliette Winter.
Student leaders include student director Elinore Toleman, stage manager Yuvia Serna, student business director Alexandra Stolfe, student technical directors Will Davenport and Sage Wuertzer, and student vocal director Ben Hoppe.
Adult leaders include director Michael Fox, vocal director Andy Jeffrey, music director William Ortega, technical director Arielle Valene, business director Jolaine Orlin and choreographer Jared Titus.
Glenbard East
"All Shook Up," a new musical that combines the songs of Elvis Presley with the wit of Shakespeare's comedy, creates a story of romance and mistaken identity.
The show will be presented at 4 p.m. Nov. 8 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 and 10 at the school, 1014 S. Main St., Lombard.
Cast members are: Melissa Tumlos, Demetri Sepsis, William Sepsis, Marjhe Mason, Aneesah Phillips, Parker Melton, Samantha Hoey, Anthony Maggio, Kameron Alcantara, Graham Wendorff, Lilly Zuniga, Matt Bacon, Christine Aganon, Chiara Biddle, Korey Brown, Reed Brooks, Mackenna Clayton, Giavaana Dagenhart, Audrey Dahlman, Sabastian Duque, Mireanda Heabel, Sophia Hoey, Grace Iovinelli, Shelby Jenkins, Rain Jones, Veronica Koralewski, Breanna Latelle, Sofia Logancho, Lizzy Mazzolini, Janae McElroy, Angelo Mendez, Teagan Merrick, Ali Moro, Emerson Neczek, Mickey O'Brien, Madeline Pierson, Christian Pokorn, Katie Pruyn, Emily Pugacwicz, Mahum Quieshi, Kate Shuert, Kayla Sisouphonh, Hannah Still and Will Wightkin.
Tickets are $10 and available at gefinearts.org, by calling (630) 424-6640, or at the door.
West Chicago
The suspenseful "Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" will be presented at 7 p.m. Nov. 1-3 in Weyrauch Auditorium, 326 Joliet St. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults and available at wegotheatre.com and the door.
The show is a new adaptation by mystery writer Jeffrey Hatcher of the gothic horror story "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson.
As one man wrestles with his battle between good and evil, one never knows what is in store when the beast is unleashed. Doctor Jekyll represents the idea of the dangers of how drives and passions can blind us.
The company features Philip Calabrese, Abby Carr, Meg Gee, Maggie Hancock, Samuel Incrocci, Kathryn Wenberg, Gerardo Avila, Grecia Bahena, Nathan Bradley, Emily Carroso, Ryan Castiglia, Delaney Flynn, Javier Garcia, Autum Hosticka, Josie Kotke, Vincent LaMantia, Noemi Lara, Evy McLean, Audrey Miller, Rudy Muñoz, Belinda Perez, Jeri Rethford, Leah Wheatley, Brooklyn Worth, Justin Blackburn, David Brown, Ava Fini, Mikail Herrera, Sarah Hurley, Elizabeth Ryan, Neve Ryan and Cassi Villa.
The play is directed by Mark Begovich. Scenic design is by Chris Jensen. Costume design is by Clare McKellaston. Hair and makeup is by Jamie Elza.
For details, contact Mark Begovich at mbegovich@d94.org or visit www.wegotheatre.com.
Wheaton Warrenville South
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Harvey" steps into the spotlight at 7 p.m. Nov. 8-10 in the auditorium, 1993 Tiger Trail Road.
Tickets are $10 and available at www.showtix4u.com or at the door. The show is double cast.
"Harvey" is the story of a perfect gentleman, Elwood P. Dowd, and his best friend Harvey, who is a 6-foot tall, invisible rabbit. When Elwood begins introducing Harvey around town, his embarrassed sister, Veta Louise, and her daughter, Myrtle Mae, determine to commit Elwood to a sanitarium. A mistake is made, however, and Veta is committed rather than Elwood. But it all gets worked out by the end.
Cast members are Joe Allgood, Wesley Alvarado, Hannah Belmont, Grace Cornelius, Liv Curry, Mikayla Gainor, Brett Gniadek, Max Kibler, Katelyn Litvan, Cailin O'Malley, Aidan O'Malley, Alex Ongstad, Nikolai Sorokin, Theo Struthers, Julia Suacillo, Riley Tomes, Jaci Weeks, Michael Zessin and Jenny Ziegler.
Tech crew members are David Anderson, Delaney Armstrong, Brianna Borger, Lillian Cassell, Macy Castro, Gwen Feiti, Gissel Ferrer, Maxwell Fijolek, Sean Haywood, Maddie Jeffery, Daniel Johnston, Jack Jordan, Caroline Kier, Megan Kroehnke, Michael Larson, Robert Makowski, Ray Makowski, Valentina Mosca, Ellie Phillips and Danny Ruffolo.
Student directors are Maggie Ciszewski and Nicholas Temesvary; costume assistants are Ellie Clark, Sydney Garner, Mary O'Connell and Ronia Toran; the co-director is Mackenzie Grattan; the co-director is Roberta James; and the tech director is Terry Redford.
Glenbard South
Fans can join King Arthur and his knights on their quest for the Holy Grail in the musical comedy "Monty Python's Spamalot" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15-17 in the auditorium at 23W200 Butterfield Road, Glen Ellyn.
Tickets for the Tony Award-winning tale based on the movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" are $10 and available at glenbardsouthhs.seatyourself.biz with a credit card or with cash at the door.
For details, write to Jessica Keuth-Rahtjen at jessica_keuth-rahtjen@glenbardsouth.org.
The cast features Ian Rose, Catherine Andres, Justin Martinez, Luke Aliga, CJ D'Agostino, Ryan Cosillo and Bianca Montenegro.
Ensemble members are: Kate Nelson, Andrew Fortes, Derri Crenshaw, Madeline Glaser, Henry Stachnik, Kevin Pinkelman, Jillian Lawrence, Mary Roth, Missy Maurer, Nicole Palmieri, Gabby Michael, Emma Eyrich, Han Le, Anna Novy, Phoebe Kovalsky, Sara Vanderford, Kevin Pinkelman, Maya Page, Stephanie Price, Marissa Sellers, Dan Swarts, Gabi Allaway, Ashton Allen, Sarah Ledford, Naomi Friedman, Henry Stachnik, Vince Cascio, Meghan Baehl, Amara Bodine, Kaya Cloutier, Derri Crenshaw, Madeline Glaser, Savannah Herlien, Sydney Hyzy, Amanda Keil, Victoria Lisitza, Delaney McGee, Megan Miskovic, Charlotte Nelson, Ellie Reyes, Julie Salama and Audrey Sweeney.
Build crew members are Thad Scarf, Joshua Jackson, and Lillian Webb. Sydney Fabis is the master carpenter, Simone Banks is the paint crew head, and Morgan Cosillo is the props head.
Costume crew members are: Victoria Lisitza, Angolie Hull, Sydney Shures, Danielle Fugate, Nicole Kain, Celia Cousineau, Aurora Manzanero, Zoe Windeler, and Sydney Hyzy.
Lights and Sound crew heads are Aaron Wolf and Jillian Weesner. Stage managers are Keeler Smaistrla, Jake Oates, and Sam Nelson. Maeve Pinkelman is the student director.
Naperville Central
The classic American comedy "The Man Who Came to Dinner" by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1-3 in the auditorium, 440 Aurora Ave.
Tickets will be sold at the door for $5 for students and $8 for adults.
The story is set in the 1930s around Christmas, as radio personality Sheridan Whiteside slips on ice and ends up recuperating in the Ohio home of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Stanley. With a sarcastic wit and demanding, mischievous behavior, Whiteside takes control of the Stanley household and a stream of crazy characters bring chaos as they come to wish him well.
The cast features: Angelena Sichelski, Bailey Bergquist, Jake Clements, Kelli Saldivar, Costas Qirici, Reagan Williams, Iva Petrova, Chloe Pusateri, Josh Anstrand, Grace Johnson, Ryan Renc, Ethan Smith, Lauren Gilfillan, Daniel Keeling, Kent Lullo, PJ Lloyd, Brian Clune, Nickolas Santiago, Nora Lullo, Sean Kudrna, Jacob Allen, Payton Nesci, Ed Skrabacz and Evan Jacques.
Montini Catholic
The spotlight lands on "Hooray for Hollywood" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2 and 3 and 2 p.m. Nov. 4 in the auditorium at 9W070 16th St., Lombard,
The comedy is set in Hollywood, California, where "the hand that feeds also bites." Young movie and television hopefuls come from all over the country to study at Milo Bravo's Workshop of Dramatic Art - And Stuff, lured by Milo's (played by senior Andrew Ernat) phony scholarships.
The show is directed by Diann Matheson and performed by members of Montini Catholic's Theatre Department.
Tickets are $5. For details, call (630) 627-6930.
Glenbard North
"Feathers and Teeth," takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. from Nov. 15-17 in the auditorium at 990 N. Kuhn Road in Carol Stream.
Home-sweet-home turns into a haunted house for 13-year-old Chris when Carol - her mother's hospice nurse and father's new fiancée - moves in. Struggling with the recent death of her mother, Chris is convinced Carol is evil, but she just can't persuade Dad. When a mysterious, potentially dangerous but kind of cute creature is found in the family's backyard, Chris assumes it's a sign from above to eliminate Carol once and for all. Charise Castro Smith's bone-chilling and funny play brings the notion of dysfunctional family drama to scary heights.
The cast features Angel Belmonte, Isabella Nicholson, Eric Norman, Thomas Kent, Dylan Pyskaty, Abbey Wilkens, Bianca Aguilar and Anthony Butera.
Nathan King is the director, Ricardo Lopez is the technical director, Jolaine Orlin is the props director, Robyn Scurek is the costumes/publicity director, Michael Schutack is the associate sound/props director and Ruby Lowe is the lighting director.
Tickets are $8 and available at glenbardnorthhs.seatyourself.biz and at the door.