Theatre of Western Springs presents Chicago premiere of 'Calendar Girls'

Submitted by the Theatre of Western Springs.

The Theatre of Western Springs (TWS) presents the 2nd Mainstage play of its 87th season, the Chicago premiere of “Calendar Girls,” by Tim Firth and directed by TWS Artist-in-Residence Greg Kolack.

Performances take place from October 22 - November 1, 2015, at TWS, 4384 Hampton Ave., Western Springs. The play is suitable for adult audiences who can expect an evening of comedy and even some tears.

Schedule:

• 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays – October 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31
• 2:30 p.m. Sundays, October 25 and November 1
• 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 31
• 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 25

“Calendar Girls” is based on a true story and the hit film starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. To raise money for a piece of furniture in the waiting room of the local hospital, two friends persuade their fellow Women’s Club members to pose nude for a calendar. This calendar became a worldwide sensation.

The play is funny and warm. It’s been a huge hit in England earning several awards. It has been adapted for performances throughout Europe and beyond, but TWS has the distinction of premiering “Calendar Girls” in Chicago and its suburbs.

When Annie’s husband John dies of leukemia, she and her best friend Chris manage to convince several fellow women’s club members to pose nude with them for a calendar, with assistance from hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence. Their unique fundraising plan soon attracts lots of attention and the press infiltrates the small village of Knapeley in the Yorkshire Dales in England.

It is a play about lifelong friendships, especially between Chris and Annie. It’s their friendship that brings the calendar project to fruition, and it’s the calendar project that almost destroys the friendship.

Director Greg Kolack said, “About the nudity - I really like what the playwright says in the beginning of the script: ‘As in the best traditions of vaudeville fan dances, the art of the play’s nudity lies in what is withheld. The choreography of this sequence is best described as ...fabulous concealment.’ “

The cast includes Tommy Aldis of Naperville, Arlene Bibbs of West Chicago, Tricia Boren of Darien, Linda Bugielski of Indian Head Park, Carol Clarke of Hinsdale, Tim Feeney of Downers Grove, Dennis Fry of La Grange, Janet Gassmann of Western Springs, Mary Maureen Gentile of Elmhurst, Suzy Krueckeberg of Oak Brook, Cheryle McKay of Clarendon Hills, Brendan Mertens of Forest Park, Elyse Polickey of Chicago and Mary Ellen Schutt of Westmont.

“’Calendar Girls,’ with a script by Tim Firth who also co-wrote the movie, achieves exactly what it sets out to do. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, and it leaves you feeling better about life than you did when you entered the theatre,” said London’s The Telegraph in a review.

Tickets are $ 20 and 22, and pro-rated season subscriptions are available. Call the box office at 708-246-3380 or visit: http://www.theatrewesternsprings.com. Free parking is available.

Director Greg Kolack

Greg Kolack, returning for his second year as Artist-in-Residence at the Theatre of Western Springs (TWS), has been working professionally in Chicago for the past 39 years. He is the recipient of three Jeff Citations and three After Dark Awards. At TWS, he has directed “Is He Dead?”, “Becky’s New Car,” “Time Stands Still,” “Proof,” “Black Comedy,” and “Sylvia.”

Kolack directed the critically acclaimed, Midwest Premiere of “columbinus,” at Raven Theatre, for which he received a Jeff Award for Outstanding Direction.

He also directed “The Exonerated” at Raven, the hit production of “The Odd Couple” at Drury Lane Oakbrook, “The Laramie Project / The Laramie Project 10 Years Later,” at Redtwist Theatre, the Chicago premiere of Tim Robbins’ “Embedded” for Prop Theatre, and the world premieres of the critically acclaimed “All through the Night,” at Chicago Jewish Theatre and “Hitman,” at Bailiwick Repertory. He also directed Brightside Theatre’s productions of “Moonlight and Magnolias” and “Bleacher Bums.”

Kolack served as co-artistic director of Circle Theatre in Forest Park for seven years. His most notable Circle directing credits include the world premiere of “The Crime of the Century,” by Rebecca Gilman (which he also conceived,) and “A Piece of my Heart,” both of which received Jeff Citations for Direction and for Outstanding Production.

Other Circle directing credits include “The Credeaux Canvas,” “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress,” “Salome,” and the American premiere of “The Moon’s the Madonna.” He also produced Circle’s appearance at the House Of Blues with Russell Crowe’s band, Thirty Odd Foot Of Grunts.

Kolack has directed and acted with theatres all over Chicago and the Midwest, has appeared in numerous commercials and films, and has designed multi media for productions at numerous Chicago theatres.

Playwright Tim Firth

Tim Firth began writing when he was 18 on an Arvon Foundation course in Yorkshire, england. After studying at Cambridge for three years, his first professional commissions were “Heartlands” for Chichester, directed by Sam Mendes, and “A Man of Letters” for the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough.

Subsequent work included “Neville’s Island” and “The End of the Food Chain,” both for the Stephen Joseph Theatre. The Nottingham Playhouse production of “Neville’s Island” went on to the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End, where it was nominated for an Evening Standard award and fourLaurence Olivier awards. It has since been produced regularly in the UK and all over the world, and translated into several languages.

His feature film, “Calendar Girls” (2003), starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, was filmed for Buena Vista. His stage adaptation of “Calendar Girls” broke all British box office records for a play.

Firth lives with his wife and three children in North Cheshire, England.

CAST

Liam - Tommy Aldis of Naperville

Jessie - Arlene Bibbs of West Chicago

Ruth - Tricia Boren of Darien

Marie - Linda Bugielski of Indian Head Park

Lady Cravenshire - Carol Clarke of Hinsdale

John- Tim Feeney of Downers Grove

Rod - Dennis Fry of LaGrange

Chris- Janet Gassmann of Western Springs

Annie- Mary Maureen Gentile of Elmhurst

Cora- Suzy Krueckeberg of Oak Brook

Celia- Cheryle McKay of Clarendon Hills

Lawrence Brendan Mertens of Forest Park

Elaine Elyse Polickey of Chicago

Brenda Mary Ellen Schutt of Westmont

CREW

Director – Greg Kolack of Elmhurst

Stage Manager – Cal Turner of Naperville

Assist. Stage Man.– Sue Wisthuff of LaGrange

Tech Director – Thad Hallstein of Chicago

Costumes – Lori D’Asta of LaGrange

Costumes– Jennifer Miller of Indian Head Park

Dramaturg – Carol Dapogny of Naperville

Hospitality – Joe Mills of Westchester

Lights – Laura Byrd of Hinsdale

House Manager - Mike Janke of Downers Grove

Makeup – Mary Kuhn of Naperville

Makeup- Peggy McCaffray of LaGrange

Prod. Coord. – Mary Ellen Schutt of Westmont

Program Editor – Marion Reis of Wheaton

Props – Pat Huth of LaGrange Park

Publicity – Bridget Bittman of LaGrange

Set Construction – John Baderman of Hinsdale

Set Design – Mike Huth of La Grange Park

Sound – Peggy Solick of Hinsdale

Dialect Coach– Martin Aistrope of Chicago

Photos by Greg Kolack

Photo 1: (Seated) Cora- Suzy Krueckeberg of Oak Brook. (Standing L-R) Jessie - Arlene Bibbs of West Chicago, Ruth - Tricia Boren of Darien, Chris- Janet Gassmann of Western Springs, Annie- Mary Maureen Gentile of Elmhurst, Celia- Cheryle McKay of Clarendon Hills

Photo 2: (L-R) Cora- Suzy Krueckeberg of Oak Brook, Jessie - Arlene Bibbs of West Chicago, Ruth - Tricia Boren of Darien, Chris- Janet Gassmann of Western Springs, Annie- Mary Maureen Gentile of Elmhurst, Celia- Cheryle McKay of Clarendon Hills.