Theatre of Western Springs presents 'New York' Portraits of resiliency after 9/11

Submitted by The Theatre of Western Springs.

Western Springs, IL - The Theatre of Western Springs presents its second Forum play of the 87th season, “New York,” written by David Rimmer and directed by TWS artist-in-residence Greg Kolack on stage from Feb. 11 - 21 at TWS, 4384 Hampton Ave., Western Springs.

The play is performed in TWS’s Cattell Theatre, and the subject matter involves the emotional struggles and subsequent triumphs of 15 New York City survivors of September 11.

Schedule:

• 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays – Feb. 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20
• 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 14 and Feb. 21
• 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20
• 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14

“The catalyst for ‘New York’ may be the events of 9/11, but it really is a story about survival,” Director Kolack said. “We are all survivors of 9/11 in one way or another, so it is about all of us. But this same story could be told after any tragic event. It could be Columbine, Pearl Harbor, Oklahoma City, Sandy Hook, Paris, San Bernadine or even a personal tragedy that never makes the news. Ultimately, the show celebrates the resiliency of the human spirit.”

David Rimmer, a Pulitzer Prize finalist author for “Album,” originally wrote “New York” to raise funds for volunteer psychiatrists dedicated to helping the overwhelming number of people psychologically affected by 9/11. Depicting the reactions of 15 individuals to the events of that day, the characters all speak to a central psychiatrist.

The play has been performed at theaters, schools and colleges throughout New York and the Northeast to great acclaim, called “brilliantly written... a thought-provoking event avoiding the sentimental and capturing realistic portraits of how we’re all dealing with it...” and “a touching exploration of the effects of September 11 on the lives of average New Yorkers,” according to The New York Resident.

Tickets are $20 and $22. Call the box office at 708-246-3380 or go to: http://www.theatrewesternsprings.com. Free parking is available.

Director Greg Kolack

Greg Kolack is the Theatre of Western Springs’ Artist-in-Residence. At TWS, he has directed “Calendar Girls,” “Is He Dead?” “Becky’s New Car,” “Time Stands Still,” “Proof,” “Black Comedy” and “Sylvia.”

A resident of Elmhurst, Kolack has been working professionally in Chicago for the past 39 years. He is the recipient of three Joseph Jefferson Citations and three After Dark Awards.

He directed the Midwest premiere of the critically acclaimed, “columbinus,” at Raven Theatre, for which he received a Jeff Award for Outstanding Direction. In fact, the play received a total of five Jeff nominations including Outstanding Production and Ensemble. “columbinus” was chosen by many critics as one of the best productions of 2008.

Kolack also directed, “The Exonerated,” and the world premiere of “Misamerica,” at Raven Theatre. Other notable productions include “The Odd Couple” at Drury Lane Oakbrook; “The Laramie Project” and “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.

Kolack was the co-artistic director of Circle Theatre in Forest Park for seven years, during which Circle received 20 Jeff Citations and 60 Jeff nominations. His most notable Circle directing credits include the world premiere of Rebecca Gilman’s, “The Crime of the Century,” which he also conceived, and “A Piece of my Heart.” Both received Jeff Citations for Direction and Outstanding Production.

Other directing credits include productions at Pegasus Players, Stage Left, Red Hen, Alchemy Theatre, Clock Tower Theatre, Shady Lane, Theatre Building Chicago, Dominican University, Interplay, Lewis University, Moraine Valley College, Ohio Northern University, Triton College and the acclaimed “Patient A” with Far West Productions. He has done numerous readings with Chicago Dramatists and Victory Gardens.

As an actor, Kolack has worked with theatres all over Chicago and the Midwest. He has appeared in numerous commercials and films and has designed multimedia for productions at numerous Chicago theatres.

He produced Circle Theatre’s appearance at the House of Blues with Russell Crowe’s band, Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts. He is also the general manager for The Apollo Chorus of Chicago now in its 142nd season.

Playwright David Rimmer

David Rimmer is an American playwright and screenwriter. In addition to “New York”, his plays include “Album” (Pulitzer Prize finalist), “The Evening News,” “Greatest Show on Earth,” “Miss Subways Meets the Sex Machine,” “Nobody Dies,” “The Painted Name,” “Reunion Guy,” “Stray Bullets” and “Yankee Wives.”

Excerpts from his plays have been published in numerous scene and monologue collections. In addition, Rimmer has written screenplays for major studios including Disney, Universal and Twentieth-Century Fox.

In 2001 Rimmer was approached by representatives from Disaster Psychiatry Outreach, a volunteer organization affiliated with Columbia University. These mental health service provider volunteers were committed to doing their collective best to alleviate the suffering of New Yorkers in the aftermath of 9/11. These volunteers asked him to write about the reactions.

In the play, the efforts of one provider volunteer are showcased as are the reactions of 15 traumatized individuals.

Rimmer speaks about the evolution of this play from the many stories that were being told right after 9/11. The play began as a series of scenes based upon the stories of ordinary people. In the beginning, each performance gave way to rewrites, additions and subtractions of characters and details. Some of the characters in the play are based upon real people, and some are based upon a compilation of real and imagined people.

Their stories are filled with details, some sad, some funny, some unbelievable - unique and similar at the same time. All of the characters are dealing with a form of survivor guilt, a palpable and prominent emotion in the days following 9/11.

“I came to discover that each of the scenes contained a kind of a healing element,” Rimmer said. “I’ve learned from audiences over the years that the further we get away from that day in history, the more universal the play becomes.”

CAST

Doctor - Laura Leonardo Ownby of La Grange

Teacher 1 - Stacy McCargo of Western Springs

Fireman - Steve Goodwin of Western Springs

Pilot - Tammy White of Lisle

Babysitter - Emily Leatherwood of Darien

Oklahoma - Kolby Boyle of Western Springs

Caregiver - Joe Savino of Chicago

Duff - Tristan Collins Woodridge

Newsgirl - Abby Madden of Brookfield

Julia - Kathy Kovarik of Chicago

Mother - Laura Leonardo Ownby of La Grange

Stepdaughter - Rachel Bielski of Western Springs

lane Guy - Jim Nerison of Chicago

Vigil - Jeffrey Siddall of Oak Park

Detective - Harry Hultgren of Indian Head Park

Mary - Bridget Bittman of La Grange

Teacher 2 - Stacy McCargo of Western Springs

CREW

Director – Greg Kolack of Elmhurst

Stage Manager – Karen Arnold of Westmont

Ass’t. Stage Mgr. – Cathy Van Horne of La Grange

Tech Director – Thad Hallstein of Chicago

Costumes – Mary Ellen Druyan of Clarendon Hills

Ashley Kennedy of La Grange Park

Dramaturg – Mike Huth of La Grange Park

Hospitality – Joe Mills of Westchester

House Manager - Mike Janke of Downers Grove

Lights – Mary Ellen Schutt of Westmont

Make-up – Pat Huth of La Grange Park

Prod. Coord. – Mary Ellen Shutt of Westmont

Program Editor – Ed Barrow of Hinsdale

Marion J. Reis of Wheaton

Props – Jason McCargo of Western Springs

Tina Shelley of Brookfield

Publicity – Kathy Kovarik of Chicago

Set Construction – Jon Mills of Elk Grove Village

Set Design – Greg Kolack of Elmhurst

Set Dresser – Karla Hudson of Western Springs

Set Painting – Suzy Kruekeberg of Oak Brook

Mary Kuhn of Naperville

Sound – Stephanie Williams of Clarendon Hills