Theatre of Western Springs Announces ’12-‘13 (84th) Season

The has unveiled their lineup of plays from the 2012-2013 season, with five Mainstage shows, three Children’s Theatre shows, two Forum shows and, of course, the Theatre’s trademark holiday/Christmas production.

The five mainstage plays are:

• Moonlight and Magnolias, by Ron Hutchinson Christie, directed by Rick Snyder - Sept. 6-16, 2012
• Dracula, by Bram Stoker and adapted by Steven Dietz, directed by Rick Snyder – Oct. 18-28, 2012
• Sylvia, by A.R. Gurney, directed by Greg Kolack – Jan. 17-27, 2013
• The Trip to Bountiful, by Horton Foote, directed by Rick Snyder – April 11-21, 2013
• The Unexpected Guest, by Agatha Christie, directed by Edward W. Wavak  - May 30-June 9, 2013

The forum shows are:

• The Women of Lockerbie, by Deborah Brevoort, directed by Linda Roberts  - Sept. 27-Oct. 7, 2012
• Ghost and the Machine, by David Gilman, directed by Rick Snyder – Feb. 7-17, 2013

The holiday show is:

• Madeline's Christmas, based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans, book and lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby, music by Shirley Mier, directed by Stephanie Grady with musical direction by Phil Videckis - Nov. 30–Dec. 9.

The Children’s Theatre shows are:

• The Borrowers, by Mary Norton, adapted for the stage by Charles Way – Nov. 9-18, 2012
• Starry Messenger, by Kari Margolis – Mar. 1-10, 2013
• The Boxcar Children, by Barbara Field, from the book by Gertrude Chandler Warner – May 9-11, 2013

You can find more information about the 84th season here. And for a bonus, here’s some fun facts about the Theatre:

• The Theatre was founded by Western Springs resident Mary Cattell in 1929, just a few months before the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression.
• The main theatre that we know today was constructed in 1960. When the western Cattell wing was added in 1975 with a black-box theatre and workshop, famed actor Henry Fonda served as ribbon-cutter.
• Actors do not audition for TWS shows, but are cast after graduating from the Theatre’s Studio program, a series of ten free acting workshops in October and November for aspiring actors 19 and older.
• TWS volunteers are much more than just actors! The theatre’s “Actives” work in set-building, props and costumes, ticket-taking and far more. There’s a role for anyone.