Theatre of Western Springs Presents First Play of The Forum Series - 'Other Desert Cities'

Submitted by the Theatre of Western Springs. Photo 1, L-R: Polly Wyeth - Marilyn Darnall of Oak Brook, Silda Grauman - Angelee Johns of Willowbrook, Brooke Wyeth - Debbie Sampson of La Grange. Photo 2, L-R: Polly Wyeth - Marilyn Darnall of Oak Brook, Brooke Wyeth - Debbie Sampson of La Grange. All photos by Bill Hammack

The Theatre of Western Springs (TWS) is proud to present its first play of the Forum Series - “Other Desert Cities” - by Jon Robin Baitz and directed by James Beaudry.

Due to strong language the play is suitable for age 15 or older.

Performances take place from Oct. 1-11 at the Cattell Theatre at TWS, 4384 Hampton Ave., Western Springs.

Schedule

• 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays – October 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10
• 2:30 p.m. Sundays, October 4 and 11
• 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4
• 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 10

A Pulitzer finalist and five-time Tony nominee, “Other Desert Cities” is a family drama of dysfunction filled with wit, tenderness and surprise. The play premiered Off-Broadway in Jan., 2011, and transferred to Broadway in Nov., 2011, where it starred Stockard Channing, Stacy Keach and Rachel Griffiths.

In “Other Desert Cities,” writer Brooke Wyeth returns home to Palm Springs after a six year absence to celebrate Christmas with her Reaganite parents, her brother and her aunt. Brooke announces that she is about to publish a memoir dredging up a pivotal and tragic event in the family’s history - a wound they don’t want reopened.

Chris Jones, in his Chicago Tribune review of the Goodman Theatre’s production of “Other Desert Cities,” said, “...an exceedingly juicy and shrewdly crafted drama very much in the honorable tradition of the well-made play, where devastating familial revelations unspool in the homestead alongside the rituals of a holiday.”

The playwright

Jon Robin Baitz is an American playwright, screenwriter, television producer, and occasional actor. Born in 1961, Baitz is currently a professor at Stony Brook Southampton and The New School where he is artistic director of the BFA theatre program.

He worked as a bookstore clerk and assistant to two producers, and the experiences became the basis for his first play, a one-act titled, “Mizlansky/Zilinsky.” He drew on his own background for his first two-act play, “The Film Society,” about the staff of a prep school in South Africa. Its 1987 success in L.A. led to an off-Broadway production with Nathan Lane which earned him a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding New Play. This was followed by “The End of the Day” starring Roger Rees and “The Substance of Fire” with Ron Rifkin and Sarah Jessica Parker.

In 1991, Baitz wrote and directed the two-character play “Three Hotels,” based on his parents, for a presentation of PBS’s “American Playhouse,” then he reworked the material for the stage earning another Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding New Play for his efforts.

In 1994, he appeared as Michelle Pfeiffer’s business associate in the screen comedy “One Fine Day.” Two years later, he was one of the three finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for his semi-autobiographical play, “A Fair Country.”

Baitz’s occasional work writing for such television series as “The West Wing” and “Alias” led to his position as creator and executive producer of the ABC TV drama “Brothers & Sisters,” which ran for five seasons.

The director

James Beaudry is the artistic director of Timber Lake Playhouse in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. In addition to staging more than 50 productions for Timber Lake, his credits include the world premieres of “Mark Twain’s Blues” (Off-Broadway) and “Jason & Ben.” (New York Musical Theatre Festival).

Chicago credits include: “Meet John Doe,” “Babes In Arms in Concert,” “Miracle on 34th Street” and “Best Musical!” (Porchlight Music Theatre), “Aspects of Love” and “Pump Boys & Dinettes.” (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre) More credits are “Lucky Stiff and Triumph of Love,” (The Music Theatre Company), “The Wedding Singer.” (Haven Theatre).

Additional directing and choreography credits include “West Side Story,” (CUNY 50th Anniversary Production), “Cosi,” (The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute), “Big Fish,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “Chicago,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “The Wiz,” “Into the Woods,” “Anything Goes,” “Pippin” and “The Secret Garden.”

Beaudry received a bachelor of arts degree from The College of Wooster in Ohio and a masters of fine arts degree from Mills College, Oakland, California.

Cast:

Lyman Wyeth - Bill Hurley of Orland Park

Trip Wyeth - Billy Hyland of Glen Ellyn

Brooke Wyeth - Debbie Sampson of La Grange

Silda Grauman - Angelee Johns of Willowbrook

Polly Wyeth - Marilyn Darnall of Oak Brook

Crew:

Director - James Beaudry of Chicago

Assist Stage Manager - Dennis Hudson of Western Springs

Box Office - Mary Ellen Schutt of Westmont

Costumes - Sarah Herndon of Lisle

Costumes - Kathleen McCabe of Westmont

Dramaturg - Mike Huth of LaGrange Park

Hospitality - Joe Mills of Westchester

House Managers - Mike Janke of Downers Grove

Lights - Mary Ellen Schutt of Westmont

Make up - Jason and Stacy McCargo of Western Springs

Production Coordinator - Mary Ellen Schutt of Westmont

Program Editor - Ed Barrow of Hinsdale

Program Editor - Debbie Angelillo of Oak Brook

Props - Kathy Kovarik of Chicago

Publicity - Ginny Richardson of Burr Ridge

Set Construction - Tim Feeney of Downers Grove

Set Design - Margaret Nikoleit of Maywood

Set Painting - Cheryle McKay of Clarendon Hills

Set Painting - Jennifer Jermano Miller of Indian Head Park

Sound - Ed Barrow of Hinsdale

Tech Director - Thad Hallstein of Chicago