Oak Park Festival Theatre
Encyclopedia
Oak Park Festival Theatre is a professional theatre company in Oak Park, Illinois
, under contract with Actors' Equity Association. The company was founded in 1975 by Marion Kaczmar, an Oak Park resident and arts patron, and performed Renaissance works, almost exclusively by William Shakespeare
, until 2004, when it broadened its scope to classics of other eras. Its outdoor venue has been Austin Gardens, a wooded park near downtown Oak Park within walking distance from restaurants, Frank Lloyd Wright landmarks, and Metra and CTA trains. To attract a greater following, Renaissance, classical, and modern American works were added to the offerings, some being produced indoors in historic Farson-Mills Home and, in the 2010-11 season, in the studio space in the Madison Street Theatre.
Audience members in Austin Gardens often picnic before performances. Occasionally, special performances by the Oak Park Recorder Society or other pre-show events are presented. Special Family Day performances and child-centered special crafts, games, and activities are held at least twice a summer to encourage families to introduce their children to Shakespeare.
, A Midsummer Night's Dream
, Richard III
, and other productions outdoors on the hill of Field Playground under the auspices of the Recreation Department of the Village of Oak Park. Actors who performed included Equity performers Val Bettin
, Robert Kidd, Tom Elrod, and Angel Casey as well as Oak Park residents Clifford Osborne, and Nick Cotsonas. The hill was, at that time, crowned on all sides with numerous large bushes and small trees, providing a natural set for battle scenes and forest liaisons. The professionality of the productions brought, among others, esteemed Chicago Tribune drama critic Richard Christiansen
, a native Oak Parker, to the theatre.
and William H. Macy
. Its artistic directors since then have included Patrick O'Gara, Tom Mula, David Darlow, Dale Calandra, and Jack Hickey.
The 1980s were heady years for the theater. With numerous Actors' Equity contracts attracting Chicago professional actors and the presence of talented non-Equity actors, audiences numbering in the 300s and 400s came to see Shakespeare under the stars.
In 2002 Joyce Porter, an actress, director, Professor of Theatre at Moraine Valley Community College, and member of the Board of Directors since 1989, averted a vote by the board to cease production and was, shortly after, elected President of the Board. The change of leadership was greeted enthusiastically, with suggestions in the local press for additional strategies.
Porter envisioned broadening the focus of the theater to performing classics of all eras year-round indoors as well as outdoors. The new artistic director, Jack Hickey, who had been appointed by the previous board president, worked with Porter to effect this expansion in phases. They attracted new board members and began financial reforms that led to solvency within a few years. Additional innovations under Porter’s leadership included educational programs, including a college intern program, the creation of a touring show, later revised and directed by Kevin Theis, and a summer workshop for teens. The theater, in a very real sense, owes its continued existence to the dedication of Porter and Hickey.
In 2010, Kevin Theis and Belinda Bremner were elected co-presidents of the board and began the expanded four-production season with stable theatre finances.
. These included multiple productions of The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest
, The Merchant of Venice
, As You Like It
, and Romeo and Juliet
, as well as Julius Caesar
, The Comedy of Errors
, Hamlet
, Macbeth
, Loves Labour's Lost, and others. It also presented notable original adaptations of classics, including Falstaff by Tom Mula and Don Quixote by Dale Calandra. In 2011 it presented the History of King Henry IV, an adaptation by Stanton Davis of Shakespeare's Henry IV parts 1
and 2
. Featured Actors' Equity members have included Chicago actors David Mamet
, David Darlow, Kristine Thatcher, Kevin Theis, Don Brearley, William J. Norris, Greg Vinkler, Aaron Christiansen, Ned Mochel, Susan Hart, Ray Andrecheck, Lanny Lutz, George Wilson, Kevin Gudahl, Mary Michell, Barbara Zahora, Henry Godinez, Steve Pickering, Kathey Logelin, Linda Kimborough, and others, as well as professional non-Equity actors such as Dennis Grimes, David Skvarla, Mark Richard, Michael W. Halberstam
, Robert Petkoff
, Les Golden, Toni Graves, Krista Lally, Maggie Kettering, and Anne Gottlieb.
Its expanded production schedule has included Faith Healer
, Picnic
, Tartuffe
, All My Sons
, Cyrano de Bergerac
and other plays considered to be classics of many eras.
Oak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
, under contract with Actors' Equity Association. The company was founded in 1975 by Marion Kaczmar, an Oak Park resident and arts patron, and performed Renaissance works, almost exclusively by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
, until 2004, when it broadened its scope to classics of other eras. Its outdoor venue has been Austin Gardens, a wooded park near downtown Oak Park within walking distance from restaurants, Frank Lloyd Wright landmarks, and Metra and CTA trains. To attract a greater following, Renaissance, classical, and modern American works were added to the offerings, some being produced indoors in historic Farson-Mills Home and, in the 2010-11 season, in the studio space in the Madison Street Theatre.
Audience members in Austin Gardens often picnic before performances. Occasionally, special performances by the Oak Park Recorder Society or other pre-show events are presented. Special Family Day performances and child-centered special crafts, games, and activities are held at least twice a summer to encourage families to introduce their children to Shakespeare.
Predecessor
Oak Park had a Shakespeare theatre previous to OPFT. In the 1960s producers Josephine Forsberg, Ed Udovic, and actor-director Lee Henry created Village Classics Theatre and produced The Taming of the ShrewThe Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591.The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the Induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself...
, A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
, Richard III
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
, and other productions outdoors on the hill of Field Playground under the auspices of the Recreation Department of the Village of Oak Park. Actors who performed included Equity performers Val Bettin
Val Bettin
Val Bettin is an American voice actor, known for using a British accent in all of his roles.-Early life and career:He was born Valentin Bettin in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In 1948, he went to England, to enter the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and graduated in 1950. There he met his wife Hildy, and...
, Robert Kidd, Tom Elrod, and Angel Casey as well as Oak Park residents Clifford Osborne, and Nick Cotsonas. The hill was, at that time, crowned on all sides with numerous large bushes and small trees, providing a natural set for battle scenes and forest liaisons. The professionality of the productions brought, among others, esteemed Chicago Tribune drama critic Richard Christiansen
Richard Christiansen
Richard Christiansen is the founder and creative director of Chandelier Creative, a full service creative agency based in New York. Chandelier is dedicated to the pursuit of unexpected delight in advertising...
, a native Oak Parker, to the theatre.
Early Decades
Oak Park Festival Theatre was begun in 1975 by Marion Kaczmar, an Oak Park resident. Its first production was A Midsummer Night's Dream with a cast that included David MametDavid Mamet
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
and William H. Macy
William H. Macy
William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
. Its artistic directors since then have included Patrick O'Gara, Tom Mula, David Darlow, Dale Calandra, and Jack Hickey.
The 1980s were heady years for the theater. With numerous Actors' Equity contracts attracting Chicago professional actors and the presence of talented non-Equity actors, audiences numbering in the 300s and 400s came to see Shakespeare under the stars.
Later Decades
The 1990s began some difficult years for OPFT. During this time the number of Chicago area theaters quadrupled and other theaters, inspired by Festival Theatre's success, began to produce Shakespeare on a regular basis. The resulting decrease in attendance compounded by some questionable management decisions and the elimination of arts funding from the Village of Oak Park necessitated a decrease in the number of Actors' Equity contracts that could be offered.In 2002 Joyce Porter, an actress, director, Professor of Theatre at Moraine Valley Community College, and member of the Board of Directors since 1989, averted a vote by the board to cease production and was, shortly after, elected President of the Board. The change of leadership was greeted enthusiastically, with suggestions in the local press for additional strategies.
Porter envisioned broadening the focus of the theater to performing classics of all eras year-round indoors as well as outdoors. The new artistic director, Jack Hickey, who had been appointed by the previous board president, worked with Porter to effect this expansion in phases. They attracted new board members and began financial reforms that led to solvency within a few years. Additional innovations under Porter’s leadership included educational programs, including a college intern program, the creation of a touring show, later revised and directed by Kevin Theis, and a summer workshop for teens. The theater, in a very real sense, owes its continued existence to the dedication of Porter and Hickey.
In 2010, Kevin Theis and Belinda Bremner were elected co-presidents of the board and began the expanded four-production season with stable theatre finances.
Productions/Actors
For most of its history, OPFT produced almost exclusively works by William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
. These included multiple productions of The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest
The Tempest
The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place,...
, The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic...
, As You Like It
As You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
, and Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
, as well as Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
, The Comedy of Errors
The Comedy of Errors
The Comedy of Errors is one of William Shakespeare's earliest plays. It is his shortest and one of his most farcical comedies, with a major part of the humour coming from slapstick and mistaken identity, in addition to puns and word play. The Comedy of Errors is one of only two of Shakespeare's...
, Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
, Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
, Loves Labour's Lost, and others. It also presented notable original adaptations of classics, including Falstaff by Tom Mula and Don Quixote by Dale Calandra. In 2011 it presented the History of King Henry IV, an adaptation by Stanton Davis of Shakespeare's Henry IV parts 1
Henry IV, Part 1
Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. It is the second play in Shakespeare's tetralogy dealing with the successive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV , and Henry V...
and 2
Henry IV, Part 2
Henry IV, Part 2 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed written between 1596 and 1599. It is the third part of a tetralogy, preceded by Richard II and Henry IV, Part 1 and succeeded by Henry V.-Sources:...
. Featured Actors' Equity members have included Chicago actors David Mamet
David Mamet
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
, David Darlow, Kristine Thatcher, Kevin Theis, Don Brearley, William J. Norris, Greg Vinkler, Aaron Christiansen, Ned Mochel, Susan Hart, Ray Andrecheck, Lanny Lutz, George Wilson, Kevin Gudahl, Mary Michell, Barbara Zahora, Henry Godinez, Steve Pickering, Kathey Logelin, Linda Kimborough, and others, as well as professional non-Equity actors such as Dennis Grimes, David Skvarla, Mark Richard, Michael W. Halberstam
Michael W. Halberstam
Michael Halberstam is an American stage actor and director. He co-founded and is Artistic Director of the Writers' Theatre in Glencoe, Illinois.- Early career :...
, Robert Petkoff
Robert Petkoff
Robert Petkoff is an award-winning American stage actor known for his work in Shakespearean productions and more recently on the New York City musical theater stage. Petkoff has performed on Broadway, the West End, regional theatre, and done work in film and television...
, Les Golden, Toni Graves, Krista Lally, Maggie Kettering, and Anne Gottlieb.
Its expanded production schedule has included Faith Healer
Faith Healer
Faith Healer is a play by Brian Friel about the life of faith healer Francis Hardy as monologued through the shifting memories of Hardy, his wife, Grace, and stage manager, Teddy.-Synopsis:...
, Picnic
Picnic (play)
Picnic is a 1953 play by William Inge. The play premiered at the Music Box Theatre, Broadway on 19 February 1953 in a Theatre Guild production, directed by Joshua Logan, which ran for 477 performances....
, Tartuffe
Tartuffe
Tartuffe is a comedy by Molière. It is one of his most famous plays.-History:Molière wrote Tartuffe in 1664...
, All My Sons
All My Sons
All My Sons is a 1947 play by Arthur Miller. The play was twice adapted for film; in 1948, and again in 1987.The play opened on Broadway at the Coronet Theatre in New York City on January 29, 1947, closed on November 8, 1947 and ran for 328 performances...
, Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano de Bergerac (play)
Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand. Although there was a real Cyrano de Bergerac, the play bears very scant resemblance to his life....
and other plays considered to be classics of many eras.
Recent Productions
| Year | Play | Author | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Adventures of Don Quixote | Miguel de Cervantes Adapted by Dale Calandra |
Dale Calandra |
| 1999 | MacBeth | Wm. Shakespeare | Henry Godinez |
| 2000 | Twelfth Night | Wm. Shakespeare | Dale Calandra |
| 2001 | The Taming of the Shrew | Wm. Shakespeare | Dale Calandra |
| 2002 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Wm. Shakespeare | Dale Calandra |
| 2003 | As You Like It | Wm. Shakespeare | Jack Hickey |
| 2004 | Romeo and Juliet | Wm. Shakespeare | Virginia Smith |
| 2005 | The Comedy of Errors | Wm. Shakespeare | Jack Hickey |
| 2005 | All My Sons | Arthur Miller | David Mink |
| 2006 | Tartuffe | Molière | David Mink |
| 2006 | Julius Caesar | Wm. Shakespeare | David Mink |
| 2006 | Picnic | William Inge | Kevin Theis |
| 2007 | Murder by the Book | Duncan Greenwood and Robert King |
David Mink |
| 2007 | Talley’s Folly | Lanford Wilson | Michael Weber |
| 2007 | Robin Hood | Scott Lynch-Giddings | Kevin Theis |
| 2008 | Blithe Spirit | Noel Coward | David Mink |
| 2008 | Much Ado About Nothing | Wm. Shakespeare | Jack Hickey |
| 2008 | Dancing at Lughnasa | Brian Friel | Belinda Bremner |
| 2009 | Arms and the Man | George Bernard Shaw | Kevin Christopher Fox |
| 2009 | 5th of July | Lanford Wilson | Michael Weber |
| 2009 | Cyrano de Bergerac | Edmond Rostand | Kevin Theis |
| 2010 | Of Mice and Men | John Steinbeck | Belinda Bremner |
| 2010 | Love’s Labour’s Lost | Wm. Shakespeare | Jack Hickey |
| 2010 | Betrayal | Harold Pinter | Kevin Christopher Fox |
| 2011 | Faith Healer | Brian Friel | Belinda Bremner |
| 2011 | The History of King Henry the Fourth |
Wm. Shakespeare Adapted by Stanton Davis |
Stanton Davis |
| 2011 | Henry V | Wm. Shakespeare | Kevin Theis |