Crazy Uncle Festival in Elmhurst

ELMHURST, IL — York Drama's winter drama festival will be all about crazy uncles. The Crazy Uncle Fest, set for Feb. 6-9, will feature Anton Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya," performed alongside the contemporary adaption, "Life Sucks," by Aaron Posner.

The festival is directed by York Drama's John Forsythe, but each play is helmed by a York High School student director, according to a news release. CeCe Lampa directs "Vanya," while Emma Taylor directs "Life Sucks." The junior girls are helped in individual scenes by a corps of 20 assistant directors, most of whom took part in Forsythe's directing class in last summer's York Drama Conservatory.

York Drama describes "Uncle Vanya" as being about "that beloved, crazy uncle we all have," with the uncle "diving into his mid-life crisis with a moment of existential angst." "Life Sucks" takes the plot of Vanya and includes the audience in this exploration of love, loss and longing, according to York Drama.

"Uncle Vanya" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 6 and 7. "Life Sucks" performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. All tickets are $10 and will be available starting at 6 p.m. Thursday online or at York High School's Baker Auditorium on the night of the show.