38th "Festival of the Gnomes" Frolics into Joliet December 6 and 7

It’s so cold, even the garden statues are headed indoors. Check your yard for migrating gnomes. It’s been reported some have headed for the warm, indoor stage of Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre for the 38th annual “Festival of the Gnomes” on Saturday, December 6 (1:00 and 3:30 pm) and Sunday, December 7 (1:00 pm).

Yes, a Sunday show has been added for the first time in the show’s history! Many fun changes have also been made to the show. Tickets are still just $5 for all ages, garden gnomes and humans. Saturday shows sold out last year so reservations are recommended. The theatre is located at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet.

This family tradition still features an 80-minute live show following the “wee” folk. The cast of all ages imparts the lore of the mythical people from European folklore. Follow the gnomes on many adventures doing good works for man and nature while outsmarting the nasty trolls, especially the Snotgurgle – now played by a young lady! Molly Devine inherited the main troll role last year from Tom McCabe, who had been the Snotgurgle since the 70’s before he moved last year. Molly loves the role and has put her own spin on this awfully, hairy, lovable creature. Now the Snotgurgle is styling with long cascades of blonde Sammy Hagar-like rocker hair, long pink finger nails and an attitude to match!

Molly and the Devine family have been with the show for many years, but this year they play an extra big part – from Snotgurgle to assistant directors and seamstresses. Molly’s brother Ryan and their sister Colleen have been in the cast since they were young, and now they are assisting directing different scenes in addition to playing many characters. For instance, Ryan will be playing the chillin’ Otter from Nome, Alaska. Their mother Adele has been kindly attending shoppers in the “gnomemade” gift shop for years. Their late father Tom thoroughly enjoyed auctioning each year the gnome dolls in his big booming voice. Last year, their Aunt Karen Devine sewed adorable Christmas aprons for the gift shop – each one different from her holiday fabric collection.

Talented sewers run in the Devine family, especially with their Aunt Sally Susner. She graciously took on the pains-taking task of creating this year’s soft-sculpture gnome boy and girl dolls. The darling dolls are done and ready for the big raffle! Thanks to Sally, there will be a raffle. After 25 years, Sue Shetina retired from sewing. To find someone to sew and sculpt two detailed dolls seemed daunting. Adele Devine mentioned she had another sister who loved to sew. Sally jumped in and began many months of intricate work to create the two beautiful gnome babies now on display at the Park. With special thanks to Sally, this beloved tradition at the festival continues. One girl and one boy doll will be raffled. Tickets are 50¢ each or 6 for $1.00. Winners need not be present.

A lady known to many as Grandma Gnome will be taking a holiday this year to be with family. Though she is still here in Joliet, Grandma Gnome Billie Limacher sends her love to everyone coming to the festival and has made sure those coming for their 10th 20th and even 30th year will have their special tassels. For every 10 years one attends the show, “a dehydrated star and moon beam” tassel is sewn onto their gnome cap, and a gold and silver tassel for the next decades. Those new to the festival may purchase their very own gnome cap in the gift shop (just $3) and decorate it to their choosing from all the fun pins (some for as little as 25¢). After their first year, those returning to the fest with their cap get a free tassel sewn on by the lady gnomes gathered around the fireplace in the lobby.

Since both Saturday shows were sold out last year, a Sunday show has been added for the first time. There are now three shows to choose from: Saturday 1:00 pm, Saturday 3:30 and now Sunday 1:00 pm. Doors open at 12:00 noon both days. The show itself has undergone new additions, too. Roles have been changed and spread among the large 40-plus cast, understudies have been added, assistant directors have put their own spin on traditional scenes and a new scene has been added: “Tinker Gnome.”

Co-directors Jan Novotny, Lori Carmine and Reg McReynolds have added the creative help of Assistant Directors Paul Darrien, Colleen Devine, Ryan Devine, Eric Moniger and Tom Novotny. Eric has passed on many of his main roles to others: Gnome from Nome (now Paul Darrien) and the naughty gnome Kostja (now Reg McReynolds). Eric is playing many other characters and is busy directing his “Tinker Gnome” scene, featuring a gnome (Zane Carmine) frustrated with his inventions. Some characters are so good, they don’t need tinkering. That’s the case with real-life husband and wife Tom and Jan Novotny, longtime gnomes and patriarchs of the cast. They play the weary but thankful couple in the “Poor Woodsman” scene, along with the mysterious gnome (Connor Goron) that comes to visit them. “Garden Gnomes” features a young girl (Chloe Goron) the garden gnome (Alisha Gazdowicz). Together they reveal why garden gnomes are believed to bring good fortune to people. In “Wartje”, gnome Imp Rogerson (Tom Novotny) tells the tale to his daughters (Marley Hennessy and Abby Riachart) of trolls and the clever gnome Wartje (Darren Raichart, Kyle Goron understudy). In this adventure, we meet Wartje’s worried wife Lisa (Katie Marx, Mary Cushing understudy) and wise animals, such as a lovable talking rat (Cheryl Foster, Julia Khater understudy). Cheryl is also a longtime gnome and plays the understanding wife to naughty gnome Kostja. The audience will also meet many other beings from the land of gnomes.

The show’s creator and director of many years was the park’s first manager, Georgiann Goodson. Designed for families of all faiths, the familiarity of Georgiann’s story lines still bring comfort to those enjoy the message of good will, always a lifelong theme for Mrs. Goodson. The current manager, Rich Liebich, enjoys designing special light effects for the show, expanding the event and watching generations share a beloved event from their childhood.

After the show, children are invited onto the stage to meet the gnomes in person and draw their own gnome to take home. In the lobby, one can find many unique “gnomemade” treasures in the gift shop, try their luck in the gnome doll raffle and visit the cookie factory, where one can pick their favorite $1 variety-cookie-plate. The lobby is a buzz with activity, but the sweetest sounds can be heard when Cindy Butler, flute instructor, returns with her talented students Morgan Kincade and Joey Kaspral – each on their 3rd year at the fest! The trio will fill the lobby with frolicking holiday melodies, echoing the joyful mood the festival brings to all.

Tickets (cash or check only) are available through Billie Limacher Bicentennial Theatre, 201 West Jefferson Street, Joliet 60432. Tickets may be reserved by calling the park office (815-724-3761) or by email (bipark@jolietcity.org). Tickets may be picked up in the park office (Tuesday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm). Since last year’s shows sold out, reservations are highly recommended. The day of the show, the lobby opens at 12:00 noon and any unsold tickets will be made available on a first come first serve basis. For more information, visit www.bicentennialpark.org.