Lemont Theater Group Seeks 'Freaky Art' for Summer Show

Local artists of all ages and skill levels are invited to embrace their uniqueness this summer as part of the “Let Your Freak Flag Fly Art Show” in association with Little Mountain Community Theatre’s main stage production of Shrek: The Musical.

A juried art show with the theme “Let Your Freak Flag Fly” will be held before all three performances of the musical. Performances will be July 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. and July 12 at 2 p.m. at the Lemont High School Performing Arts Center, 800 Porter Street, Lemont. The art show will be held for one hour before each performance in the performing arts center atrium.

The story of Shrek begins when his parents send him out into the world to make his living. They warn him that because he is an ogre and looks different everyone will hate him and he will not have a happy ending. A few years later, an embittered, grown up Shrek is living alone in a swamp when his solitude is disrupted by a band of fairytale creatures who have been exiled from the kingdom for being freaks. Through a series of life events, the group becomes a family and the characters gather new confidence and strength in who they are as individuals. In the end, they declare that they’ll raise their “Freak Flag” high against their tormentors and stand up for themselves once and for all.

Artists are encouraged to enhance the musical’s message by portraying whatever makes them unique in a flag design. Any medium will be accepted, but artwork must not be any larger than 12 x 24 inches and should be family-friendly. Entries may be limited. Jurors will select Best of Show, 2nd Place, 3rd Place and Honorable Mention awards. Social media voting will be used to decide the People’s Choice Award. Some flag designs will be made for use in the performances.

Artwork must be dropped off in the performing arts center’s atrium on June 1 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and picked up July 12 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. or on July 13 between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

“The Freak Flag contest perfectly captures the theme of this year’s main stage show with its message of ‘Be proud of who you are,’” said Sandy Doebert, president of the LMCT Board of Directors. “Certainly this is an important message and one of the many reasons we love the show!”

Lemont High School Art Teacher Ryan Hennebry is organizing this year’s art show.

“This year’s art show theme is extremely exciting,” he said. “As an artist who paints in a surrealist style and often incorporates monster-like creatures in my work, I think ‘The Freak Flag’ will foster many fascinating images.”

For more information about the art show, contact Hennebry at ryanh@lemont.k12.il.us.

For more information about LMCT, visit www.littlemountaintheatre.org.