Arts & Entertainment
Mayor Emeritus Pradel to Sing 7th Inning Stretch
Unfortunately Mayor Emeritus Pradel and Bev Frier are under the weather. Thanks to their "pinch hitters" and wishing them speedy recoveries!
“Take me out to the ball game! Take me out with the crowd!”
Do you remember standing up and singing along with hundreds of fellow fans? The seventh inning stretch is a favorite memory for many, so Summer Place Theatre is recreating that tradition in their production of “Bleacher Bums,” featuring local celebrities as song conductors.
Harry Carray of course started the tradition and many have picked up the microphone since to keep the tradition going. On Opening Night, June 8, the “Bleacher Bums”audience sings along with Mayor Emeritus George Pradel. Naperville folks know that no one can “root, root, root for the home team” like he can! Did you know that Pradel started as a Naperville police officer in 1966, the same year the Summer Place started as Naperville’s community theatre?
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Guest seventh inning stretch leaders will be featured at each performance throughout the run. Nickie Anderson, President and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce will lead on June 9 and Bev Frier, Co-Chair of the Naperville Senior Task Force leads on June 10.
Special guests will also open the show by singing the national anthem. Marilyn DiCola of the Naperville Chorus sings on June 8 and Murnie Baker of the Tower Chorale on June 9. On June 10, the anthem will be sung by Singria, a quartet with Emily Sites, Kelsey Nichols, Mackenzie Grattan and Emma Gingold, all members of the Summer Place family.
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Then it’s “play ball!” for the actors on their ivy-covered stage set. “Bleacher Bums – A Nine Inning Comedy” was conceived by Chicago native Joe Montegna and other members of the Organic Theatre Company as a nostalgic tribute to the die-hard Cub fans who faithfully filled the bleachers at Wrigley Field long before the 2016 World Series.
Summer Place Theatre’s production of “Bleacher Bums” runs for two weekends, June 8-9 and June 15-17, in the Naperville Central High School Auditorium. Sundays are matinee performances and group rates are available. Purchase tickets online now or at the door. For ticket sales and more information, see www.SummerPlaceTheatre.org.
