Southland Theater Scene Catches Up with the Rest of Chicagoland

As the south suburbs continue to develop outward from the city, so too has the arts scene, with two area theater companies finding permanent homes this year in New Lenox.

The expanding diversity of theater companies in the southwest suburbs is great for everyone, including actors, who have growing opportunities to audition for a variety of productions. 

"Diversity in theater is fantastic," Spotlight Theater Vice President Jeff Gamlin said.

Curtain Call Theatre opened the doors of its in New Lenox this March with a funny, poignant musical that had recently become available to community theater called . After 32 years in existence (it was originally the Fine Arts Association of Frankfort), Curtain Call finally secured a permanent home.

The Warehouse Theatre seats an intimate 50, but Curtain Call will continue to put on larger scale and summer camp productions at local high schools, such as Disney's Camp Rock The Musical (partnered with the Emily McCabe Musical Theatre Program) this weekend at Lincoln-Way Central. Also this month, the Warehouse Theatre is hosting a young adult production of Cheaper by the Dozen. 

, founded in 2005, also recently found a new home in New Lenox. The first production in their new space was last month, Eric Bogosian's 1987 play Talk Radio. Gamlin, who was also the director, said the company chose the play because its messages are particularly timely now and the play keeps with Spotlight's "tradition of producing material that other places stay away from." 

Spotlight has no association with park districts or churches in order to maintain complete freedom so they may select "more adult-oriented fare," as Gamlin calls it.  

"David Mamet makes the short list every season," Gamlin said. "Maybe he'll make the cut in the future. I'd like to do Glengarry Glen Ross." 

Conversely, Curtain Call has historically favored comedies and musicals. When attempting to fill a huge auditorium, it's best to go with a production with mass appeal. However, theater President Suzanne Helwich said that the new space will enable them to add productions that are more "cutting."

Stacey Mallow and Scott Podraza, both active in community theater, attended Spotlight's production of Talk Radio. Podraza is excited to see small theater groups popping up all over the southwest suburbs.

"We're catching up to the northern 'burbs," Podraza said. "They've been established for a while."

Mallow and Podraza are involved with the Opening Nights Arts Group headquartered in Palos Heights, whose production of Hair is this weekend at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park. Podraza is the assistant director and Mallow is acting in Hair.

"Some productions of Hair go nude," Mallow said, "but we chose not to go that route." 

Mallow and Podraza attended the Spotlight performance because, Podraza explained, "South Side arts theater (groups) support each other." 

"Plus, we like to see what's going on with other theaters," Mallow said.

Mallow was particularly impressed by Brian Whitlock as an .

"As an actor, I'm blown away by Brian's performance. It's basically a monologue," Mallow said.

At the core of our area's emphasis on quality community arts is Chicago's great tradition of the theater coupled with the high schools that foster the arts and put on some impressive productions of their own. Lea Fortkamp, an English teacher at and director of , is pleased with all of the opportunities available to her students, inside and outside of school.

"I'm appreciative of any opportunity for our high school students to be involved in theater," Fortkamp said. "I think that having such a strong arts community encourages that involvement."

Helwich agrees. More theaters in the area means more opportunities for performers, and more chances for patrons to see live theater, she said. 

With so much going on, the theaters check out what the others are doing to avoid overlap and to keep the scene fresh. Spotlight Theater has announced the titles for its next season, which will include Neil Simon's Jake's Women, Tracy Letts' Killer Joe and Gamlin's own adaptation of the Woody Allen film September. They will announce auditions on their website soon. Gamlin remarked that he's heard that in some community theater circles, the casting for major parts is decided even before auditions are held; Gamlin made it clear that auditions with Spotlight are completely open and fair. Even those with no theater experience are encouraged to try out. 

Curtain Call and the Lincoln-Way high schools are keeping next season's schedules mostly close to the vest so far, though Curtain Call has announced that its winter musical will be The Sound of Music, for which it will hold auditions in October. Information on the auditions will be available on its website. Curtain Call is also continuing this fall with its new tradition, the murder mystery at . 

Fortkamp said the high school music department keeps its musical under wraps to generate buzz among students.

"I think ours is a community that really appreciates having lots to choose from when it comes to the arts," Fortkamp said.

Upcoming Productions

Camp Rock The Musical

When: 7 p.m. July 15; 2 and 8 p.m. July 16; and 2 p.m. July 17.
Where: Lincoln-Way Central High School, 1801 E. Lincoln Hwy., New Lenox
More info: Tickets are available on Curtain Call's website. 

Hair

When: 8 p.m. July 15; 8 p.m. July 16; and 3 p.m. July 17.
Where: Carl Sandburg High School, Fine Arts Center, 13300 S. La Grange Road, Orland Park
More info: Tickets are available on the Opening Night Arts Group website.

Cheaper by the Dozen

When: 8 p.m. July 21-23
Where: Warehouse Theatre, 12535 Old Plank Dr., New Lenox
More info: Tickets are available on Curtain Call's website.