Black Arrow Community Theater Returns for Year Two

Last year, a new theater opened in Oswego, Illinois. Calling itself Black Arrow Theater, children from around Oswego, Aurora, Montgomery, and other Fox Valley towns gathered to perform Alice in Wonderland for two weekends in November. This year, Black Arrow is back and opening its stage to all ages.

"We wanted a place for families to grow and learn new skills together," Jill Richardson, founder, says. "That means giving everyone who auditions a chance to perform and inviting families to work together to see a production come alive." Richardson also mentioned that she, her husband, and three daughters, all did community theater together while the girls were growing up. "Some of our best summers were spent in those shows together. We still tell time by whether it was the Snow White year, Music Man year, or many others."

In fact, that sentimentality exists in Black Arrow's mission statement: "Black Arrow Theater, a community service of Resolution Church, was established in 2017 for the purpose of giving the families of Oswego, Montgomery, Aurora, and the surrounding area a place to learn, grow, gain confidence, and pursue theater on and behind stage together. We believe in inclusivity, community, and fun, inviting families to work together to see a production come alive."

Black Arrow Theater believes the theater belongs to everyone, and in that spirit, this year's play is being opened to all ages, not just children, and everyone who auditions will be cast.

The Fall play will be "Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." Auditions will be held August 28, anytime in between 5-8pm. Auditions are expected to take approximately 15 minutes. Performances will be in early November.