Across the Generations

Our building is full this week. Actors and crews are working on the final weekend of Dracula. Our annual Studio class is in session as we train new actors who hope to take the stage one day soon. Our teens are rehearsing an upcoming production of The Borrowers, and some of our younger students (plus three wonderful adult actors) are at work learning music for our holiday production of Madeline's Christmas.

What's unique about life over here at the Theatre of Western Springs is not that our organization is so busy. Many theatres are busy. TWS is different in that our building is full of all sorts of people from all sorts of generations. 

On any given day at TWS, we'll have a Korean War veteran building a set, a first grader collecting tickets at a performance, and an accountant directing a show. On another day, a stay at home mom will volunteer an hour to help us with some painting, a train engineer will supervise a lights call, and a high school senior will try her hand at being an assistant director.

All of these people from different generations, different backgrounds, and different areas of expertise are the reason TWS is such a special place. More important than the fact that all of those folks are a part of the Theatre of Western Springs is the idea that they all respect and appreciate one another.

Elementary school kids can share the stage with experienced adult actors. Grown ups aren't ashamed to ask the high school technical theatre wiz how to run the new lighting equipment. And all of us are better off for having known one another.

To learn more about programs and productions at The Theatre of Western Springs, go to www.theatreofwesternsprings.com or call 708-246-4043.